Joel grew up near San Francisco, graduated with honors from Loyola University New Orleans, and tried small town life in Montana before settling with his wife and kids in Southern California. After a successful career as a high school English teacher, Joel is now an actor working in Los Angeles.

He has trained at the studios of Ivana Chubbuck and Margie Haber. He cut his teeth on more theater-focused training at The Berg Studios, as well as studying voice over at The V.O. Dojo.