Joe Chrest is a multifaceted individual with a rich background in both military service and the arts. Prior to pursuing his passion for acting, Chrest served in the United States Air Force, where he was recognized for his Cold War service and expert marksmanship.
Chrest's journey in the arts began with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Directing from Marshall University in West Virginia, followed by a Master of Fine Arts degree from Louisiana State University.
Throughout his illustrious career, Chrest has appeared in over 100 screen roles and more than 60 plays and musicals. One of his earliest notable performances was as the malevolent bellhop, Ben, in Steven Soderbergh's King of the Hill in 1993.
Chrest's versatility as an actor is exemplified by his ability to take on a wide range of characters, from the quiet and steely sharpshooter, Mitchell, in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 in 2015, to the nerdy dad, David Schmidt, in 22 Jump Street in 2014, and the despicable Southern aristocrat, James Eakins, in Free State of Jones in 2016.
Onstage, Chrest has performed at prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, working with renowned directors including Tony Award-winning Gordon Davidson and Jerry Zaks, and London Theatre Award winner and Olivier Award nominee, Barry Kyle.
Chrest is also a founding member of the regional theatre, Swine Palace, and is the Founding Artistic Director of Ignition Film Repertory Company, a company dedicated to nurturing and producing original works for the screen.
In his personal life, Chrest is married to choreographer Christine Chrest, and the couple has two children, Nicolas and Samantha.
