Lee Joe-yun (born December 29, 1987), known professionally as Joseph Lee, is an American actor and artist. He is best known for his role in the Netflix limited series Beef (2023), which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
Career
Lee was born in Arizona and raised in Indiana. He started acting in high school. He studied political science with a minor in history at Purdue University in Indiana. He moved to Los Angeles, California, in the early 2010s to pursue acting, but soon additionally took up painting, especially portraits, inspired by inherited photographs of his late father. Though it began as a hobby, art became a significant part of his career as his work developed a following on Instagram.
In 2018, Lee worked in South Korea as an actor in the drama series The Miracle We Met.
Lee played George Nakai, the sculptor husband of Amy Lau (Ali Wong), in the comedy drama Beef, which was released on Netflix on April 6, 2023. He found the show "refreshing" in its layered portrayal of Asian-American life. At the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, he was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Beef.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes2011NerveEric2015LionKen2018SearchingPeter2025 Materialists Trevor
Television Year Title Role Notes2014Rizzoli & IslesEric ChenEpisode: "If You Can't Stand the Heat"2016NCIS: Los AngelesSung AhnEpisode: "Seoul Man"2018Geum Sung-mooMain role; 5 episodes2023BeefGeorge NakaiMain role; 10 episodes2023Star Trek: PicardLt. Mura10 episodes2025Law & Order: Organized CrimeA-Seong Gan2 episodes2025–2026Wylde PakJonathan (voice)3 episodes2025Star Wars: VisionsJin-Sim (voice)Episode: "The Bounty Hunters"TBANeuromancerHideo
Video games Year Title Role Notes2026Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4Kal
Awards and nominations +YearAwardWorkCategoryResult 2023Primetime Emmy Awards BeefPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
References
External links