Joe Lo Truglio was born in Ozone Park, Queens, New York, and spent his childhood in Margate, Florida. He is the son of Helen (Lynch) and Joseph Lo Truglio, and is of Italian and Irish descent. Growing up, Joe was fascinated by Mad magazines, horror movies, fishing, and drawing homemade comics. He attended Coconut Creek High School, where he was a member of Thespian troupe 2617 and won the coveted "Critic's Choice" award for his duo scene performance in the Thespian VII district competition at Santaluces High School.
After graduating in 1988, Joe went on to attend the New York University Film School, where he met his future colleagues and co-founded the cult sketch group, "The State". During this time, he also indulged in late-night sidewalk-stencil missions inspired by the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger. After a stint on MTV, Joe and his cohorts found themselves "pistol-whipped" by the realities of network television.
Following "The State's" hiatus in 1996, Joe settled in Hell's Kitchen and immersed himself in commercial, video-game, and TV episodic work. He found a local watering hole, played poker, and trash-talked Los Angeles, where he would eventually move 10 years later.
Around the turn of the millennium, Joe returned to independent film work with projects like "Wet Hot American Summer" and "The Station Agent". He has since balanced writing and producing web series with bike rides and matinées. Joe continues to relish jumping between studio and indie flicks, and still enjoys a good Guinness and Jameson, his favorite buddy-comedy.
