Joel Goodness

Joel Goodness (born 22 January 1962) is an American singer, film and theatre actor best known for his portrayal of Harry in the first four years of the initial run of the Broadway musical Crazy For You by George and Ira Gershwin, and of the Bajoran Deputy in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode Chimera.

Biography
He was born in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, and attended Assumption High School. Further education included one semester at Viterbo University in La Crosse, a summer touring production of The Wiz through UW-Superior, leading to a dance scholarship at Gus Giordano Dance School in Chicago. He followed this with two summers performing at Marriott's Great America in the main stage productions Evolution of Rock and Salute to the Stars. Joel graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point with a self-created Musical Theater degree. Following graduation, he was hired to appear in an original musical entitled Sweat, at Milwaukee's Performing Arts Center. During college, Goodness choreographed area show choirs and high school theater productions as well as a critically acclaimed production of Barnum at the Appleton Community Theater. In addition to summer work at theme parks, Goodness rounded out his earlier performing years in NCL Cruise Ship musical revue shows, working for Jean Ann Ryan Productions. On land, he also did a Las Vegas-style production in Miami titled Masquerade, working with gymnast Kurt Thomas and his Gymnastics America Co. Goodness went on to stage two casts in The Sound of Music at the Derby Dinner Theater in Louisville, Kentucky, performed in Li'l Abner, West Side Story and A Chorus Line. Heading to New York City, Goodness took part in a national tour of Funny Girl playing Eddie Ryan, two productions of Camelot (one with David Birney, the other with Noel Harrison), Jesus Christ Superstar with Adrian Zmed, Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby, and the 20th anniversary production of Hair (musical) with Romaine Frishe, Tishina Arnold, Danielle Brisebois and Roger Bart. Other productions included Fiddler on the Roof, La Cage Aux Folles, Anything Goes and The Boy Friend. Off-Broadway shows included Custody and Georgy. Goodness studied dance with Christine La Blaine-DeHart, James Moore, Lea Theodore of the American Dance Theater and Frank Hatchett. On Broadway, Joel originated the role of Harry in the four year smash hit run of Crazy For You starring Jodi Benson. He has worked with such directors and choreographers as Michael Ockrent, Susan Stroman, Jerry Mitchell, Maurice Hines, Otis Sallid and Jimmy Locust. He was one of the original seven members of Broadway Bares which has raised over five million dollars for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Joel also danced in the NFL Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Film and television credits include Regarding Henry with Harrison Ford and Annette Bening, The Pickle with Ally Sheedy, a Bajoran officer on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, several appearances on the Rosie O'Donnell Show, HGTV'S House Hunters - a singing waiter with Hinton Battle on The Jeff Foxworthy Show and dancing in the 69th Academy Awards Show, 1992 Kennedy Center Honors and the 1992 Tony Awards. Goodness has also appeared on daytime soaps such as General Hospital, Port Charles, and All My Children, Guiding Light, One Life To Live and Loving. Goodness's commercials have included an award-winning, digitally altered, open-mouthed army sergeant on billboards for AT&T on army bases all across the United States, a Japanese commercial with Nicolas Cage, a documentary film with Claudia Schiffer, Polar Beer, Heineken, Milwaukee's Best and Miami's Tourism Board to name a few. Goodness also produced a production of Mother & Child on Broadway. In 2011, Goodness produced and starred in The Boop Revue, part of the Betty Boop Festival in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.