Joel McHale, born Joel Edward McHale on November 20, 1971, in Rome, Italy, is a well-known actor and comedian. His mother, Laurie, is Canadian-born with Norwegian, Finnish, and English ancestry, while his father, Jack, is American-born with Irish descent. McHale was raised in Seattle, Washington, where he graduated from Mercer Island High School. He pursued higher education at the University of Washington, earning a bachelor's degree in history and playing as a tight end for the Husky football team. McHale also holds a master's of fine arts from UW's Actor's Training Program.

McHale's career took off with roles in television shows such as "Will & Grace" and "Oliver Beene." He gained significant recognition as the host of "The Soup" on E!, where his sharp wit and comedic timing made the show a pop-culture phenomenon. McHale is perhaps best known for his role as Jeff Winger on the hit comedy series "Community." He has also appeared in films like "Spider-Man 2," "The Informant!," "Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World," and "Ted." McHale continues to perform stand-up comedy across the country and resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Sarah Williams, and their two sons.