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Josh Pais, actor
Actor

Josh Pais: Movies & Box Office

films
23
on screen
1989–2025
box office
$1.31B
average score
69
Born
June 21, 1958 (age 68)
Birthplace
New York City, New York, U.S.
Full name
Joshua Atwill Pais
Citizenship
American
Occupations
Actor, Acting coach
Years active
1988-present
Spouses
Lisa Emery, Marie Forleo
Children
1
Known for

The Best Josh Pais Movies

The highest-rated films Josh Pais is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (2025) scores highest, at 84. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.

Full ranking
Career at a glance

Josh Pais's Career in Numbers

Josh Pais's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Josh Pais works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Jacknife (1989) to If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (2025), and the 2020s were the busiest decade.

Josh Pais Movies by Decade

  1. 1980s 1
  2. 1990s 3
  3. 2000s 5
  4. 2010s 6
  5. 2020s 7

The 2020s were Josh Pais's busiest decade, with 7 films.

Josh Pais Movies by Genre

  • Drama 10
  • Comedy 7
  • Action 2
  • Biography 1
  • Thriller 1
  • Tv movie 1

Drama is the genre Josh Pais has worked in most, with 10 films, ahead of comedy (7).

Josh Pais Career Milestones

First film
Jacknife 1989
Biggest box office hit
Joker $1.08B worldwide
Best-rated film
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You Movie Echo Score 84
23 credits

Josh Pais Filmography: Every Movie

Every film Josh Pais is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 69. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.

Josh Pais Movies as an Actor

22
  1. 2025 If I Had Legs I'd Kick You (2025) movie poster If I Had Legs I'd Kick You as Brad · Comedy Movie Echo Score: 74
  2. 2025 The Friend (2025) movie poster The Friend as Jerry · Drama Movie Echo Score: 67
  3. 2025 If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (2025) movie poster If I Had Legs I’d Kick You as Brad · Drama Movie Echo Score: 84
  4. 2023 Checkout (2023) movie poster Checkout as Dov · Comedy
  5. 2022 Spoiler Alert (2022) movie poster Spoiler Alert as Scott · Drama Movie Echo Score: 76
  6. 2022 Funny Pages (2022) movie poster Funny Pages as Lewis · Comedy Movie Echo Score: 48
  7. 2020 The Mimic (2020) movie poster The Mimic as The Neurotic Lawyer · Comedy Movie Echo Score: 57
  8. 2019 Motherless Brooklyn (2019) movie poster Motherless Brooklyn as William Lieberman · Drama Movie Echo Score: 70
  9. 2019 Joker (2019) movie poster Joker as Hoyt Vaughn · Action Movie Echo Score: 82
  10. 2018 The Land of Steady Habits (2018) movie poster The Land of Steady Habits as Larry Eichner · Drama Movie Echo Score: 68
  11. 2017 Crown Heights (2017) movie poster Crown Heights Biography Movie Echo Score: 60
  12. 2013 Touchy Feely (2013) movie poster Touchy Feely Drama
  13. 2013 Syrup (2013) movie poster Syrup Drama
  14. 2008 Assassination of a High School President (2008) movie poster Assassination of a High School President as Padre Newelll · Comedy
  15. 2007 The Bronx Is Burning (2007) movie poster The Bronx Is Burning as Reporter Phil Pepe · Drama
  16. 2005 Confess (2005) movie poster Confess as Allen Kelner · Thriller
  17. 2002 Porn ’n Chicken (2002) movie poster Porn ’n Chicken as Prof. Hoffman · Tv movie
  18. 2000 Swimming (2000) movie poster Swimming as Neil Wheeler · Drama
  19. 1998 Safe Men (1998) movie poster Safe Men as Mitchell · Comedy
  20. 1997 Colin Fitz (1997) movie poster Colin Fitz as Cathartic Fan · Comedy
  21. 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) movie poster Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action
  22. 1989 Jacknife (1989) movie poster Jacknife as Rick · Drama
Biography

Who Is Josh Pais?

Josh Pais was born in New York City, New York, U.S. in 1958 and is 68 years old. Credited on films since 1989, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.

Joshua Atwill Pais, known professionally as Josh Pais, is an American actor and acting coach, born on June 21, 1958. Making a mark in Hollywood, Pais has made significant contributions to the industry since he debuted in 1988. He is recognized for his versatile roles in films including 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' (1990), 'Music of the Heart' (1999), 'Assassination of a High School President' (2008), 'I Saw the Light' (2015), and 'Motherless Brooklyn' (2019). In 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles', Pais not only acted but also lent his voice to the character Raphael. He starred as Assistant M.E. Borak in 15 episodes of the series 'Law & Order' aired between 1990 and 2002, and played an obnoxious movie producer on the American crime drama series 'Ray Donovan'. Beyond acting, Pais has shown his skills in directing, as he directed the 2002 documentary '7th Street’ that depicts the life of various people living there between 1992–2002.
Pais hails from a background where art and science intersect, as he is a son of Lila Lee, a painter and poet, and Dutch-born physicist, professor, and writer Abraham Pais. His father belonged to a Jewish family of Portuguese descent, and his mother converted to Judaism.

Works with

Who Josh Pais Makes Movies With

The actors and directors Josh Pais shares the most films with. Bill Camp comes first, with 3 films together, followed by Daniel Zolghadri (3).

FAQ

Josh Pais: Questions & Answers

How many movies Josh Pais has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.

How many movies has Josh Pais been in?

Josh Pais is credited on 23 films, from 1989 to 2025. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.

What is Josh Pais's highest-grossing movie?

Joker (2019) is Josh Pais's biggest box office hit, with $1.08B worldwide, ahead of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) ($202M). Across every film with box office figures, Josh Pais's movies have made $1.31B.

Josh Pais's biggest hits

What is the best Josh Pais movie?

By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Josh Pais's best-rated film is If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (2025) with a score of 84, followed by Joker (2019) (82).

Best Josh Pais movies, ranked

How old is Josh Pais?

Josh Pais is 68 years old, born on June 21, 1958 in New York City, New York, U.S..

What is Josh Pais's newest movie?

The most recent film on Josh Pais's filmography is If I Had Legs I'd Kick You (2025), in the role of Brad.

Who does Josh Pais work with most often?

Josh Pais shares the most films with Bill Camp (3 films), Daniel Zolghadri (3 films) and Robert De Niro (2 films).

The Best Josh Pais Movies, Ranked

Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 23 credits.

See the ranking

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