BIO

Joel is a native New Yorker who started his acting career in the 5th grade as the Pied Piper of Hamelin (he knew everyone's lines) and has followed that muse ever since - first to college at Brown University, then back to Manhattan (where he is still based) and then all over the U.S. and Europe as an actor, director, fight director, audio-book narrator and writer/adapter of scripts.

As an actor, Joel has appeared on Broadway in the world premiere of the rediscovered Tennessee Williams play, NOT ABOUT NIGHTINGALES directed by Trevor Nunn (also at the National Theatre in London) and as understudy for Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart in their repertory productions of WAITING FOR GODOT and NO MAN'S LAND. Off and Off-Off Broadway, he has worked with TACT, The Jewish Rep, The Talking Band, The Pearl Theatre, The Abingdon Theatre, The York Players, Salamander Rep, Theatre of the Open Eye, Hip to Hip, the Metropolitan Players and many more, in parts ranging from Reb Dovidl in THE JEWISH KING LEAR to Orpheus in Cocteau's Orphee, from Don Juan, the fabled lover, to Woyzeck, the tragic fool.

In Europe, in addition to his work at the National Theatre, he toured Germany, Scandinavia and Spain as Salieri in AMADEUS, Scrooge in A CHRISTMAS CAROL and Andrew Wyke in SLEUTH.

Outside New York, he has had the pleasure of working with wonderful theatres throughout the country including, Yale Rep, Berkeley Rep, Trinity Rep, The Wilma Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Geva, Buffalo Studio Arena, The Fulton Opera House, Delaware Theatre Company, Snowmass Rep, Portland Stage, Bay Street Theatre, Premiere Stages, Theatreworks at Colorado Springs and many more.

Favorite 'real' characters played include Albert Einstein, Mark Rothko, Otto Frank, Sherlock Holmes, John Barrymore, Henry Plantagenet, and Sigmund Freud. Favorite Shakespearean roles include, King Lear, Shylock, Bottom, Richard III, Jaques and Orlando.

As artistic director of Salamander Rep, a NY based company he co-founded with his actress-wife Nancy Nichols, he proudly oversaw productions and readings of both new works and classical adaptations, including their own versions of FRANKENSTEIN and AGE OF INNOCENCE.

His film credits include the Woody Allen films, DECONSTRUCTING HARRY and CELEBRITY, FALLING STAR, THE KILLING FLOOR and GREEN LIGHTS. TV appearances include 6 episodes of LAW & ORDER, SIX DEGREES, 666 PARK AVE, FOREVER, MYSTERIES OF LAURA, JESSICA JONES and the upcoming THE ENEMY WITHIN.

As a narrator, he received an AUDIE award in 2000 for playing Sherlock Holmes in the recorded version of SHERLOCK'S SECRET LIFE. Other books he has narrated can be found on Audible.

Outside of acting, Joel is most at home with a sword in his hand. He has been a fight director for over 40 years. He was resident fight director for the Riverside Shakespeare Company in the 70's and continues today as fight director for Hip to Hip. He taught fencing classes for actors at the old Salle Santelli in the Village and has directed fights for schools, professional theaters, special events, Renaissance Faires, and films. ( For a short time, early in his career, he played the Green Goblin and fought Spiderman- always losing!- in a touring fight show for Marvel Comics.)  He studied theatrical fencing first at HB Studios and later took competitive sabre lessons from Maestro Bartha at Santelli's and competed for 12 years as a sabre fencer in the Metropolitan Division. He started studying aikido in the 80's and holds the rank of 5th degree black belt.