Joshua Leonard

Joshua Granville Leonard (born June 17, 1975) is an American actor, producer, writer, and director, known for his role in The Blair Witch Project. He has since starred in films such as Madhouse (2004), The Shaggy Dog (2006), Higher Ground (2011), The Motel Life (2012), Snake and Mongoose (2013), If I Stay (2014), The Town That Dreaded Sundown (2014), 6 Years (2015), and Unsane (2018).

Early life Leonard was born in Houston, Texas, the son of Joann, an author, and Robert Leonard, a theater professor at Pennsylvania State University. He was raised in State College, Pennsylvania. Leonard obtained his GED and at age 16 travelled to Chiapas, Mexico, where he taught at an elementary school and volunteered at an anthropological institute. Although he reportedly only earned an initial salary of $500, the experience proved rewarding in other ways as the film combined acting and photography. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Leonard has since appeared in numerous films and television shows as an actor, including HBO's television film Live from Baghdad, the drama film Things Behind the Sun directed by Allison Anders, the comedy film The Shaggy Dog with Tim Allen, the drama film Men of Honor with Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding, Jr., and the psychological thriller film Bitter Feast with Larry Fessenden. He also co-wrote, directed and starred in The Lie, a devilish morality tale adapted from the story by acclaimed author T. C. Boyle. The project co-starred Mark Webber, Jess Weixler, and Jane Adams, and was well received by audiences and critics.

Leonard next appeared alongside Dakota Fanning in The Motel Life (2012). The following year, he starred alongside Carol Kane and Natasha Lyonne in the dark comedy film Clutter, and co-starred in the sports film Snake and Mongoose. In 2014, Leonard co-starred in the drama film If I Stay, directed by R. J. Cutler and based on the novel of the same name by Gayle Forman. Leonard was then cast in the third season of A&E's drama-thriller series Bates Motel as James Finnigan, a psychology professor and a love interest for Norma Louise Bates. In 2015, he had a co-starring role in the romantic drama film 6 Years, directed by Hannah Fidell, which premiered at South by Southwest. In December 2015, it was reported that Marisa Tomei and Timothy Olyphant would star in the Leonard-directed drama film Behold My Heart.

Personal life In January 2015, Leonard announced his engagement to actress Alison Pill. They were married on May 24, 2015, in Los Angeles. Their daughter was born on November 19, 2016. In 2025, Leonard and Pill divorced.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1999 The Blair Witch Project Himself The Blur of Insanity Staley 2000 In the Weeds Adam Men of Honor Timothy Douglas Isert 2001 Things Behind the Sun Todd Cubbyhouse Danny Graham 2002 Deuces Wild "Punchy" 2003 Down with the Joneses Pete Jones Two Days Bill Buehl Scorched Rick Becker 2004 Madhouse Clark Stevens Larceny Nick Peters 2005 Shooting Livien Robby Love A Year and a Day Malcolm 2006 The Death and Life of Bobby Z Partygoer #1 Hatchet Ainsley Dunston The Shaggy Dog Justin Forrester 2007 Country Remedy Darryl 2008 Quid Pro Quo Mr. Knott Prom Night Bellhop 20 Years After Michael Expecting Love Ian Everson 2009 Humpday Andrew 2010 Bitter Feast J.T. Franks The Freebie Dinner Party Guest 2011 Higher Ground Ethan Miller Shark Night Robert "Red" Allyjah The Lie Lonnie Also writer and director 2012 The Motel Life Tommy Locowane 2013 Clutter Charlie Bradford Snake and Mongoose Thomas Greer 2014 Among Ravens Ellis Conifer If I Stay Denny Hall The Town That Dreaded Sundown Deputy Clayborn Foster WildLike Ted The Ever After Christian 2015 6 Years Mark 2016 Teenage Cocktail Tom Fenton 2018 Unsane David Strine Dark Was the Night Director and writer 2019 Depraved Polidori 2020 Four Good Days Sean Fully Realized Humans Elliot Also director, writer, producer and editor2021 Bliss Cameron The Same Storm Doug Salt 2022 The Drop Joshua Also co-writer TBA Two Eyes Bryce Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 2000 Sacrifice Jason Television film The Outer Limits Andy Larouche Episode: "Gettysburg" 2002 Live from Baghdad Mark Biello Television film 2004 NYPD Blue Todd Garvin Episode: "Divorce, Detective Style" CSI: NY Matt Paulson Episode: "A Man a Mile" 2005 CSI: Miami Jim Markham 3 episodes 2006 Numbers Roy Mitchell Episode: "Guns and Roses" Bones Nate Gibbons Episode: "The Headless Witch in the Woods" 2009 Hung Pierce 3 episodes 2010 United States of Tara Ricky Episode: "The Truth Hurts" 2011 Criminal Minds Lyle Donaldson Episode: "Today I Do" 2012 The Finder Derek Towers Episode: "The Great Escape" The Producer Mike Cabot Unsold pilot Touch King Roadie Episode: "Kite Strings" 2012–13 The Mob Doctor Scott Parker 2 episodes 2014 True Detective Mitch Episode: "Who Goes There" 2014, 2016–17 Scorpion Mark Collins 6 episodes 2015 Down Dog Young Jimmy Wood Television film 2015–16 Togetherness Dudley 6 episodes 2015 Bates Motel James Finnigan 6 episodes 2016 Heartbeat Max Elliot 7 episodes 2017 Startup Rance Recurring role 2020 MacGyver Martin Bishop Episode: "Fire + Ashes + Legacy = Phoenix" 2025 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Greg Morrison Episode: ShowdownTBATattered HeartsTelevision film

Video game Year Title Role Notes 2004 Fight Club Tyler Durden Replacing Brad Pitt

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 2000 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Supporting Actor The Blair Witch Project Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Favorite Actor - Newcomer 2005 Independent Film Festival of Boston Short Film: Narrative The Youth in Us Palm Springs International ShortFest Best Live Action Under 15 Minutes 2009 Gijón International Film Festival Best Actor Humpday 2010 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Supporting Actor Bitter Feast 2011 Asheville Cinema Festival Best Narrative Feature Film The Lie Sundance Film Festival Best of Next! 2012 VC FilmFest - Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Best Ensemble Acting - Narrative Feature Sunset Stories 2018 Transatlantyk Festival: Lodz Section "New Cinema" Behold My Heart Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Supporting Actor Unsane 2020 Tribeca Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Fully Realized Humans Florida Film Festival Best Narrative Feature