Joel Polis
Actor
Joel Polis has grown into a veteran American actor known to audiences from a long list of titles rather than from one. The most visible line on the filmography is 'The Thing' (Fuchs). Another entry worth naming is 'The Rookie'. He started at 31. Careers that pass the 44-year mark are a small club.
Joel Polis
Actor
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Oct 3, 1951
Age75years
Movies14
Series48
Joel Polis has grown into a veteran American actor known to audiences from a long list of titles rather than from one. The most visible line on the filmography is 'The Thing' (Fuchs). Another entry worth naming is 'The Rookie'. He started at 31. Careers that pass the 44-year mark are a small club.
Movies
Plays Fuchs
The Thing
1982
Plays Lance
The Rookie
1990
Plays U.S. Attorney
My Blue Heaven
1990
Plays Copeland
Alien Hunter
2003
Plays Dean Rabin
True Believer
1989
Plays William
Attraction
2001
Plays Tim Bergen
It's My Party
1996
Plays First Agent
Best Defense
1984
Plays Vice Principal
Tumbleweeds
1999
Plays Kerns
Those She Left Behind
1989
Plays Horace Millhouse
Fallen Angels
2007
Plays Jack Blund
Serial Killer
1995
TV Shows
Plays Gary
Cheers
1982
Plays Brian Murtagh
Fatal Vision
1984
Plays Quinn
Mister Sterling
2003
Plays Wes Davidson
Home Improvement
1991
Plays Donald
The Best Sex Ever
2002
Plays Vartan
Capital News
1990
Plays John Castagnacci
The Invisible Man
2000
Plays Jeff Hassett
St. Elsewhere
1982
Plays Dawson
Boston Public
2000
Plays Dr. Joel Friedman
Law & Order
1990
Plays Reilly
Seinfeld
1989
Plays Eldon Veckmer
Remington Steele
1982
Plays Silvio Peters
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
Plays John Jenkins
T. J. Hooker
1982
Plays Robert Wynn
CSI: Miami
2002
Plays Jerry Lazar
The Guardian
2001
Plays Pharmacist
Beverly Hills, 90210
1990
Plays Dr. Eaton
Judging Amy
1999
Plays Ny Terla
Star Trek: Voyager
1995
Plays Garland Ketter
Touched by an Angel
1994
Plays Gary Benton
Matlock
1986
Plays Agent Russell Gillson
The Pretender
1996
Plays (segment "The Uncle Devil Show")
The Twilight Zone
1985
Plays Administrator
The Unit
2006
Plays Frank Herbert
Moonlighting
1985
Plays Captain Franklin
Angel
1999
Plays Clark Risenhoover
CSI: NY
2004
Plays Colonel Glickman
Dharma & Greg
1997
Plays Larry Macklin
Diagnosis: Murder
1993
Plays Ted Jacob
7th Heaven
1996
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
The Thing Expanded
Full Filmography 62
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The Banker
2014Season 2
Growing Up Fisher
Richard Barr
2014Season 1
Rizzoli & Isles
Starbridge Warden
2013Season 4
NCIS
Ronald Ostrowski
2011Season 9
Castle
John Raglan
2010Season 3
Bones
Mario Trivisonno
2009Season 5
Stargate Atlantis
Elson
2008Season 5
Fallen Angels
Horace Millhouse
2007
CSI: NY
Clark Risenhoover
2007Season 4
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Joel Polis and where are they from?
Joel Polis is 75 years old, born on October 3, 1951 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Joel Polis?
Joel Polis is best known for roles in The Thing, The Rookie, My Blue Heaven.
How many movies has Joel Polis been in?
Over a 44-year career (since 1982), Joel Polis has appeared in 14 movies and 48 TV shows.
What was Joel Polis's first movie?
The career of Joel Polis began with The Thing (1982).
What is Joel Polis's most recent movie or series?
Joel Polis's most recent release is The Thing Expanded, which premiered on April 23, 2026.
What TV shows has Joel Polis appeared in?
On television, Joel Polis has appeared in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Bones, NCIS, Seinfeld.
Joel Polis
1951-10-03 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
An American television, film and stage actor. He has appeared in over one hundred television programs and films during his career. Polis' first film role was the character 'Fuchs' in the science fiction film The Thing. He appeared in numerous television series including Cheers, Alien Nation, Northern Exposure, Star Trek: Voyager, Roseanne, Seinfeld, Chicago Hope, Boston Legal and CSI. He appeared in a recurring role on the television series Cheers as the mischievous Gary, owner of the rival bar, Gary's Olde Towne Tavern. Polis's theater credits include performances at the Astor Place Theatre, Hartford Stage, Old Globe Theater, South Coast Repertory, Mark Taper Forum, Odyssey Theatre, Laguna Playhouse, Lillian Theater and the Pasadena Playhouse.