Joel Polis
Acting • Born 1951-10-03
Biography
An American television, film and stage actor. He has appeared in over one hundred television programs and films during his career. Polis' first film role was the character 'Fuchs' in the science fiction film The Thing. He appeared in numerous television series including Cheers, Alien Nation, Northern Exposure, Star Trek: Voyager, Roseanne, Seinfeld, Chicago Hope, Boston Legal and CSI. He appeared in a recurring role on the television series Cheers as the mischievous Gary, owner of the rival bar, Gary's Olde Towne Tavern. Polis's theater credits include performances at the Astor Place Theatre, Hartford Stage, Old Globe Theater, South Coast Repertory, Mark Taper Forum, Odyssey Theatre, Laguna Playhouse, Lillian Theater and the Pasadena Playhouse.
Filmography
81 credits
The Thing
Movie • 1982
Fuchs
Burning Bridges
Movie • 1990
Dr. Paletsky
Shadows
Movie • 2000
Kapo
Serial Killer
Movie • 1995
Jack Blund
Deadly Medicine
Movie • 1991
Dr. George Reardon
Prison of Secrets
Movie • 1997
Brad
Twilight Man
Movie • 1996
Harper
Rocket's Red Glare
Movie • 2000
Col. Mitchell
Those She Left Behind
Movie • 1989
Kerns
The Thing: Terror Takes Shape
Movie • 1998
Self
All The Kids Do It
Movie • 1984
Coach
Best Defense
Movie • 1984
First Agent
The Rookie
Movie • 1990
Lance
Chasing a Dream
Movie • 2009
Dr. Aldicott
Alien Hunter
Movie • 2003
Copeland
True Believer
Movie • 1989
Dean Rabin
My Blue Heaven
Movie • 1990
U.S. Attorney
Attraction
Movie • 2001
William
Swallow
Movie • 2004
Agent Miller
Tumbleweeds
Movie • 1999
Vice Principal
Born Beautiful
Movie • 1982
Ted
The Thing Expanded
Movie • 2026
Self
Dark Angel
Movie • 1996
Jastrow
Fallen Angels
Movie • 2007
Horace Millhouse
The Sleepwalker Killing
Movie • 1997
Asst. Atty. Jimmy
It's My Party
Movie • 1996
Tim Bergen
St. Elsewhere
TV • 1982
Jeff Hassett
Boston Public
TV • 2000
Dawson
Cheers
TV • 1982
Gary
Law & Order
TV • 1990
Dr. Joel Friedman
Seinfeld
TV • 1989
Reilly
Remington Steele
TV • 1982
Eldon Veckmer
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
TV • 2000
Silvio Peters
T. J. Hooker
TV • 1982
John Jenkins
Home Improvement
TV • 1991
Wes Davidson
CSI: Miami
TV • 2002
Robert Wynn
The Guardian
TV • 2001
Jerry Lazar
Judging Amy
TV • 1999
Dr. Eaton
Beverly Hills, 90210
TV • 1990
Pharmacist
Star Trek: Voyager
TV • 1995
Ny Terla
Touched by an Angel
TV • 1994
Garland Ketter
Matlock
TV • 1986
Gary Benton
The Pretender
TV • 1996
Agent Russell Gillson
The Twilight Zone
TV • 1985
(segment "The Uncle Devil Show")
The Unit
TV • 2006
Administrator
Moonlighting
TV • 1985
Frank Herbert
Angel
TV • 1999
Captain Franklin
CSI: NY
TV • 2004
Clark Risenhoover
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
TV • 1983
Dharma & Greg
TV • 1997
Colonel Glickman
Mister Sterling
TV • 2003
Quinn
Cagney & Lacey
TV • 1982
Diagnosis: Murder
TV • 1993
Larry Macklin
7th Heaven
TV • 1996
Ted Jacob
The Invisible Man
TV • 2000
John Castagnacci
Chicago Hope
TV • 1994
Sidney Herman
Boston Legal
TV • 2004
Attorney Eric Yavitch
The Hitchhiker
TV • 1983
Carl
Bull
TV • 2000
Eddie Dodd
TV • 1991
Rizzoli & Isles
TV • 2010
Starbridge Warden
Castle
TV • 2009
John Raglan
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
TV • 2013
The Banker
The Best Sex Ever
TV • 2002
Donald
One West Waikiki
TV • 1994
Fatal Vision
TV • 1984
Brian Murtagh
Stargate Atlantis
TV • 2004
Elson
NCIS
TV • 2003
Ronald Ostrowski
Bones
TV • 2005
Mario Trivisonno
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
TV • 1997
Dr. Sapperstein (segment "Morning Sickness")
Without a Trace
TV • 2002
Joel Landers
Misfits of Science
TV • 1985
Lonnie / Dwayne
Capital News
TV • 1990
Vartan
Ally McBeal
TV • 1997
Attorney Woodson
The Forgotten
TV • 2009
Judge Cooperman
Growing Up Fisher
TV • 2014
Richard Barr
L.A. Doctors
TV • 1998
ER Doctor
Northern Exposure
TV • 1990
Matthew Miller
Party of Five
TV • 1994
Dr. Michael Frieder
Alien Nation
TV • 1989
Carl Peterson
The Larry Sanders Show
TV • 1992
Ron