Who i am
About
Joel Polis
Actor & Director from Los Angeles
Born and raised in Philadelphia, the first of a pair of identical twins, Joel always had an innate appetite for adventure and self expression. This impulse led him into a career in gymnastics, which brought him at 17, to USC on full scholarship. At the end of his freshman year a wrist injury threw open the door to the Theater, and following a brief but illuminating stint in the circus, an invitation to attend Yale Drama School sealed his fate. Joel leapt joyfully into a lifetime commitment to acting and the theater arts. He returned to Los Angeles to pursue a television and film career and has worked consistently in all three mediums since. People say, “If you love your work, you will never work a day in your life”. Joel couldn’t agree more.
Some facts
Finished projects
Scripts Memorized
Working years
My work
Resume
| Two Out of Work Actors (Short) | Supporting | Dir. Fred Shahadi |
| Trouble Sleeping | Supporting | Dir. Rob Adetuyi |
| Alien Hunter | Supporting | Dir. Ron Krause |
| Swallow (Sundance selection) | Supporting | Dir. Frankie Flowers |
| Tumbleweeds | Supporting | Dir. Gavin O'Connor |
| The Rookie | Supporting | Dir. Clint Eastwood |
| My Blue Heaven | Supporting | Dir. Herb Ross |
| Best Defense | Supporting | Dir. Willard Hyuck |
| True Believer | Supporting | Dir. Joe Ruben |
| It's My Party | Supporting | Dir. Randal Kleiser |
| The Thing | Supporting | Dir. John Carpenter |
| Attraction | Supporting | Dir. Russell Degrazier |
| Serial Killer | Supporting | Dir. Pierre David |
| Shadows (Short) | Supporting | Dir. Mitch Levine |
| Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Guest Star | ABC |
| Growing up Fisher | Guest Star | NBC |
| Rizzoli & Isles | Guest Star | TNT |
| Paulie | Recurring | (pilot) |
| NCIS | Guest Star | CBS |
| Castle | Guest Star | ABC |
| Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior | Guest Star | CBS |
| Cold Case | Guest Star | CBS |
| Bones | Guest Star | FOX |
| Stargate: Atlantis | Guest Star | SYFY |
| CSI: NY | Guest Star | CBS |
| The Unit | Guest Star | CBS |
| CSI: Miami | Guest Star | CBS |
| Boston Legal | Guest Star | ABC |
| Without A Trace | Guest Star | CBS |
| CSI | Guest Star | CBS |
| The Guardian | Guest Star | CBS |
| Angel | Guest Star | WB |
| Hard Copy | Guest Star | CBS |
| Boston Public | Guest Star | FOX |
| Dharma and Greg | Guest Star | FOX |
| Top of the Hill | Guest Star | TNT |
| Chicago Hope | Guest Star | FOX |
| Judging Amy | Guest Star | CBS |
| Ally McBeal | Guest Star | FOX |
| 7th Heaven | Guest Star | WB |
| Law and Order | Guest Star | NBC |
| Star Trek Voyager | Guest Star | NBC |
| Seinfeld | Guest Star | NBC |
| Northern Exposure | Guest Star | CBS |
| Picket Fences | Guest Star | CBS |
| Touched by an Angel | Guest Star | CBS |
| Larry Sanders Show | Guest Star | HBO |
| Roseanne | Guest Star | ABC |
| Cheers | Recurring | NBC |
| Alien Nation | Recurring | FOX |
| Remington Steele | Guest Star | ABC |
| Miles from Nowhere | Revelations | McBride |
| Fatal Vision | A Death in California | Deadly Medicine |
| Burning Bridges | Prison of Secrets | Born Beautiful |
| The Sleepwalker Murders | Rocket’s Red Glare | Twilight Man |
| Everybody Does It | Dazzle | Those She Left Behind |
| My Name is Asher Lev LADCC Best Featured Actor, Stage Raw Best Supporting Actor, Ovation Nomination | Stephen Sachs | Fountain Theatre |
| Disgraced | Joanne Gordon | CV Repertory |
| The Snake Can | Steve Robman | Odyssey Theatre |
| Bach at Leipzig | Darin Anthony | Odyssey Theatre |
| Defiance | Andrew Robinson | Pasadena Playhouse |
| Diary of Anne Frank | James O'Neil | Rubicon Theatre |
| Pound of Flesh | Michael Bolus | Odyssey, Edinburgh Fest. |
| Julius Caesar | Daniel Sullivan | Old Globe Theatre |
| The Baby Dance | Jenny Sullivan | Pasadena, Lortel Theatre |
| Names | Mark Kemble | Matrix Theatre, AJT (NY) |
| After Crystal Night | Robert Walden | Odyssey Theatre |
| Three Travelers | Jay Broad | Odyssey Theatre |
| Richard The Third | Casey Briggs | Odyssey Theatre |
| The Cherry Orchard | Jack Stehlin | Odyssey Theatre |
| Lady of the Diamond | Jack O'Brian | BuffaloStudio Arena |
| Penny for the Guy | Martin Breen | Geva Regional Theatre |
| Midsummer Night's Dream | Jack O'Brian | Old Globe Theatre |
| Dog Logic | Martin Benson | South Coast Rep |
| Merchant of Venice | Alan Blumenfeld | Santa Monica Playhouse |
| Oleanna | Steve Freeland | American Renegade |
| Ghetto | Gordon Davidson | Mark Taper Forum |
| Family Business | John Stix | Astor Place Theatre |
| Jitters | Bill Glasco | Long Warf |
| Passing By | Ron Logamarsino | Hartford Stage |
| Boy Meets Girl | Bill Ludel | Hartford Stage |
| What the Butler Saw | Mel Shapiro | Academy Festival Theatre |
| Troilus and Cressida | Alvin Epstein | Yale Rep |
What i do
Specialties
Acting
Over the years I have appeared in a dozen feature films, over a hundred twenty episodic TV shows, and television movies.
Directing
Directing has been a passion of mine for many years, I love being able to lend my expertise and knowledge to scenes and actors.
Coaching
In my 15 years of coaching I have seen it all, and I have a very impressive record of moving actors forward in their craft and careers.
“The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.“
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
My Expertise
Skills
Sports
Dialects
Training
Testimonials
Reviews
Disconnection
" GROUNDBREAKING! This play is WORTH SEEING. How religious extremism can blind those with even the greatest intent. "
EXAMINER.com
Eric Pierpoint
" I've known Joel Polis as an actor and director for over twenty-five years. He is a greatly talented, consummate, creative professional. We have worked together on stage and film and it has always been a pleasure and a challenge to work with him. Few match his creativity and artistic dedication. I look forward to seeing Mr. Polis on stage especially because I know I will be in for a very satisfying experience. "
Eric Pierpoint IMDB
Joel Swetow
" The work was absolutely first rate, up and down the line. And that's you, dude! Not a false moment. Simple, surprising, brilliantly moment to moment, insightful, the whole 9 yards. So thank you, sir. Very impressive. "
Joel Swetow IMDB
Stephen Sachs
" Joel is an intelligent, insightful, passionate actor deeply dedicated to his craft. He is fearless, inventive and a total Pro. Plus he's just a good, warm-hearted soul with a delicious sense of humor. "
Artistic Director Fountain TheatreLA WEEKLY
" Joel Polis’ staging underscores the verbal dexterity and wry renditions of his excellent cast, exemplified by one droll and pathos-laden monologue delivered by the church founder (Robert L. Hughes), who finds himself exiled from his own creation. "
LA WEEKLY
Nick Podany
" Joel has the rare ability as a director to speak to actors in their own language; that of passion and sensibility. Joel has a fast understanding of new works, making him one of the best directors I've worked with as a writer. "
Nick Podany IMDB
STAGE SCENE LA
" Director Joel Polis' fearless direction lights a fire under this play. "
STAGE SCENE LA
THEATRE SPOKEN HERE
" Under the strong direction of Joel Polis... radiates the energy of early Mamet. "
Theatre Spoken HereGet in touch
Contact Me
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