Joel David Moore (born September 25, 1977) is an American character actor 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 Moore was born on September 25, 1977, in Portland, Oregon, the son of Missy (née Irvine) and John Moore. Moore was raised in Portland, where his family resided in the Mount Tabor neighborhood. He graduated from Benson Polytechnic High School in 1995.

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 in 2001 and performed for two summers at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Career 2000–2007: Early roles 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.

In 2000, he moved to Los Angeles, California, and appeared in several television commercials, including ones for eBay, Cingular Wireless, and Best Buy. 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. This was followed by roles in the films Grandma's Boy, and as a jaded art student in Terry Zwigoff's Art School Confidential (both 2006). The same year, he also had a lead role in the independent slasher film Hatchet, 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 his directorial debut with the psychological thriller Spiral, which he filmed in his hometown of Portland, and co-starred in with Amber Tamblyn.

2008–present: Acting and directing In 2008, he was cast in the supporting role of Dr. Norm Spellman in James Cameron's Avatar (2009). The same year, he was cast as intern Colin Fisher on the Fox series Bones, 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. He also starred alongside Katy Perry in her 2009 music video for "Waking Up in Vegas".

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

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

In 2016, he directed his second feature, Youth in Oregon, starring Frank Langella, Christina Applegate and Billy Crudup. 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).

Filmography Acting roles Film Year Title Role Notes 1996 Foxfire First Geek 2000 Drug Wars, The High Times Jake2004 Raising Genius Rolf Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story Owen Dittman 2005 Reel Guerrillas Nick Walker The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning2006 Grandma's Boy J.P. Pound employee Art School Confidential Bardo Miles from Home Miles Short film The Elder Son Kenny Hatchet Ben2007 American Hustle 3rd Spartan El Muerto Issac "Zak" Silver Spiral Mason Also co-director and co-screenwriter Shanghai Kiss Joe Silverman2008 Nate CooperGolden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Couple (with Paris Hilton) Wieners Greg King Sam Hane Short film Fairy Tale Police Big Bad Wolf2009 Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Corey Finley Bed Ridden Jay Short film Stuntmen Troy Lebowski Avatar Dr. Norm Spellman2010 Peter Short film Janie Jones Dave2011 Chillerama Adolf Hitler Segment: "The Diary of Anne Frankenstein" Grassroots Grant Cogswell Julia X 3D Sam Shark Night Gordon Guthrie2012 Gone Nick Massey Jewtopia Adam Lipschitz Savages Craig2013 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 Guy2022 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 Fitzsimmons2025 Kinda Pregnant Mark Avatar: Fire and Ash Dr. Norm Spellman

Television Year Title Role Notes 2001 City Guys Hoover 1 episode 2001–2002 Boston Public Hartzell 2 episodes2002 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 Television film Malcolm Reeves Episode: "Sparkle" 2004–2005 LAX Eddie Carson Recurring role, 9 episodes2005 Cooked Mike Television film 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 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 role2017 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 2025 "The Great Unknown" Ice Nine Kills

Filmmaking roles Feature Film Year Title Director Producer WriterNotes 2007 Spiral 2012Killing Winston Jones Cancelled film release 2016 Youth in Oregon 2021 Hide and Seek 2023 Some Other Woman

As producer Etienne! (2009) The Immaculate Room (2022) Bride Hard (2025) Dead Man's Wire (2025) The Leader (2026) As executive producer Shadowheart (2009) Jewtopia (2012) Stuck (2014) Paint (2023) Desperation Road (2023)

Short Film Year Title Director Writer 2006 Miles from Home 2009 Found 2010 Hours Before

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