Joel Edward McHale, born on November 20, 1971, is an American-Canadian actor, comedian, and television presenter known for his exceptional talent and versatility. He first shot to fame as the host of The Soup from 2004 to 2015, tickling the audience's funny bones with his unique blend of humor and wit. In addition to hosting, his portrayal of Jeffrey 'Jeff' Winger on the NBC sitcom Community from 2009 to 2015 further validated his acting prowess. His film credits include notable roles in Spider-Man 2, Spy Kids: All the Time in the World, Ted, and The Happytime Murders.

Apart from his hosting and acting stints, McHale can also be recognized for his involvement in several other projects. He starred in the CBS sitcom The Great Indoors from 2016 to 2017, led a reboot of Card Sharks from 2019 to 2021, and is known for his portrayal of superhero Starman on Stargirl from 2020 to 2022. McHale continues to be active in the industry with a lead role in the Fox comedy series Animal Control (2023–present). His voice work includes roles in Lego Dimensions and Fortnite. McHale was born in Rome, Italy, to parents Jack McHale and Laurie. His father worked as the dean of students at Loyola University's Rome Center. McHale is of Irish and Norwegian descent, raised Catholic, and spent his early years living in different places, including Mercer Island, Washington, and Haddonfield, New Jersey.