Joel is a major character and the playable protagonist of The Last of Us, the deuteragonist of The Last of Us Part II, and a supporting character in The Last of Us: Left Behind. Joel is a survivor in post-apocalyptic America that has been ravaged by the cordyceps brain infection, which has decimated 60% of mankind globally.

After losing his only daughter Sarah in the early stages of the outbreak, Joel becomes a ruthless and cynical smuggler eventually tasked with smuggling and protecting Ellie, a young girl who is the key to mankind's survival. Joel eventually comes to form a strong bond with her. He is voiced and motion captured by Troy Baker. Joel was born on September 26, most likely between 1984 and 1985, and grew up in Texas alongside his younger brother Tommy. Joel raised Tommy through their childhood, to which the pair heavily struggled with.

Not much is known regarding Joel's early childhood other than he noted that, during his youth, he initially aspired to become a singer. Later however, Joel had a daughter named Sarah and he was married to her mother for a short period of time. Saddled early in life with the responsibilities that come with being a father, he never had the opportunity to attend college. No mention is given as to the fate or whereabouts of Joel's ex-wife.

However it is clear, through a conversation between him and Ellie, that the subject of whatever happened is very painful for Joel to talk about. As a result, he raised their only daughter as a single father for the majority of his life. The two lived together in a typical two story single-family home somewhere in or around Austin, Texas located in Travis County through Texas State Highway 71. In his adult years, Joel worked in construction as a carpenter.

During a phone conversation with Tommy, he mentioned desperately needing to keep his job with a contractor. Building plans laid on his bedside table and several copies of a book called "Construction Regionalism" was be seen on top of his bookshelf. He appeared to possess ambitions of starting his own business, with a copy of "Everything You Need to Know About Creating a Startup" also on a table next to his bed.

His job kept him fit, and he also owned a treadmill (seen in his bedroom). Despite his long working hours he still spent quality time with Sarah, as seen in photographs displayed throughout their home showing the two on a cruise, at a carnival with Tommy, and at one of Sarah's soccer matches. Additionally the two often went on several hikes together. In the hours leading up to the outbreak, Sarah gives him a new watch as a birthday gift to replace the one he had broken months before.

This becomes a cherished memento he manages to keep in the turbulent years ahead.