Joseph Lee (born December 29, 1987) is an American actor and visual artist best known for his Emmy-nominated performance as George Nakai in the Netflix/A24 limited series Beef (2023), in which he brought depth and nuance to the role of a devoted sculptor and conflicted husband. Lee’s film credits include Nerve (2011), Lion (2015), Searching (2018), and the 2025 romantic comedy Materialists (Trevor). His television work encompasses guest turns on Rizzoli & Isles (2014) and NCIS: Los Angeles (2016), a main role in the Korean drama The Miracle We Met (2018), a recurring part as Lt. Mura in Star Trek: Picard (2023), and a 2025 arc on Law & Order: Organized Crime (A-Seong Gan). He is also slated to portray Hideo, a deadly ninja assassin, in Neuromancer, an upcoming Apple TV+ cyberpunk sci-fi adaptation of William Gibson’s novel. Additionally, Lee has ventured into the Star Wars universe as the voice of Jin-Sim Canbelon in “The Bounty Hunters,” a short film within Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 (2025). Beyond acting, he is an accomplished painter with exhibitions around the world.
