Joel Kim Booster

Joel Alexander Kim Booster (born February 29, 1988), born Kim Joonmin (Korean: 김준민), is an American actor, comedian, producer, and writer. He is known for writing, producing, and starring in the Hulu romantic comedy film Fire Island and his role in the Apple TV comedy series Loot (2022–present), earning two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for the former. He has also co-produced, written, or guest starred for Big Mouth, The Other Two, Shrill, Search Party, and Sunnyside.

Infobox

Born

Kim Joonmin (1988-02-29) February 29, 1988 (age 37)Jeju Island, South Korea

Alma mater

Millikin University

Occupations

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Years active

2016–present

Partner(s)

John-Michael Sudsina (2022–present; engaged)

Tables

· Filmography › Film

2018

The Week Of

Role(s)

Airline Attendant

Viper Club

Role(s)

Robbie

2022

Unplugging

Role(s)

Phil

Fire Island

Role(s)

Noah

Notes

Also writer and executive producer

2023

Urkel Saves Santa: the Movie

Role(s)

Clerk Gary (voice)

Notes

Direct-to-video

2024

Sweethearts

Role(s)

Ethan

2025

KPop Demon Hunters

Role(s)

Romance Saja, Variety Show Host 1, and Idol Host (voice)

TBA

Role(s)

Better Life †

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2018	The Week Of	Airline Attendant
2018	Viper Club	Robbie
2022	Unplugging	Phil
2022	Fire Island	Noah	Also writer and executive producer
2023	Urkel Saves Santa: the Movie	Clerk Gary (voice)	Direct-to-video
2024	Sweethearts	Ethan
2025	KPop Demon Hunters	Romance Saja, Variety Show Host 1, and Idol Host (voice)
TBA	Better Life †		Post-production

· Filmography › Television

2016

Conan

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Stand-up set

2017

Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Stand-up

2018

Comedy Central's Thank You, Goodnight!

Role(s)

Himself

2019

The Other Two

Role(s)

—

Notes

Writer and producer

You're Not a Monster

Role(s)

Phantom of the Opera

Notes

Voice

BoJack Horseman

Role(s)

Maude's Ex-Boyfriend

Notes

Voice, episode: "The Face of Depression"

Sunnyside

Role(s)

Jun Ho

2019–2020

Role(s)

Shrill

Notes

Tony

2019–2023

Role(s)

Big Mouth

Notes

Charles Lu

2020

Search Party

Role(s)

Peter

2021

iCarly

Role(s)

Alexavier

Bob's Burgers

Role(s)

Life Coach Dane

Notes

Voice, episode: "The Pumpkinening"

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Role(s)

Hulu Executive No. 1

Santa Inc.

Role(s)

Jingle Jim

Notes

Voice

2022

American Dad!

Role(s)

Geric / Gold Top Nuts Son /Grocery Store Employee

Notes

Voice, 2 episodes

Joel Kim Booster: Psychosexual

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Stand-up

Stand Out: An LGBTQ + Celebration

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Stand-up set

Celebrity Jeopardy!

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Contestant

The Great American Baking Show

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Contestant

2022–present

Role(s)

Loot

Notes

Nicholas

2023

Glamorous

Role(s)

Cliff

Is It Cake?

Role(s)

Himself / Judge

Notes

Episode: "That 90's Cake"

2024

RuPaul's Drag Race

Role(s)

Himself / Judge

Notes

Episode: "Corporate Queens"

Industry

Role(s)

Frank Wade

Notes

Episode: "It"

2025–present

Role(s)

Love Hotel

Notes

Himself / Presenter

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2013–2014	Kam Kardashian	Joel	Web series; also writer
2013–2014	Funemployed	Charlie / Backup Dancer	Web series
2016	Conan	Himself	Stand-up set
2017	Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents	Himself	Stand-up
2018	Comedy Central's Thank You, Goodnight!	Himself
2019	The Other Two	—	Writer and producer
	You're Not a Monster	Phantom of the Opera	Voice
	BoJack Horseman	Maude's Ex-Boyfriend	Voice, episode: "The Face of Depression"
	Sunnyside	Jun Ho
2019–2020	Shrill	Tony	Recurring role
2019–2023	Big Mouth	Charles Lu	Voice, recurring role; also producer
2020	Search Party	Peter
2021	iCarly	Alexavier
	Bob's Burgers	Life Coach Dane	Voice, episode: "The Pumpkinening"
	Curb Your Enthusiasm	Hulu Executive No. 1
	Santa Inc.	Jingle Jim	Voice
2022	American Dad!	Geric / Gold Top Nuts Son /Grocery Store Employee	Voice, 2 episodes
	Joel Kim Booster: Psychosexual	Himself	Stand-up
	Stand Out: An LGBTQ + Celebration	Himself	Stand-up set
	Celebrity Jeopardy!	Himself	Contestant
	The Great American Baking Show	Himself	Contestant
2022–present	Loot	Nicholas	Main role; also writer
2023	Glamorous	Cliff
2023	Is It Cake?	Himself / Judge	Episode: "That 90's Cake"
2024	RuPaul's Drag Race	Himself / Judge	Episode: "Corporate Queens"
2024	Industry	Frank Wade	Episode: "It"
2025–present	Love Hotel	Himself / Presenter

· Awards and nominations

2022

Dorian Awards

Role(s)

—

Notes

Wilde Wit Award

Gotham Independent Film Awards

Role(s)

Fire Island

Notes

Ensemble Tribute

2023

GLAAD Media Awards

Role(s)

Outstanding Film – Streaming or TV

Notes

Won

Independent Spirit Awards

Role(s)

Best First Screenplay

Notes

Nominated

Producers Guild of America Awards

Role(s)

Outstanding Producer of Streamed or Televised Motion Pictures

Notes

Nominated

Primetime Emmy

Role(s)

Outstanding Television Movie

Notes

Nominated

Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Role(s)

Nominated

Year	Association	Work	Category	Result	Ref.
2022	Dorian Awards	—	Wilde Wit Award	Nominated
2022	Gotham Independent Film Awards	Fire Island	Ensemble Tribute	Won
2023	GLAAD Media Awards		Outstanding Film – Streaming or TV	Won
	Independent Spirit Awards		Best First Screenplay	Nominated
	Producers Guild of America Awards		Outstanding Producer of Streamed or Televised Motion Pictures	Nominated
	Primetime Emmy		Outstanding Television Movie	Nominated
	Primetime Emmy		Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie	Nominated

References

"Democratic presidential nominees as POKÉMON GYM LEADERS: jk I'm fucking thirty two years old but also if I did this it would pull huge numbers"
https://x.com/ihatejoelkim/status/1233194704377974784
"Today I have a real birthday and I've never felt more powerful. Leap Day energy courses through my body. I will destroy Sam Smith"
https://x.com/ihatejoelkim/status/704309713823989760
Glamour
https://www.glamour.com/story/joel-kim-booster-is-adopting-a-new-asian-american-identity
Vulture
https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/joel-kim-boosters-unlikely-path-to-standup-stardom.html
NPR One
https://one.npr.org/i/599336294:599336296
The Fader
https://www.thefader.com/2018/11/28/joel-kim-booster-model-minority-comedian-interview
HuffPost
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/joel-kim-booster-asian-queer_us_5b311041e4b0040e2745c56a
@THR
https://x.com/THR/status/1417276589319065602
PhiladelphiaWeekly.com
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/arts/asian-queer-funnyman-joel-kim-booster-talks-being-both-in/article_bf99695c-bf2e-11e7-b4aa-cf21ff748743.html
Vice
https://www.vice.com/en/article/joel-kim-boosters-tough-journey-from-closeted-gay-kid-to-model-minority/
"Hey I'm also bipolar, and it's especially troubling to me that it's only really discussed on here as a result of the episodes of high profile talents. I work and live and am medicated and am largely pretty happy because I have an incredible support system. That's that on that"
https://x.com/ihatejoelkim/status/1285648699876573184
X (formerly Twitter)
https://x.com/ihatejoelkim/status/1830073103684435998
"Joel Kim Booster: Sex, Wealth, and the Comedy Grind"
https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/joel-kim-booster-sex-wealth-and-the-comedy-grind
Vanity Fair
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/09/joel-kim-booster-comedy-sunnyside-interview
"'Wait Wait' For Nov. 23, 2019"
https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/781865653/wait-wait-for-nov-23-2019-with-not-my-job-guest-elaine-welteroth
"'Wait Wait' For Feb. 29, 2020"
https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/810229280/wait-wait-for-feb-29-2020-with-not-my-job-guest-will-arnett
Earwolf
https://web.archive.org/web/20221224115648/http://www.earwolf.com/show/urgent-care-with-joel-kim-booster-and-mitra-jouhari/
"The George Lucas Talk Show Episode XVIII with Eliza Skinner and Joel Kim Booster"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bISn5dw8waY
Variety
https://variety.com/2021/film/news/bowen-yang-joel-kim-booster-fire-island-1235008046/
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/03/movies/fire-island-joel-kim-booster-interview.html
Slate
https://slate.com/culture/2022/06/fire-island-movie-pride-prejudice-jane-austen-adaptation.html
them
https://www.them.us/story/fire-island-gay-rom-com-alienation-loneliness
Vanity Fair
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/06/review-fire-island-is-a-trip-to-gay-heaven-or-is-it-hell
The Hollywood Reporter
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/joel-kim-booster-psychosexual-netflix-special-fire-island-alison-bechdel-1235167442/
Reporte Asia
https://reporteasia.com/region/japon/2022/12/28/atsuko-okatsuka-comediante-momento/
tiktok.com
https://www.tiktok.com/@freyafoxgg/video/7145222123047652654?lang=en
The Hollywood Reporter
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/belly-laughs-comedy-los-angeles-food-festival-asian-american-1236175107/
Variety
https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/variety-10-comics-to-watch-2018-1202845122/
"20 Comedians You Should Watch"
https://www.vulture.com/2017/11/20-comedians-to-watch.html
Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2018/hollywood-entertainment/
Deadline
https://deadline.com/2021/07/joel-kim-booster-maya-rudolph-apple-comedy-series-alan-yang-matt-hubbard-1234784977/
"Unplugging"
https://www.metacritic.com/movie/unplugging
Deadline Hollywood
https://deadline.com/2025/08/randall-park-joel-kim-booster-more-to-star-better-life-1236484705/
Deadline Hollywood
https://deadline.com/2025/10/better-life-movie-adds-six-cast-exclusive-1236592407/
Highsnobiety
https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/joel-kim-booster-interview/
Deadline
https://deadline.com/2019/07/imdb-youre-not-a-monster-comic-con-kelsey-grammer-eric-stonestreet-aparna-nancerla-frank-lesser-lily-stuart-streiff-1202643274/
Collider
https://collider.com/joel-kim-booster-interview-history-of-swear-words-big-mouth-quibi/
"'Bobs Burgers' Cast Picks Five Must-See Episodes Before the Film"
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bobs-burgers-cast-picks-five-163112037.html
The A.V. Club
https://www.avclub.com/curb-your-enthusiasm-perks-up-as-larry-and-susie-team-u-1848013926
Variety
https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/santa-inc-premiere-date-cast-nicholas-braun-photos-1235108788/
The Hollywood Reporter
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/netflix-stand-out-comedy-special-1235163532/
Jeopardy
https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/2022/celebrity-jeopardy/
"Joel Kim Booster is 'really excited for little bits of f----try' he snuck into Apple sitcom Loot"
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/joel-kim-booster-really-excited-163000828.html
The Hollywood Reporter
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/abbott-elementary-yellowjackets-lgbtq-critics-dorian-tv-awards-1235200722/
Variety
https://variety.com/2022/film/news/fire-island-gotham-awards-1235377291/
Deadline
https://deadline.com/2023/01/2023-glaad-media-awards-nominations-film-tv-journalism-nominees-34th-edition-1235224677/
Variety
https://variety.com/2022/awards/awards/2023-independent-spirit-awards-nominations-1235438877/
The Hollywood Reporter
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/producers-guild-awards-2023-movie-tv-nominations-list-nominees-1235297935/
Variety
https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/2023-emmy-nominations-list-1235666521/