Acting
Joel Polis
Born Oct 3, 1951 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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.
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Acting
The Thing Expanded
2026
Documentary · Horror
The Men of Outpost 31
2016
Documentary
Growing Up Fisher
2014
Comedy
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
2013
Drama · Sci-Fi & Fantasy · Action & Adventure
Rizzoli & Isles
2010
Crime · Drama · Mystery
The Forgotten
2009
Crime · Drama
Chasing a Dream
2009
TV Movie · Drama · Family
Castle
2009
Drama · Crime
Fallen Angels
2007
Horror
The Unit
2006
Action & Adventure · Drama
Bones
2005
Crime · Drama
Boston Legal
2004
Comedy · Drama
CSI: NY
2004
Crime · Drama · Mystery
Stargate Atlantis
2004
Sci-Fi & Fantasy · Action & Adventure · Drama
Swallow
2004
Drama · Crime
NCIS
2003
Crime · Drama · Action & Adventure
Alien Hunter
2003
Science Fiction · Action · Adventure
Mister Sterling
2003
Drama · War & Politics
Without a Trace
2002
Crime · Mystery · Action & Adventure
CSI: Miami
2002
Drama · Mystery · Crime
The Best Sex Ever
2002
Drama · Sci-Fi & Fantasy
The Guardian
2001
Drama
Attraction
2001
Thriller · Romance
Boston Public
2000
Drama
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
Crime · Drama · Mystery
Rocket's Red Glare
2000
Science Fiction · Drama · Family
Bull
2000
Drama
The Invisible Man
2000
Comedy · Sci-Fi & Fantasy · Drama
Tumbleweeds
1999
Comedy · Drama
Angel
1999
Sci-Fi & Fantasy · Drama
Judging Amy
1999
Drama
L.A. Doctors
1998
Drama
The Thing: Terror Takes Shape
1998
Documentary
Dharma & Greg
1997
Comedy
Ally McBeal
1997
Drama · Comedy
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
1997
Documentary · Mystery · Reality
The Sleepwalker Killing
1997
Thriller · Crime · TV Movie
Prison of Secrets
1997
Drama · TV Movie · Crime
The Pretender
1996
Drama · Mystery · Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Dark Angel
1996
Thriller · Mystery · TV Movie
7th Heaven
1996
Family · Drama · Comedy
Twilight Man
1996
Thriller · Action · TV Movie
It's My Party
1996
Drama
Never Say Never: The Deidre Hall Story
1995
TV Movie · Drama
Serial Killer
1995
Thriller
Star Trek: Voyager
1995
Sci-Fi & Fantasy · Drama · Action & Adventure
Touched by an Angel
1994
Sci-Fi & Fantasy · Drama · Family
Chicago Hope
1994
Soap · Drama
Party of Five
1994
Drama
One West Waikiki
1994
Drama · Crime
Diagnosis: Murder
1993
Drama · Family · Mystery
The Larry Sanders Show
1992
Comedy
Deadly Medicine
1991
Drama · TV Movie · Thriller
Home Improvement
1991
Comedy
The Rookie
1990
Action · Crime · Drama
Beverly Hills, 90210
1990
Drama
Law & Order
1990
Crime · Drama
My Blue Heaven
1990
Action · Comedy · Crime
Northern Exposure
1990
Comedy · Drama · Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Burning Bridges
1990
Drama · TV Movie
Capital News
1990
Drama
Doogie Howser, M.D.
1989
Drama · Comedy
Alien Nation
1989
Sci-Fi & Fantasy · Action & Adventure · Drama
Seinfeld
1989
Comedy
Those She Left Behind
1989
Drama
True Believer
1989
Crime · Drama
Matlock
1986
Drama · Crime
Misfits of Science
1985
Action & Adventure · Comedy · Drama
The Twilight Zone
1985
Sci-Fi & Fantasy · Drama · Mystery
Moonlighting
1985
Comedy · Drama · Mystery
Fatal Vision
1984
Drama
Best Defense
1984
Comedy · War
All The Kids Do It
1984
The Hitchhiker
1983
Drama · Crime
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
1983
Action & Adventure · Drama · Crime
Born Beautiful
1982
Drama · TV Movie
St. Elsewhere
1982
Drama
Remington Steele
1982
Drama · Family · Comedy
Cheers
1982
Comedy
The Thing
1982
Horror · Mystery · Science Fiction
Cagney & Lacey
1982
Crime · Drama
T. J. Hooker
1982
Drama · Crime