Joe Dante

Characters played by Joe Dante

Mogwai / Gremlins (voice) (uncredited) — Gremlins (1984)

Uncredited voice actor providing sounds for mogwai and gremlin creatures.

Grandpa Fred Director (uncredited) — Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)

Film director working on Grandpa Fred's movie.

Jailer — Beverly Hills Cop III (1994)

Prison guard who processes detainees.

Scuba Diver #2 (uncredited) — Piranha (1978)

Underwater researcher in 1978.

Party Waiter (uncredited) — Hollywood Boulevard (1976)

Background character serving at a studio party in the first film.

Career Overview

Joe Dante has 194 screen credits in a career dating back to 1968. Their work spans 14 cinematic universes — most prominently The Gremlins Collection with 3 titles. Signature works include Innerspace, Gremlins, Small Soldiers. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For: Directing
Gender: male
Known Credits: 194
Birth Date: 1946-11-28
Birth Place: Morristown, New Jersey, USA

Known For

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 14 universes

The Gremlins Collection (3 titles)
In Search of Darkness Collection (3 titles)
Time Warp Collection (3 titles)
Masters of Horror Collection (2 titles)
Gremlins (2 titles)
Small Soldiers (1 titles)
Rebel Highway Series (1 titles)
The Howling Collection (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

Dick Miller (6 collaborations)
Robert Picardo (5 collaborations)
Kevin McCarthy (4 collaborations)
Archie Hahn (4 collaborations)
Kenneth Tobey (4 collaborations)
Belinda Balaski (4 collaborations)
Wendy Schaal (3 collaborations)
Henry Gibson (3 collaborations)
Rance Howard (3 collaborations)
Jackie Joseph (3 collaborations)

Credits

directing (42 credits)
- Gremlins 3
  director
  
  directing
  
  2028
- Fear Paris
  director
  
  directing
  
  2026
- Labrintus
  director
  
  directing
  
  2026
- The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes
  director
  
  directing
  
  2026
- Nightmare Cinema
  director
  
  directing
  
  2018
- DC's Legends of Tomorrow
  
  - Night of The Hawk (2016) ... director directing
  
  2016
- MacGyver
  
  - Wire Cutter (2016) ... director directing
  
  2016
- Burying the Ex
  director
  
  directing
  
  2014
- Witches of East End
  
  - Poe Way Out (2014) ... director directing
  
  - When a Mandragora Loves a Woman (2014) ... director directing
  
  2013
- Hawaii Five-0
  
  - Ka ʻaelike (The Deal) (2017) ... director directing
  
  - Na Pilikua Nui (Monsters) (2015) ... director directing
  
  - Ua ʻoʻoloku ke anu i na mauna (The Chilling Storm Is on the Mountain) (2015) ... director directing
  
  - Nānahu (Embers) (2015) ... director directing
  
  - Hoʻomāʻike (Unmasked) (2014) ... director directing
  
  2010
- Splatter
  director
  
  directing
  
  2009
- The Hole
  director
  
  directing
  
  2009
- The Screwfly Solution
  director
  
  directing
  
  2006
- Trapped Ashes
  director
  
  directing
  
  2006
- Homecoming
  director
  
  directing
  
  2005
- Masters of Horror
  
  - The Screwfly Solution (2006) ... director directing
  
  - Homecoming (2005) ... director directing
  
  2005
- CSI: NY
  
  - Boo (2007) ... director directing
  
  2004
- Looney Tunes: Back in Action
  director
  
  directing
  
  2003
- Haunted Lighthouse 4-D
  director
  
  directing
  
  2003
- Small Soldiers
  director
  
  directing
  
  1998
- The Second Civil War
  director
  
  directing
  
  1997
- The Warlord: Battle for the Galaxy
  director
  
  directing
  
  1996
- Picture Windows: Lightning
  director
  
  directing
  
  1995
- Runaway Daughters
  director
  
  directing
  
  1994
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - Preshow
  director
  
  directing
  
  1994
- Matinee
  director
  
  directing
  
  1993
- Mant!
  director
  
  directing
  
  1993
- Eerie, Indiana
  
  - The Hole in the Head Gang (1992) ... director directing
  
  - Heart on a Chain (1991) ... director directing
  
  - The Losers (1991) ... director directing
  
  - The Retainer (1991) ... director directing
  
  - Forever Ware (1991) ... director directing
  
  1991
- Gremlins 2: The New Batch
  director
  
  directing
  
  1990
- The 'Burbs
  director
  
  directing
  
  1989
- Amazon Women on the Moon
  director
  
  directing
  
  1987
- Innerspace
  director
  
  directing
  
  1987
- Explorers
  director
  
  directing
  
  1985
- Amazing Stories
  
  - The Greibble (1986) ... director directing
  
  - Boo! (1986) ... director directing
  
  1985
- The Twilight Zone
  
  - The Shadow Man / The Uncle Devil Show / Opening Day (1985) ... director directing
  
  1985
- Gremlins
  director
  
  directing
  
  1984
- Twilight Zone: The Movie
  director
  
  directing
  
  1983
- Police Squad!
  
  - Testimony of Evil (Dead Men Don't Laugh) (1982) ... director directing
  
  - Ring of Fear (A Dangerous Assignment) (1982) ... director directing
  
  1982
- The Howling
  director
  
  directing
  
  1981
- Piranha
  director
  
  directing
  
  1978
- Hollywood Boulevard
  director
  
  directing
  
  1976
- The Movie Orgy
  director
  
  directing
  
  1968
production (8 credits)
- Gremlins 3
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2028
- The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes
  producer
  
  production
  
  2026
- Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai
  consulting producer
  
  production
  
  - Always Make the Hard Choice (2025) ... consulting producer production
  
  - Always or Never Make Wishes (2025) ... consulting producer production
  
  - Never Try the Cider (2025) ... consulting producer production
  
  - Always Ask for Backstory (2025) ... consulting producer production
  
  - Never Get Out of the Truck (2025) ... consulting producer production
  
  2023
- Camp Cold Brook
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2018
- Trafficked
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2017
- Trail of Blood
  producer
  
  production
  
  2011
- The Warlord: Battle for the Galaxy
  producer
  
  production
  
  1996
- Flesh and Blood: The Hammer Heritage of Horror
  associate producer
  
  production
  
  1994
actors (135 credits)
- Boorman and the Devil
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- Gremlins, an american nightmare!
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- Mary Woronov: Cult Queen
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- The AckerMonster Chronicles!
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- Mamie Exposed! The Life and Loves of the Last Blonde Bombshell
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- Shrinkage: The Making of Innerspace
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- The Creeps
  Uncle John
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2025
- The Vincent Price Legacy
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2025
- Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2024
- Sharksploitation
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2024
- Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2024
- The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2024
- In Search of Darkness: Part III
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2022
- Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story
  Self - Interviewee
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2022
- Razzennest
  Joe Dante
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2022
- Soylent Green and Red Alert: When Reality Catches Up with Fiction
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2022
- In Search of Tomorrow
  Self - Interviewee
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2022
- Charles Band’s Full Moon Freakshow
  
  - Episode 12: Joe Dante (2022) ... actor actors
  
  2022
- Blood, Guts and Sunshine: The History of Horror Made in Florida
  Self [archival]
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2021
- Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2021
- Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2021
- Bugs Bunny's 80th What's Up, Doc-umentary!
  Self (archive footage)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2020
- Tales of the Uncanny
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2020
- In Search of Darkness: Part II
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2020
- Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2020
- Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp
  Host
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2020
- Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi
  Host
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2020
- Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness
  Host
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2020
- Class of '79: 40 Years of Rock 'N' Roll High School
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- Mark of The Beast: The Legacy of the Universal Werewolf
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- Love, Antosha
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- In Search of Darkness
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- Sad Hill Unearthed
  Self - Filmmaker
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2018
- The Fear Is Real
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2018
- King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2018
- Hammer Horror: The Warner Bros. Years
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2018
- Monstres, l'ennemi de l'intérieur
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2017
- Long Live the King
  himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- 24×36
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- Unspeakable Horrors: The Plan 9 Conspiracy
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- Tales of Halloween
  Prof. Milo Gottlieb
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- 42nd Street Memories: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Notorious Street
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- Eaten Alive! The Rise and Fall of the Italian Cannibal Film
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- From Gizmo to Gremlins: Creating the Creatures
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- Cute. Clever. Mischievous. Intelligent. Dangerous: Making Gremlins
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- There Goes the Neighborhood: The Making of The 'Burbs
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- Out of Print
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- Clawing! A Journey Through the Spanish Horror
  Self - Director
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- We Come In Pieces: The Rebirth of the Horror Anthology Film
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- That Guy Dick Miller
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- House of Wax: Unlike Anything You've Seen Before!
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2013
- A Fuller Life
  Self - Reader (segment "Sicily Black and Blue")
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2013
- Blast Vegas
  Salesman #2
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2013
- Trailer War
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- The Butterfly Room
  Cab Driver
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- The Flesh and the Fury: X-posing Twins of Evil
  Self - Director
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- To Be... A Film Favorite
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- Corman's World
  Self - Filmmaker
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2011
- A Night at the Movies: Merry Christmas!
  Self - Interviewee
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2011
- The Future of Fear
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2011
- Produce Your Own Damn Movie!
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2011
- American Grindhouse
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2011
- The Bloodiest Show on Earth: Making Vampire Circus
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2010
- Machete Maidens Unleashed!
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2010
- The Man Who Saw Frankenstein Cry
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2010
- RKO, A Story made in Hollywood
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2010
- The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2010
- Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr.
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2010
- Fulci in the House: The Italian Master of Splatter
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2009
- Direct Your Own Damn Movie!
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2009
- Monsterland
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2009
- Coming Attractions: The History of the Movie Trailer
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2009
- RKO Production 601: The Making of “Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World”
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2008
- Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Make-Up EFX
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2008
- Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2007
- Spider Stravinsky: The Cinema Sounds of Ronald Stein
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2007
- The Return of the Living Dead: The Decade of Darkness
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2007
- Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2007
- The Hatching of Spider Baby
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2007
- Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- Lugosi: The Dark Prince
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- Hitchcocked!
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- Karloff: The Gentle Monster
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- The Perfect Scary Movie
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2005
- Behind the Tunes: Tish Tash - The Animated World of Frank Tashlin
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2005
- Behind the Tunes: Looney Tunes Go to War!
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2005
- Behind the Tunes: Bosko, Buddy and the Best of Black and White
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2005
- Shadows in the Dark: The Val Lewton Legacy
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2005
- Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2005
- Männer im Trenchcoat, Frauen im Pelz
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- The Art of Crime
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- Mario Bava: Operazione paura
  Self / Host
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- Il castello dell'orrore
  self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- Welcome to Werewolfland
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- Unleashing the Beast: Making ‘The Howling’
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2003
- Cinerama Adventure
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2002
- Making The Earth Stand Still
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2001
- It Conquered Hollywood! The Story of American International Pictures
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2001
- Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2000
- Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2000
- Ray Harryhausen: Working with Dinosaurs
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1999
- She's Alive! Creating 'The Bride of Frankenstein'
  Self / Host
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1999
- Flesh and Blood: The Hammer Heritage of Horror
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1994
- Beverly Hills Cop III
  Jailer
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1994
- The Silence of the Hams
  Dying Man
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1994
- A Century of Cinema
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1994
- The Magical World of Chuck Jones
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1992
- Sleepwalkers
  Lab Assistant
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1992
- Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The 'Plan 9' Companion
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1992
- The Horror Hall of Fame II
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1991
- Oscar
  Face on the Cutting Room Floor
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1991
- Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Fantasy
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1991
- Eerie, Indiana
  
  - Reality Takes a Holiday (1992) ... Director actor actors
  
  1991
- Gremlins 2: The New Batch
  Grandpa Fred Director (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1990
- Innerspace
  Vectorscope Employee (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1987
- The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1986
- Gremlins
  Mogwai / Gremlins (voice) (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1984
- Eating Raoul
  Busboy (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1982
- Making a Monster Movie: Inside 'the Howling'
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1981
- The Orson Welles Show
  Member of Studio Audience
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1979
- Piranha
  Scuba Diver #2 (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1978
- Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1978
- Cannonball
  Kid
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1976
- Hollywood Boulevard
  Party Waiter (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1976
- Tidal Wave
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1975
- Great Performances
  
  - Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation (2000) ... Self actor actors
  
  1971
crew (2 credits)
- Corman's World
  thanks
  
  crew
  
  2011
- Embryo
  thanks
  
  crew
  
  2010
editing (6 credits)
- The Howling
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1981
- Piranha
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1978
- Grand Theft Auto
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1977
- Hollywood Boulevard
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1976
- The Arena
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1974
- The Movie Orgy
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1968
writing (1 credits)
- Rock 'n' Roll High School
  story
  
  writing
  
  1979

Content sources

Related entry on Wikidata (Q455279), public domain (CC0).