| Joseph Lee | |
| Birth Name: | Lee Joe-yun |
| Birth Date: | 29 December 1987 |
| Birth Place: | Arizona, United States |
| Years Active: | 2011–present |
Lee Joe-yun (born December 29, 1987), known professionally as Joseph Lee, is an American actor and artist. He is best known for his role in the Netflix limited series Beef (2023), which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
Lee was born in Arizona and raised in Indiana.[1] He started acting in high school.[2] He studied political science with a minor in history at Purdue University in Indiana.[1] He moved to Los Angeles, California, in the early 2010s to pursue acting, but soon additionally took up painting, especially portraits, inspired by inherited photographs of his late father.[3] Though it began as a hobby, art became a significant part of his career as his work developed a following on Instagram.[2] [4]
In 2018, Lee worked in South Korea as an actor in the drama series The Miracle We Met.[1]
Lee played George Nakai, the sculptor husband of Amy Lau (Ali Wong), in the comedy drama Beef, which was released on Netflix on April 6, 2023.[1] [3] He found the show "refreshing" in its layered portrayal of Asian-American life.[1] [5] At the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, he was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Beef.[6]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 2011 | Nerve | Eric | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 2015 | Lion | Ken | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 2018 | Searching | Peter | |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 2014 | Rizzoli & Isles | Eric Chen | Episode: "If You Can't Stand the Heat" |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 2016 | Sung Ahn | Episode: "Seoul Man" | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 2018 | Geum Sung-moo | Main role; 5 episodes | |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 2023 | Beef | George Nakai | Main role; 10 episodes Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie |
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 2023 | Lt. Mura | 10 episodes | |