Joel Courtney (born January 31, 1996)[1][2] is an American actor known for his role in the 2011 film Super 8 and for his starring role as Lee Flynn in Netflix's The Kissing Booth film series.

Joel Courtney
Courtney in 2018
Born (1996-01-31) January 31, 1996 (age 28)
OccupationActor
Years active2010–present
Spouse
Mia Scholink
(m. 2020)

Early life and education

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Courtney was born in Monterey, California, on January 31, 1996, and was raised in Moscow, Idaho,[3][4] where he attended Logos School, a Classical Christian school.[5] While still living in Idaho, Courtney took a trip to Los Angeles during the first week of his summer school break in 2010, where he hoped to be in a commercial and make $100.[1]

Career

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Casting director Patti Kalles advised Courtney to audition for Paramount Pictures' Super 8 (2011). After 11 callbacks,[6] Courtney landed the starring role of Joe Lamb in the film. At the 2012 Saturn Awards, Courtney won the award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor.

In August 2011, Courtney filmed Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn (2014) in Bulgaria, playing the part of Tom Sawyer.[7]

In 2012, Courtney filmed the supernatural thriller Don't Let Me Go (2016), playing a disgruntled teen who joins his father on a camping trip only to have a run-in with otherworldly forces. That same year, he appeared in the Fox TV movie Rogue.

In November 2012, Courtney was cast in the Stephen King film Mercy, which was released direct-to-video in 2014.[8]

In 2013, Courtney was cast in the direct-to-video indie films Dear Eleanor (2016)[9] and Sins of our Youth (2016).[10]

Courtney appeared in the lead ensemble of the CW Television Network series The Messengers, which was cancelled during its single 2014–15 season.

In 2016, Courtney had a one-episode role in the third season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Nathaniel Malick.[11]

Courtney played the lead in the indie project The River Thief (2016), directed by N. D. Wilson. In 2015, Courtney joined the cast of the indie film Replicate and, in 2016, joined the cast of the indie film F the Prom. In 2018, he starred in the Netflix film The Kissing Booth, a role he reprised in the film's 2020 sequel The Kissing Booth 2. Courtney also reprised his Kissing Booth role in the series' third film, The Kissing Booth 3, released in 2021.

In 2020, Courtney was cast in Lionsgate's Jesus Revolution, released in 2023.[12][13]

Personal life

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On February 14, 2020, he proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Mia Scholink. He married Scholink on September 27, 2020.[14][15]

Courtney's favorite book series are 100 Cupboards and Ashtown Burials, both by N. D. Wilson,[5] who directed the 2016 film The River Thief, which Courtney starred in.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role
2011 Super 8 Joe Lamb
2012 Spare Time Killers Young Tony
2013 Don't Let Me Go Nick Madsen
2014 Mercy Buddy Bruckner
Sins of Our Youth David
Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn Tom Sawyer
2016 Dear Eleanor Billy Hobgood
The River Thief Diz
2017 F the Prom Cole Reed
2018 Assimilate Zach Henderson
The Kissing Booth Lee Flynn
2020 The Kissing Booth 2 Lee Flynn
The Empty Man Brandon Maibum
2021 The Kissing Booth 3 Lee Flynn
2022 Sick Tyler Murphy
2023 Jesus Revolution Greg Laurie
2024 Players Little
TBA On Fire John O'Leary

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2011 The Haunting Hour: The Series John Westmore Episodes: "Creature Feature (Part 1)" and "Creature Feature (Part 2)"[16]
2012 Rogue Griffin Jones Television film
2015 The Messengers Peter Moore Main cast
2016 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nathaniel Malick Episode: "Paradise Lost"
2017 APB Luke Episode: "Daddy's Home"
2019 Double Dare Himself Contestant[17]
2020 Group Chat with Annie & Jayden Himself Episode: "Would You Rather Kiss"

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
2011 Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Best Ensemble Acting[18] Super 8 Won
Best Performance by a Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role - Male Super 8 Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Chemistry Super 8 Nominated
Choice Movie: Male Breakout Star Super 8 Nominated
2012 BAM Awards Best Performance by a Child Actor Super 8 Nominated
Coming of Age Awards Best Newcomer Super 8 Nominated
Saturn Awards Best Performance by a Young Actor Super 8 Won
YouReviewer Awards Breakthrough Actor Super 8 Nominated
Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actor Super 8 Nominated
Best Performance in a Feature Film - Young Ensemble Cast Super 8 Nominated
2024 Movieguide Awards Best Movie for Mature Audiences Jesus Revolution Won
Epiphany Prize for Most Inspiring Movie Jesus Revolution Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b Droganes, Constance (June 8, 2011). "J.J. Abrams rests Super 8's hopes on first-time actor". CTV News. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  2. ^ Joel Courtney Bio.
  3. ^ Tribune, JENNIFER K. BAUER of the (June 17, 2011). "Moscow youth gets starring turn in big summer flick". The Lewiston Tribune. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  4. ^ Bauer, Jennifer K. (June 17, 2011). "Moscow youth gets starring turn in big summer flick". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "FAQ — Joel Courtney". JoelCourtney.com. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  6. ^ "Rising Star: Super 8 Breakout Joel Courtney". Access Hollywood. June 9, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  7. ^ Sneider, Jeff (June 23, 2011). "Super 8 star is today's Tom Sawyer". Variety. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  8. ^ Kit, Borys (November 30, 2012). "Walking Dead, Super 8 Actors to Star in Stephen King's Mercy". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  9. ^ "Isabelle Fuhrman Joins Kevin Connolly-Helmed Dear Eleanor". Deadline Hollywood. May 23, 2013. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  10. ^ McNary, Dave (August 7, 2013). "Lucas Till, Joel Courtney, Ally Sheedy Join Sins of Our Youth". Variety. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  11. ^ "(#316) "Paradise Lost"". The Futon Critic. Archived from the original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  12. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (June 26, 2020). "Jim Gaffigan, Joel Courtney To Star In Jesus Revolution For Lionsgate & I Still Believe Producers". Deadline. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  13. ^ "The Jesus Revolution: Director discusses project being filmed in Mobile". al. March 20, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  14. ^ Todisco, Eric (February 10, 2020). "The Kissing Booth's Joel Courtney Is Engaged to Girlfriend Mia Scholink". People. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  15. ^ Cohen, Jess (September 30, 2020). "The Kissing Booth's Joel Courtney Marries Mia Scholink". Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  16. ^ R.L. The Haunting Hour: Behind the Screams - On the Set with Brendan Meyer & Joel Courtney Archived January 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ "Liza Koshy Welcomes KCA Nominees Ft. Pete Wentz, Emma Chamberlain, & More to Double Dare!". Nickelodeon. March 10, 2019 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "Phoenix Film Critic Society 2011 Awards". Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
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