Joe Hansard's film career began with a notable debut alongside Oscar winner Adolph Caesar in the feature film The Hitter (1978). He played the role of "Graveyard Redneck" and received his SAG card, marking a promising start for the teen from Baltimore.
As he grew older, Hansard's acting bug bit around age seven, when his mom Caroline brought him to an audition for the "King Fluff" laundry detergent commercial. This early exposure to the industry sparked a lifelong passion for acting.
Throughout his career, Hansard has taken on a wide range of roles, showcasing his versatility as an actor. Some of his most notable parts include:
* Portraying "Detective Tuggle" in Steven Soderbergh's The Knick (2014)
* Playing the lead role as New Jersey fugitive John Schlump in America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back (1988)
* Taking on the role of "Mr. Matusek," a harried high school teacher, in David Letterman's Worldwide Pants' debut feature film We Made This Movie (2012)
* Appearing as "Joe" in episode five of HBO's Veep (2012)
* Playing "Tim Womack" in the pilot episode of The Onion News Network (2011) for IFC
* Sharing screen time with Kip Pardue and Chris Matthews as "Cosgrove" in Dave Fraunces' Below the Beltway (2010)
Hansard has also had the opportunity to work on several notable projects, including:
* Playing the pivotal role of "Nathan Levi Boston" on the fifth and final season of David Simon's The Wire (2002) in the "React Quotes" episode
* Appearing as "Jimmy Lee Shields" in Simon's sister show Homicide: Life on the Street (1993) for NBC
* Sharing screen time with Laura Breckenridge in the MGM thriller Hit and Run (2009)
* Playing the role of bumbling ghost hunter "Joe Schmidt" in ParaAbnormal (2009) for The Blair Witch Project (1999) creator Eduardo Sanchez and company
As a favorite among indie filmmakers, Hansard's credits include:
* The Jim Jarmusch-produced feature film Explicit Ills (2008) directed by Mark Webber
* ParaAbnormal (2009) for The Blair Witch Project (1999) creator Eduardo Sanchez and company
With years of experience as both lead and supporting player, Hansard is known for his eclectic screen persona, which spans the gamut from hillbillies to the homeless. He has a knack for portraying lovable creeps, kooks, cops, and other memorable characters.
In addition to his work in film, Hansard has also ventured into writing and directing. He wrote and directed the award-winning comedy short Lost in Transportation (2005),a buddy movie starring close friend and fellow "Wire" alum Frederick Strother. The story is based on Hansard's former real-life occupation as a baggage handler at BWI International Airport and won First Place in the Comedy Category at the 2006 Mid Atlantic Film Festival. It was also featured in Kevin Smith's "Movies Askew" online film festival.
Hansard is currently co-writing a feature-length version of Lost in Transportation, retitled "Lug Nuts," with screenwriter Paul Freeman. He is actively pitching the project as a feature film or TV series to anyone who will listen.
