Joe Anderson (actor)

Joe Anderson
Anderson at the 2012 Comic-Con in San Diego
Born
Joe Anderson

(1982-03-26) 26 March 1982 (age 43)
England, United Kingdom
OccupationActor
Years active2004–present
Notable workAcross the Universe
Control
The Ruins
The Crazies
Hannibal
SpouseElle Anderson[1]
Parents
AwardsCalifornia Independent Film Festival Rising Star Award (2008)

Joe Anderson (born 26 March 1982) is an English actor best known for his work in Across the Universe, Becoming Jane, Control, The Ruins, The Crazies, Horns and as Alistair in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012) and Asa Farrell in the WGN America drama series Outsiders. He also played Joseph in The Reckoning.

Early life

Anderson's father is actor Miles Anderson and his mother is talent agent Lesley Duff. He has been acting professionally since childhood. He attended Richmond upon Thames College and later the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. His interests include photography, guitar and gymnastics. He has been diagnosed with dyslexia and attributes this to his move into acting.[2]

Career

Anderson has worked in film, television and on stage at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Earlier in his career he appeared in Copying Beethoven, playing Ludwig van Beethoven's nephew Karl. He then starred as Max Carrigan, a young American man, drafted into the Vietnam War in Across the Universe. After that, he appeared in period film Becoming Jane as Henry Austen, Jane Austen's older brother, then as bassist Peter Hook of the band Joy Division in Anton Corbijn's 2007 film Control. In 2008, he played Elliot in The 27 Club[3] and a German tourist in The Ruins. In 2009, he starred in High Life as Donnie and in Love Happens as the musician boyfriend of Jennifer Aniston's character. He was also seen in Amelia, the biopic of Amelia Earhart, and in Operation: Endgame[4] as the main character Fool. He appeared in 2010's The Crazies,[5] a remake of the 1973 horror film of the same name.

He and his castmates from Control were featured in the Killers' music video for their version of the Joy Division song "Shadowplay".

In an interview with Pure Movies, he said talking about himself made him feel "uncomfortable" and "self indulgent" and that he struggled with it.[2]

In 2012, he starred as Lincoln Cole in the television series The River. He appeared as Alistair in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, and in 2014 co-starred alongside Dwayne Johnson in Hercules.[6]

In December 2014, it was announced that Anderson would be replacing Michael Pitt in the role of Mason Verger in the third season of the TV series Hannibal.[7]

In May 2024, he appeared as John Francis Vater in the Doctor Who episode "Boom".[8]

Awards

Anderson received the Rising Star Award at the California Independent Film Festival in 2008.[9] He was named Best Actor Drama at Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival 2008 for his performance in The 27 Club.[10]

Musical performances

In Across the Universe, he sang covers of Beatles songs. The numbers he performed solo or with other cast members included "Hey Jude", "Happiness Is a Warm Gun", "With a Little Help from My Friends", "Strawberry Fields Forever", "Dear Prudence", "Because" and "I Want You (She's So Heavy)". All of these recordings were released on the corresponding soundtrack album.

In Control, as bassist Peter Hook of the group Joy Division, he and his cast mates performed "Transmission", "Leaders of Men" and "Candidate" among others. These three performances were shown in their entirety in the special features under the extended performance scenes section of the DVD.[11] "Transmission" was the only recording by the cast released on the soundtrack album.[12]

In The 27 Club, Anderson played the bassist of a successful music duo called Finn. He and cast/bandmate James Forgey penned the theme song for the film.[13] A studio version and an acoustic version of the song were made available on the film's official website.

In Horns, Anderson played Terry Perrish, a famous trumpet player and brother of Ig Parrish, played by Daniel Radcliffe.[14] In the film, Anderson performs lead trumpet in a scene with the band The Brass Action.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
2004 Creep Male Model
2005 Silence Becomes You Luke Green
2006 Copying Beethoven Karl van Beethoven
Little Box of Sweets Seth
2007 Across the Universe Max Carrigan
Becoming Jane Henry Austen
Control Peter Hook
2008 The 27 Club Elliot
The Ruins Mathias
2009 Amelia William "Bill" Stutz
High Life Donnie
Love Happens Tyler
2010 Operation: Endgame Fool
The Crazies Russell Clank
2011 Flutter John
The Grey Todd Flannery
2012 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 Alistair
2013 A Single Shot Obadiah
Horns Terry Perrish
2014 Hercules Phineas
Supremacy Garrett Tully
2015 Bleeding Heart Cody
2016 Abattoir Declan Grady
My Father Die Asher Rawlings
2017 Hangman Hangman
The Ballad of Lefty Brown Frank Baines
2019 Backdraft 2 Sean McCaffrey
Cold Blood Kappa
2020 The Reckoning Joseph
2022 The Devil Conspiracy Lucifer
2024 Murder Company Smith
The Last Front Laurentz
2025 The Spirit Lock

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Midsomer Murders Max "Mad" Ransom Episode: "Second Sight"
Afterlife Phil Episode: "More Than Meets the Eye"
2012 The River Lincoln Cole 8 episodes
2014 The Divide Terry Kucik
2015 Hannibal Mason Verger 4 episodes
2016–2017 Outsiders Asa Farrell 14 episodes
2020 Soulmates Travis Episode: "Break On Through"
2024 Doctor Who John Francis Vater Episode: "Boom"

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Result Work
2008 Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival Best Actor Drama Won The 27 Club
2011 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Supporting Actor Nominated The Crazies

References

  1. ^ Livingston, David (11 January 2012). "Actor Joe Anderson and wife Elle Anderson attend the premiere of Open Road's "The Grey" at Regal Cinemas L.A." Getty Images. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b Holder, Michael (27 March 2010). "Joe Anderson". Pure Movies. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  3. ^ "The 27 Club movie official website". The 27 Club Movie. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  4. ^ Clines, Peter (29 August 2008). "Making the Final Cut - Rogue's Gallery's Brian Watanabe". Creative Screenwriting. Archived from the original on 8 July 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  5. ^ Goldberg, Matt (14 April 2009). "Interviews: Danielle Panabaker, Joe Anderson, and Radha Mitchell". Collider. Archived from the original on 18 April 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  6. ^ Kroll, Justin (26 June 2013). "'Hercules' Adds 'Twilight' Actor to the Cast". Variety. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  7. ^ Abrams, Natalie (19 December 2014). "Michael Pitt exits 'Hannibal,' Joe Anderson to replace him". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  8. ^ Cormack, Morgan (9 May 2024). "Doctor Who confirms Hannibal star and another Susan Twist role for Boom". Radio Times. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Award Winners Page". California Independent Film Festival. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  10. ^ "FLIFF Film Awards 2008". Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  11. ^ Atanasov, Svet (28 October 2011). "Control Blu-ray Review". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  12. ^ Long, Chris (4 October 2007). "Various – Control (Warner Music)". BBC. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  13. ^ Urbanski, Adrienne (19 April 2008). "Tribeca gives music reel coverage". Downtown Express. Archived from the original on 21 February 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  14. ^ Kohn, Eric (7 September 2013). "Toronto Review: Daniel Radcliffe Plays Impressively Against Type, But Alexandre Aja's Dark Supernatural Dramedy 'Horns' Is Devilishly Uneven". IndieWire. Retrieved 20 September 2017.