Joel Spence
Joel has been performing improvisational and sketch comedy at UCBTLA since 2005. He’s a member of the house team Sentimental Lady, as well as the improvised movie team Deep Focus, and Soundtrack. He’s also appeared in ASSSSCAT, America’s Best Comic, Dirtiest Sketch Contest, Cleanest Sketch (winner!), Gallery Of Evil, Fucked Up and Illegal Videos, and Freak Dance at UCBTLA. He studied improv under Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh, Seth Morris and many others.
Joel grew up in San Antonio, TX and went to S.M.U. in Dallas where he received a B.F.A. in Acting. After graduating he moved to Minnesota and co-founded The Hidden Theatre. In 1995 he joined Theatre de la Jeune Lune and by 2000 had performed in over 20 productions there. From 2000-01, Joel studied at l’Ecole Philippe Gaulier in London, England and wrote/ co-starred in One Night Only, a comedy that had a successful and critically acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Festival.
Joel has a recurring role as Detective Hodges in The Good Guys on Fox. He has also appeared on T.V. shows such as Big Love, Dirt, Reno 911, My Name Is Earl, Judging Amy, Andy Barker PI, Burn Notice, Rita Rocks, and The District. He appeared in such features as Freak Dance, Killing the Dream (Best Film – 2004 Temecula Film Festival) and Alleyball (Best Feature – SoCal Film Festival 2006).
Guest Appearances
June 7, 2023
Musical guest Lucero returns along with Will Hines, Joel Spence and Sean Conroy for this week’s improv4humans with Matt Besser!
March 29, 2023
Singer-songwriter Charlotte Cornfield joins improvisers Vic Michaelis and Joel Spence for this week’s improv4humans!
October 27, 2022
After losing a battle with a young Earthling armed with nothing but a hatchet on a rope, the Predator Hunting League hold a post-game press conference on their planet, Yautja Prime. Interviews with the coach of the deceased Predator hunter (Ben Rodgers); the widow (Anna Salinas); the league commissioner and planet’s Minister of Defense (Joel Spence); director of hunter technology (Billy Merritt), and cocky newcomer Predator hunter (Mookie Blaiklock) next up to battle Earth. The press conference gets hot covering topics such as the eating owners’ wives scandal; the skull helmet injuries controversy; the new season of Real Predator Hunter Wives; Predator planet SNL hosting rumors; and criticism over too much rattle snake killing.
June 15, 2022
Legendary musician Steve Earle joins Brian Huskey, Joel Spence and Matt Besser for a special improv4humans! Steve performs songs off his new tribute album to Jerry Jeff Walker that inspire scenes about writing a song for a salesman, buying up a ghost town, bringing up dead dogs out of nowhere, returning a smashed guitar, and more!
Check out Steve’s new album JERRY JEFF here.
February 17, 2021
Horatio Sanz and Joel Spence join Matt Besser for this week’s improv4humans! They’ll perform scenes about underwear drones, cool car chase maneuvers, a realistic game of Assassin, and more.
October 7, 2020
Musical guest Carolyn Mark joins improvisers Joel Spence, Lisa Gilroy, and Vic Michaelis for part three of our special #SaveOurStages livestream supporting the National Independent Venue Association! Carolyn plays songs that inspire scenes about an exciting new mistress, a comedian with serious crowd work, and more.
Find out how you can take action at www.saveourstages.com