Joseph Owen Thomas (born 28 October 1983) is an English actor and comedian. He is best known for his breakthrough role as Simon Cooper in the E4 teen sitcom The Inbetweeners (2008–2010) and its two film adaptations, The Inbetweeners Movie (2011) and The Inbetweeners 2 (2014).
After The Inbetweeners concluded, Thomas remained connected to Channel 4, joining the cast of comedy-drama series Fresh Meat in 2011, playing Kingsley Owen until 2016. He was reunited with his Inbetweeners colleague James Buckley when they both joined the cast of BBC Two sitcom White Gold, where Thomas played Martin Lavender. In 2018, he starred in the comedy film The Festival, which was directed by Iain Morris, who co-created The Inbetweeners alongside his writing partner Damon Beesley.
Early life and education Joseph Owen Thomas was born on 28 October 1983 in Chelmsford, Essex, the first of four boys.
He attended King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford before studying history at Pembroke College, Cambridge. At the University of Cambridge, Thomas was a member of the Footlights, alongside his future Inbetweeners co-star Simon Bird. Bird and Thomas served as the president and secretary of Footlights, respectively, from 2005–2006.
After his graduation in 2006, Thomas briefly shared a flat with Bird and fellow Pembroke graduate and Footlights alumnus Jonny Sweet.
Career
After entering the performing arts via the Footlights, Thomas performed with fellow University of Cambridge students at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in a production of All's Well That Ends Well directed by author Duncan Barrett. Thomas was in a double act along with Sweet, and they have performed their show, The Jonny and Joe Show, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Thomas' big break in television was his role as Simon Cooper in The Inbetweeners, which was successful enough to spawn the two feature films The Inbetweeners Movie (2011) and The Inbetweeners 2 (2014). Together with Simon Bird and writing partner Jonny Sweet, he wrote Chickens, a satirical sketch about three conscientious objectors during World War I. It was broadcast as part of Channel 4's Comedy Showcase in 2011. In 2012, it was picked up by Sky One, which commissioned a full, six-episode series;Sky orders full series of wartime sitcom Chickens, retrieved 23 February 2012. filming began in late 2012 and debuted in August 2013.
Following this, Thomas starred in the student sitcom Fresh Meat as Kingsley Owen and played a maths teacher in the first episode of the second series of Threesome. In 2017, he began starring in the sitcom White Gold, along with his other Inbetweeners co-star James Buckley.
In 2018, Thomas starred in the comedy film The Festival, which was directed by Iain Morris, Also in that year, he began work on Proposal, a comedy radio series announced as part of BBC Radio 2's spring "funny fortnight", in which he plays Jamie, a man preparing to propose to his girlfriend Lucy (Pearl Mackie).
In 2021, Thomas performed in his own show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Personal life Thomas started dating fellow Inbetweeners star Hannah Tointon in 2010. After getting engaged, they were living on the Barbican Estate, London, in 2017. In October 2022, they announced the birth of their first child, a girl.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes2011 The Inbetweeners Movie Simon Cooper A Trick of the Light Joe (voice)Short film 2012 Straw Donkey Tom 2014 The Inbetweeners 2 Simon Cooper 2015 Scottish Mussel Danny 2016 The Darkest Universe Toby 2018 The Festival Nick Taylor2022We Are Not AloneGreggs 2023 Mummies Thut (voice) 2025 Universal Leo TBA The Inbetweeners 3 Simon Cooper
Television Year Title Role Notes 1997 Robot Wars Himself (contestant) Series 1, Episode 6 2008–2010 The Inbetweeners Simon Cooper 18 episodes 2010 Comedy Showcase George Episode: "Chickens" 2011–2016 Fresh Meat Kingsley Owen 30 episodes 2012 Threesome Teacher Episode: "Back to School" 2013 Chickens George 6 episodes; also creator and writer 2017–2019 White Gold Martin Lavender 12 episodes; also writer of 2 episodes 2019 Celebrity Mastermind Himself (contestant) Series 17, Episode 5 The Inbetweeners: Fwends Reunited Himself Special Taskmaster Himself (contestant) Series 82021House of Games Himself (contestant) Series 5, Week 32022Would I Lie to You? Himself (guest) 1 episodeHobby Man Himself (guest) 1 episodeRhod Gilbert's Growing Pains Himself (guest) Series 4, Episode 4The Greatest Snowman Himself (contestant) 1 episode2023Great British Bake Off: Stand up to CancerHimself (contestant)1 episode; Star BakerBetween the Covers Himself (guest) 1 episodeMaternal Dr. Matt Malyon 6 episodes2024Rob Beckett's Smart TV Himself (guest) Series 1, Episode 62025Celebrity Bear Hunt Himself (contestant) Series 12026 New Zealand Spy Michael Anderson Main cast (6 episodes); also writer
Theatre Year Title Role Venue 2023 The Crown Jewels Tom Blood Jr/Suitor Garrick Theatre
References
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