Joel Perez

Actor | Writer | Director

As an actor, I’m drawn to characters navigating belief, intimacy, and power. As a writer and director, I build complex stories with grounded performances and striking visuals.

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Joel Perez wrote and directed The Upper Room which premiered at New Fest in 2025. He is also the director and co-writer of Villa Encanto which premiered at the Tribeca Festival and was executive produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda. He wrote and starred in Beautiful, FL which premiered on Disney+ in 2023.

Other writing includes Stir, a play commission and world premiere at the Old Globe Theater which was developed at The Huntington Theatre and received an Elliot Norton Award for Best New Script, Lost City Radio (NYSAF, Berkeley Rep Ground Floor, and Rhinebeck Writers Retreat), and Love in Gravity (Award winning narrative podcast series). He is a 2021 Warner Bros. Discovery 150 Artist Grant recipient for his original comedy pilot You’re Tired, You’re Poor which was optioned for development by 20th Television. He is the winner of the 2021 Voces Latinx National Playwriting Competition for his play From the Fountain. He is a 2019 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellow in Playwriting from NYFA.

His acting work includes Fun Home (Broadway), Kiss My Aztec! (Hartford Stage), As You Like It (The Public Theater), and Sweet Charity (New Group; Lortel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical). Film work includes tick, tick… Boom! (Netflix). TV work includes Hazbin Hotel (A24, Prime Video) Jesus Christ Superstar Live! (NBC), Person of Interest (CBS) and Odd Mom Out (Bravo). Follow him at @misterjoelperez.