Joe, a native of Boston, hails from Charlestown, where he spent his formative years in the Irish neighborhood of West Roxbury. Growing up, Joe was an avid ice hockey player and worked concurrently as a landscaper, stagehand, and hockey coach, developing a strong foundation in teamwork and physical labor. His academic trajectory began at Boston Latin, followed by Stonehill College, where he pursued a degree in theatre.
In 2005, Joe embarked on an apprenticeship at the prestigious Williamstown Theatre Festival, under the artistic direction of the renowned Roger Rees. This experience laid the groundwork for his subsequent studies at the Eugene O'Neill Theater in Waterford, Connecticut, as part of the National Theatre Institute's esteemed ensemble. The University of Florida subsequently offered Joe a full scholarship to further hone his acting skills, culminating in his MFA thesis performance as Shelley Levene in David Mamet's GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, directed by his mentor, Tim Altmeyer.
Joe's most recent project, the solo play BULGER BOYS, tells the origin story of Whitey and Billy Bulger of South Boston, which premiered at the Hollywood Fringe Festival and later made its way to the Edinburgh Fringe in the summer of 2024. Currently, Joe is working on the script for a story about the life of Vincent Van Gogh and his relationship with fellow painter Paul Gauguin, a testament to his versatility as a writer and performer.
