Born in the state of Minnesota, Joel McKinnon Miller embarked on a journey of artistic expression by studying opera and theatre at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Following his academic pursuits, he relocated to New York City, where he joined John Houseman's esteemed acting troupe, The Acting Company, and spent three years touring the United States, performing classic productions across the country.
After his tenure with The Acting Company, Joel transitioned to the world of Off-Broadway theatre, collaborating with renowned director Joseph Papp at The Public Theatre and gaining valuable experience in regional theatre productions.
In 1991, Joel made his television debut on the popular sitcom Murphy Brown, marking the beginning of a prolific career in television. Throughout his career, he has accumulated an impressive array of television credits, including roles on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Everybody Loves Raymond, The X-Files, ER, Las Vegas, Glee, Longmire, Bones, American Horror Story, Station 19, and the HBO Max mini-series The Staircase.
Joel's film credits include notable releases such as The Truman Show, Super 8, The Family Man, and Friday After Next.
The actor is perhaps most well-known for his portrayal of Detective Norm Scully on the NBC hit series Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a role he held for eight seasons from 2013 to 2021. Additionally, he is recognized for his performance as Don Embry on HBO's critically acclaimed drama Big Love, which spanned five seasons from 2006 to 2011.
In 2023, Joel starred in and executive produced the indie film Wardcliffe.
When not working on his various projects, Joel splits his time between California and his native Minnesota with his wife of 40 years, Tamara. The couple has two grown children, one son-in-law, and a world-famous canine companion named Elliot.
