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Joel David Moore

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Joel David Moore
Moore in 2016
Born (1977-09-25) September 25, 1977 (age 47)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Alma materSouthern Oregon University
Occupation(s)Actor, director
Years active1996–present
Spouse
Kineret Karen Ben Yishay
​
​
(m. 2009; div. 2011)​
[1]

Joel David Moore (born September 25, 1977) is an American character actor[2] and director. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Moore studied acting in college before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue a film career. His first major role was as Owen Dittman in the 2004 comedy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, followed by roles in the comedy Grandma's Boy (2006), Terry Zwigoff's Art School Confidential (2006), and the independent slasher film Hatchet (2006).

In 2008, he was cast in the role of Colin Fisher on the Fox series Bones, a guest role he portrayed in sixteen episodes until the series' conclusion in 2017. In 2009, he was cast as Dr. Norm Spellman in James Cameron's Avatar (2009), a role he reprised for the film's sequels, Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025).

Moore has also starred in several music videos, and directed films: His directorial debut was the psychological thriller Spiral (2007), followed by the drama Youth in Oregon (2016). Moore also directed the film Killing Winston Jones which was shot in 2012 but never released.

Early life

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Moore was born on September 25, 1977, in Portland, Oregon,[3][4] the son of Missy (née Irvine) and John Moore.[5] Moore was raised in Portland, where his family resided in the Mount Tabor neighborhood.[5] He graduated from Benson Polytechnic High School in 1995.[3][4][5]

After high school, Moore attended Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon, for two years. In 1998, he transferred to Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree[5] in 2001[3] and performed for two summers at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.[4]

Career

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2000–2007: Early roles

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Before relocating to Hollywood, Moore starred with Gretchen Stouts and Nina Smidt in Tom Monson's Drug Wars, The High Times (1999), a video about underage binge drinking.[6]

In 2000, he moved to Los Angeles, California, and appeared in several television commercials, including ones for eBay, Cingular Wireless, and Best Buy.[7] Moore shot an international campaign for a branch of Siemens cell phones, XELIBRI, which won a Lion Award. Moore made an appearance in the music video for the song "Youth of the Nation" by rap rock band P.O.D.

Moore's first major film role was in 2004's Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. Between 2004 and 2005, he appeared in a recurring guest role on the NBC series LAX.[8] This was followed by roles in the films Grandma's Boy, and as a jaded art student[9] in Terry Zwigoff's Art School Confidential (both 2006).[10][11] The same year, he also had a lead role in the independent slasher film Hatchet,[11] a bit part in The Shaggy Dog, and a supporting role in El Muerto, based on the eponymous comic book series. Also in 2007, Moore made directorial debut with the psychological thriller Spiral, which he filmed in his hometown of Portland, and co-starred in with Amber Tamblyn.[11]

2008–present: Acting and directing

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In 2008, he was cast in the supporting role of Dr. Norm Spellman in James Cameron's Avatar (2009).[11] The same year, he was cast as intern Colin Fisher on the Fox series Bones,[12] a guest role he would portray across 16 episodes until the series' conclusion in 2017. During the fifth season episode "The Gamer in the Grease", his character invites two other characters, Dr.Jack Hodgins (portrayed by T. J. Thyne) and Dr. Lance Sweets (portrayed by John Francis Daley) to attend the Avatar premiere, in which Moore was also cast. Moore also had a supporting role in Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (2009), a remake of the 1956 film of the same name.[13] He also starred alongside Katy Perry in her 2009 music video for "Waking Up in Vegas".[14]

Other film roles included a supporting part in 2012's Savages, directed by Oliver Stone,[15] and in the crime-thriller Gone (2012), opposite Amanda Seyfried.[15] Moore directed Killing Winston Jones in fall 2012 in Savannah, Georgia, which starred Danny Glover, Jon Heder and Richard Dreyfuss.[16] The film was never released.[17]

He would also reprise his role with a cameo appearance in Hatchet III (2013).[18] During 2014–2015, he had a supporting role in the series Forever, and also in the thriller The Guest (2014),[19] and Joey Ramone in the 2013 historical film CBGB.[20]

In 2016, he directed his second feature, Youth in Oregon, starring Frank Langella, Christina Applegate and Billy Crudup.[11][21] In 2017, it was reported that Moore had signed on to appear in the Avatar sequels, Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025).[22]

Filmography

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Acting roles

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Film

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Foxfire First Geek
2000 Drug Wars, The High Times Jake
2004 Raising Genius Rolf
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story Owen Dittman
2005 Reel Guerrillas Nick Walker The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning
2006 Grandma's Boy J.P.
The Shaggy Dog Pound employee
Art School Confidential Bardo
Miles from Home Miles Short film
The Elder Son Kenny
Hatchet Ben
2007 American Hustle 3rd Spartan
El Muerto Issac "Zak" Silver
Spiral Mason Also co-director and co-screenwriter
Shanghai Kiss Joe Silverman
2008 The Hottie and the Nottie Nate Cooper Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Couple (with Paris Hilton)
Wieners Greg King
The Tiffany Problem Sam Hane Short film
Fairy Tale Police Big Bad Wolf
2009 Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Corey Finley
Bed Ridden Jay Short film
Stuntmen Troy Lebowski
Avatar Dr. Norm Spellman
2010 The Third Rule Peter Short film
Janie Jones Dave
2011 Chillerama Adolf Hitler Segment: "The Diary of Anne Frankenstein"
Grassroots Grant Cogswell
Julia X 3D Sam
Shark Night Gordon Guthrie
2012 Gone Nick Massey
Jewtopia Adam Lipschitz
Savages Craig
2013 Hatchet III Ben Cameo
CBGB Joey Ramone
2014 The Guest Craig
#Stuck Guy
Grace: The Possession Luke
2015 Divine Access Nigel
2017 Drone Gary
2020 Cut Throat City Peter Felton
The Morning After Guy
2022 The Immaculate Room Jason Wright
Daniel's Gotta Die Daniel Powell
The Baker Peter
Avatar: The Way of Water Dr. Norm Spellman
2023 The Retirement Plan Fitzsimmons
2025 Avatar: Fire and Ash † Dr. Norm Spellman Post-production
Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2001 City Guys Hoover 1 episode
2001–2002 Boston Public Hartzell 2 episodes
2002 Deep Cover Pete Steinem
Boomtown Usher #2 Episode: "Insured by Smith & Wesson"
Providence Howard Episode: "The Eleventh Hour"
2003 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Pete Episode: "Romance Looming"
Angel Karl Vamp Episode: "Salvage"
Six Feet Under Video Clerk Episode: "The Opening"
Strong Medicine Dan Episode: "Bad Liver"
2004 The Amazing Westermans Television film
The Guardian Malcolm Reeves Episode: "Sparkle"
2004–2005 LAX Eddie Carson Recurring role, 9 episodes
2005 Cooked Mike Television film
The Inside Brian Pines Episode: "Declawed"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Guy in the Yellow Hat Episode: "Dog Eat Dog"
2005–2006 E-Ring Greg – NSA Liaison Recurring role, 5 episodes
2007 The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning Cooter Davenport Television film
House M.D. Eddie Episodes: "One Day, One Room", "Act Your Age"
2008 My Name Is Earl Clyde Episode: "Quit Your Snitchin'"
2008–2017 Bones Colin Fisher Recurring role, 16 episodes
2009–2010 Medium Keith Bruning 4 episodes
2010 Chuck Mackintosh Episode: "Chuck Versus the Couch Lock"
2011 Hawaii Five-0 Sheldon Tunney Episode: "Kai e'e"
Last Man Standing Bruce Episodes: "Pilot", "Grandparents Day"
2014–2015 Forever Lucas Wahl Main role
2017 Budding Prospects Phil Television film
American Housewife Captain Beauregard Episode: "Gala Auction"
2018 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Noah Episode: "All the Comforts of Home"

Music videos

Year Song Artist Notes
2001 "Youth of the Nation" P.O.D.
2008 "Beat It" Fall Out Boy
2009 "Waking Up in Vegas" Katy Perry
2010 "It's Not Christmas Without You" Katharine McPhee

Filmmaking roles

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Feature Film

Year Title Director Producer Writer Notes
2007 Spiral Yes[a] Executive Yes
2012 Killing Winston Jones Yes Executive No Cancelled film release
2016 Youth in Oregon Yes No No
2021 Hide and Seek Yes Yes Yes
2023 Some Other Woman Yes Yes No

As producer

As executive producer

Short Film

Year Title Director Writer
2006 Miles from Home Yes Yes
2009 Found[b] Yes No
2010 Hours Before Yes Yes

Notes

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  1. ^ Co-directed with Adam Green
  2. ^ Music video for Byron Phillips

References

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  1. ^ "Joel Moore files for divorce". Yahoo. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  2. ^ Southern, Nathan. "Joel David Moore". AllMovie. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Baker, Jeff (April 28, 2014). "18 actors you (maybe) didn't know were from Portland". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "Actor Joel David Moore". KATU AM Northwest. June 30, 2014. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d Moore, Phyllis (January 2010). "Avatar Scientist" (PDF). The Cherry Pit. Vol. 2, no. 1. CherryWood Village, Portland, Oregon. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 27, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  6. ^ "Drug Wars - The High Times". LifeisGreatProductions.com. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  7. ^ Wood, Mark Dundas (January 30, 2008). "Joel David Moore jumps from supporting standout to leading man with two new films". Backstage. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  8. ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earl F. (2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House. p. 757. ISBN 978-0-307-48320-1.
  9. ^ Scott, A.O. (May 5, 2006). "Majoring in Caricature in 'Art School Confidential'". The New York Times. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
  10. ^ Chang, Justin (March 6, 2005). "Joel David Moore". Variety. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  11. ^ a b c d e Lincoln, Ross A. (January 30, 2016). "Gersh Signs 'Avatar' Actor & 'Youth In Oregon' Director Joel David Moore". Deadline. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  12. ^ Bierly, Mandy (December 4, 2009). "'Bones' recap: Cheater, cheater, 'Avatar'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  13. ^ Schager, Nick (September 8, 2009). "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Film Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  14. ^ "Katy Perry - Live: Witness World Wide". YouTube. June 11, 2017. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Fernandez, Jay A. (June 22, 2011). "Joel David Moore Joins Oliver Stone's 'Savages'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  16. ^ Obenson, Tambay (November 20, 2012). "Danny Glover Books Role In Dark Comedy 'Killing Winston Jones' From RadioactiveGiant". Indiewire. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  17. ^ Caballero, David (August 4, 2022). "Batgirl & 8 Other Movies That Will Go Unreleased". ScreenRant. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  18. ^ "Joel David Moore Filmography". AllMovie. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  19. ^ Gingold, Michael (July 8, 2014). "Exclusive photos: Halloween night with Wingard and Barrett's "The Guest"". Fangoria. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  20. ^ Radish, Christine (October 14, 2013). "Joel David Moore Talks CBGB, Playing Joey Ramone, Finding the Human Being behind the Rock Star, His First Concert and His Latest Directorial Project". Collider. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  21. ^ Culhane, Grace (January 31, 2017). "Youth in Oregon Brought to Life by a Stellar Cast". Willamette Week. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  22. ^ D'Nuka, Amanda (May 31, 2017). "Joel David Moore Returning For 'Avatar' Sequels". Deadline. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
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