# Joel Gretsch
**Joel Gretsch** (birth name Joel James Gretsch) is an American actor born in 1963 in [St. Cloud, Minnesota](https://www.edgepedia.org/st-cloud-minnesota), known for lead and recurring roles in science fiction television, especially as Tom Baldwin on *The 4400* and Father Jack Landry on *V*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340408/bio/) • [2](https://www.fandango.com/people/joel-gretsch-271542/biography) His film work includes Bobby Jones in [Robert Redford](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-redford)'s *The Legend of Bagger Vance*, a role in [Steven Spielberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/steven-spielberg)'s *Minority Report*, and Thomas Gates in *National Treasure: Book of Secrets*.[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/joel-gretsch-271542/biography) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340408/bio/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1963, St. Cloud, Minnesota; birth name Joel James Gretsch[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340408/bio/) |
| Training | Studied acting at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis; also studied with Larry Moss; moved to Los Angeles in 1989[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/joel-gretsch-271542/biography) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/gretsch-joel-1963) • [4](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-38777/biographie/) |
| Signature TV roles | Owen Crawford in *Taken* (2002); Tom Baldwin in *The 4400* (2004, four seasons); Father Jack Landry in *V* (2009)[8](https://www.buddytv.com/actors/joel-gretsch/) • [2](https://www.fandango.com/people/joel-gretsch-271542/biography) |
| Notable films | *The Legend of Bagger Vance* (2000), *Minority Report* (2002), *The Emperor's Club*, *National Treasure: Book of Secrets* (2007), *Push* (2009)[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/joel-gretsch-271542/biography) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340408/bio/) |
| Recurring guest roles | NCIS Special Agent Stan Burley on *NCIS* (2003–2015, 4 episodes); Peter Maxwell on *The Vampire Diaries* (2016–2017, 7 episodes)[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340408/) |
| Family | Married to Melanie Shatner since September 5, 1999; two daughters, Kaya (born 2002) and Willow (born 2005)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340408/bio/) |
## Training and early career
Gretsch studied acting at the [Guthrie Theater](https://www.edgepedia.org/guthrie-theater) in [Minneapolis](https://www.edgepedia.org/minneapolis) and also studied with the acting teacher Larry Moss before moving to Los Angeles in 1989 to pursue an acting career.[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/joel-gretsch-271542/biography) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/gretsch-joel-1963) • [4](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-38777/biographie/) On stage he appeared in a small production of *Tartuffe* and then in a leading role in *Danny and the Deep Blue Sea*.[4](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-38777/biographie/)
**Television debut.** His screen debut was a bit role in the pilot episode of the short-lived series *Freshman Dorm*, and through the 1990s he accumulated guest appearances on established shows including *Married... with Children*, *Saved by the Bell: The New Class*, *Melrose Place*, *Friends*, *JAG*, *Pacific Blue*, and *Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction*.[8](https://www.buddytv.com/actors/joel-gretsch/) His first film appearance came in 1999 with a supporting role in the thriller *Kate's Addiction*.[8](https://www.buddytv.com/actors/joel-gretsch/)
## Breakthrough and science fiction work
Gretsch's first major break was the role of golfer Bobby Jones in the [Will Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/will-smith) and [Matt Damon](https://www.edgepedia.org/matt-damon) drama *The Legend of Bagger Vance* (2000), directed by Robert Redford.[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/joel-gretsch-271542/biography) • [4](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-38777/biographie/) A part in Steven Spielberg's alien-abduction miniseries *Taken* (2002) followed, in which he played Owen Crawford, a ruthless Air Force captain who stops at nothing, including sacrificing his family, to investigate visitors from outer space after the Roswell crash.[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/joel-gretsch-271542/biography) • [8](https://www.buddytv.com/actors/joel-gretsch/) The same year he appeared in Spielberg's theatrical science fiction film *Minority Report* alongside [Tom Cruise](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-cruise).[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/joel-gretsch-271542/biography) • [4](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-38777/biographie/)
**The 4400.** In 2004 Gretsch took one of the lead roles in the science fiction mystery series *The 4400*, playing Tom Baldwin; the series ran for four seasons.[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/joel-gretsch-271542/biography) After it ended he appeared in the superpower action film *Push* (2009) and then landed the part of Father Jack Landry on the alien-invasion drama *V* (2009).[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/joel-gretsch-271542/biography) This run of roles in alien-themed projects, from *Taken* through *The 4400* to *V*, became the thread most associated with his television career.[2](https://www.fandango.com/people/joel-gretsch-271542/biography)
## Film and later television
Gretsch's film credits include *The Emperor's Club*, *National Treasure: Book of Secrets* (2007), in which he played Thomas Gates, and *Push* (2009), in which he played Nick's father.[8](https://www.buddytv.com/actors/joel-gretsch/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340408/bio/) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340408/) IMDb lists him as an actor and director, and names *National Treasure: Book of Secrets*, *Push*, and *Minority Report* among his best-known work.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340408/bio/)
On television he continued as a frequent guest and recurring player. He played NCIS Special Agent Stan Burley on *[NCIS](https://www.edgepedia.org/ncis-tv-series)* across 2003 to 2015 in four episodes, Sheriff Paul Desario on *Criminal Minds* (2015), and Peter Maxwell on *The Vampire Diaries* in seven episodes from 2016 to 2017.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340408/) Later credits include Hank Thompson on *Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.* (2013), Victor Beauchamp on *Witches of East End* (2013), and Frank Frost on *All Rise* (2019–2020).[6](https://www.metacritic.com/person/joel-gretsch/) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340408/) [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide) lists 50 acting credits overall, spanning from *Freshman Dorm* to the 2023 film *Air*, in which he played John O'Neill.[7](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/joel-gretsch/credits/3030030778/) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340408/)
## Reception
Metacritic's career overview for Gretsch's television work lists 28 shows with an average career score of 58; the highest-scoring entry is *Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.* at a Metascore of 74 and the lowest is *Melrose Place* (1992) at 43, with 39 percent of the shows rated positive and 61 percent mixed.[6](https://www.metacritic.com/person/joel-gretsch/)
## Personal life
Gretsch has been married to Melanie Shatner since September 5, 1999, and they have two daughters, Kaya (born 2002) and Willow (born 2005); through the marriage he is the son-in-law of *Star Trek* star [William Shatner](https://www.edgepedia.org/william-shatner).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340408/bio/) • [2](https://www.fandango.com/people/joel-gretsch-271542/biography)
## References
1. [Joel Gretsch – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340408/bio/)
2. [Joel Gretsch Biography, Fandango](https://www.fandango.com/people/joel-gretsch-271542/biography)
3. [Gretsch, Joel 1963–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/gretsch-joel-1963)
4. [Joel Gretsch : Sa biographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-38777/biographie/)
5. [Joel Gretsch – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340408/)
6. [Joel Gretsch, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/joel-gretsch/)
7. [Joel Gretsch List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/joel-gretsch/credits/3030030778/)
8. [Joel Gretsch, BuddyTV](https://www.buddytv.com/actors/joel-gretsch/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Gr to G*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license