Joel McHale Biography

Joel Edward McHale (born November 20, 1971) is an American comedian, actor, writer, television producer, television personality, and voice artist. He is best known for hosting The Soup and for his role as Jeff Winger on the NBC comedy series Community.

McHale's role as a voice actor includes Elliot in Open Season 2, filling in for Ashton Kutcher. He also appeared in Spider-Man 2 in a brief appearance as bank manager Mr. Jacks, CSI: Miami as Greg Welsh, and Spy Kids: All the Time in the World as Wilbur Wilson.

Early life

McHale, the middle of three brothers, was born on November 20, 1971, in Rome, Italy, where his father worked as Dean of Students at Loyola University Rome Center. His mother, Laurie, is from Vancouver, British Columbia, and his father, Jack, is from Chicago. He has Irish and Norwegian ancestry. McHale was raised Catholic in the Seattle area, graduating from Mercer Island High School in 1991. He also participated at Youth Theatre Northwest.

He received a bachelor's degree in History from the University of Washington in 1995. While at the University of Washington, McHale briefly belonged to the Theta Chi Fraternity. He was recruited to be on the rowing team, but later walked onto the football team, playing tight end for two years. McHale received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Professional Actors Training Program at the University of Washington.

Career

Comedy

McHale was part of the Almost Live! cast, a local sketch-comedy TV show produced by Seattle's KING-TV (Channel 5). From 1993 until 1997, McHale was a member of the improv comedy group at Unexpected Productions, participating in Theatersports! at the Market Theater located in Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle.

Acting

After earning his master's degree in acting, McHale moved to Los Angeles and landed small roles in Oliver Beene, CSI: Miami, and Will & Grace. He played a TV reporter in the biopic Lords of Dogtown. He guest-starred as a cast member on the NBC improv comedy show Thank God You're Here during the pilot episode and had a guest role on an episode of Pushing Daisies. McHale also appeared in Spider-Man 2 in a small role as Mr. Jacks, a bank manager.

In 2004, McHale began hosting The Soup, a satirical weekly television show on the "E!" television network. Throughout the show, he takes the audience through the oddities and ridiculous happenings of the week in television. He frequently appears as a co-host on Loveline. He has also had a long association with Circle X Theatre, where he has done several plays. McHale was a weekly guest on The Adam Carolla Show and Mickey and Amelia, and occasional guest on the Opie and Anthony Show. He has been a judge on Iron Chef America. He was involved in the American version of the British TV show The IT Crowd. McHale made a guest appearance on the finale of Last Comic Standing sixth season, when he recapped the show's events in his typical format of jokes made popular on The Soup. He occasionally appeared on Countdown with Keith Olbermann in a humor sequence closing the show.

McHale played FBI Agent Robert Herndon in The Informant! (2009), alongside Matt Damon.

He currently stars in Community, which premiered in winter 2009. He also continues to host The Soup. McHale made an appearance on the first episode of the fifth season of Tosh.0. 2012 saw him play a notable supporting role as Rex in Ted and a short guest stint on FX show Sons of Anarchy. McHale also signed up for a role, moving him outside his comfort zone, comedy, into a supernatural thriller, Beware the Night which sees him playing a NYC Police Officer.

Personal life

McHale married Sarah Williams in 1996. They have two sons: Edward Roy, "Eddie" (born 2005) and Isaac Hayden (born 2008). McHale and Williams live in the Hollywood Hills.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2004	Spider-Man 2	Mr. Jacks
2004	Wait		Short film
2005	Lords of Dogtown	TV reporter
2005	Game Time	Johnson	Short film
2006	Mini's First Time	Host
2008	'	Office worker	Uncredited
2008	Open Season 2	Elliot (voice)	Direct-to-video
2009	'	FBI agent Robert Herndon
2011	Spy Kids: All the Time in the World	Wilbur Wilson
2011	What's Your Number?	Roger
2011	'	Barry Loomis
2012	Ted	Rex
2013	'	Boyd Mitchler	Post-production
2014	'		Filming
2015	Beware the Night		Filming

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1996	Almost Live!	Various	2 episodes
1998	Bill Nye the Science Guy	Defendant	Episode: "Fluids"
2000	'	Quicky the Clown	Episode: "Springing Tiny"
2000	'	Curtis	Episode: "Far from Home"
2000	Diagnosis: Murder	Richard	Episode: "By Reason of Insanity"
2001	Will & Grace	Ian	Episode: "Cheaters"
2004"present	'	Himself	Host
2005	CSI: Miami	Greg Welch	Episode: "Urban Hellraisers"
2007	' (US)	Roy	Unsold NBC pilot
2007	Pushing Daisies	Harold Hundin	Episode: "Bitches"
2007, 2009	Robot Chicken	Various voices	2 episodes
2008	Giants of Radio	Doug Deerfield	Unsold NBC pilot
2009"present	Community	Jeff Winger	Main cast
2011	Phineas and Ferb	Norm head prototype (voice)	Episode: "Candace Disconnected/Magic Carpet Ride"
2012	Sons of Anarchy	Warren	2 episodes
2013	Conan	Conan	Episode: "Occupy Conan: When Outsourcing Goes Too Far"

Web series

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2008	Water and Power	Various
2011	CollegeHumor	Jeff Winger	Episode: "Save Greendale"
2012	12 Angry Bros	Lawyer	Fake trailer

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
2010	EWwy Award	Best Actor in a Comedy	Community
2011	Critics' Choice Television Award	Best Actor in a Comedy Series	Community
2011	EWwy Award	Best Actor in a Comedy	Community
2011	Satellite Award	Best Actor " Television Series Musical or Comedy	Community
2012	TV Guide Award	Favorite Ensemble	Community
2012	Critics' Choice Television Award	Best Actor in a Comedy Series	Community
2012	PAAFTJ Television Award	Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series	Community
2012	PAAFTJ Television Award	Best Cast in a Comedy Series	Community
2012	EWwy Award	Best Actor, Comedy	Community
2012	Satellite Award	Best Actor " Television Series Musical or Comedy	Community