Joe Baken, a multifaceted individual with a rich background in writing, acting, and producing, hails from Billings, Montana. As the co-creator and executive producer of notable shows such as Grotesquerie, Doctor Odyssey, and All's Fair, he has collaborated with notable talents like Ryan Murphy and Jon Robin Baitz.
Throughout his career, Joe has demonstrated his versatility by serving as a writer and producer on projects like Feud: Capote vs. The Swans and American Horror Stories. He has also ventured into independent filmmaking, writing, directing, and starring in the feature film Mailman, as well as adapting his solo show Joe Gives Up and Moves to Montana.
Born to Christie LeClair Baken, a wilderness Lookout, and Jim Baken, an artist and professor of art, Joe is the eldest of three siblings. His upbringing was marked by a unique experience, as his family resided at a lookout tower in Montana's Bitterroot National Forest, where they worked as forest fire spotters. The family of five shared a single room with no electricity or running water, yet this challenging environment fostered Joe's imagination and creativity.
Participation in high school speech and debate tournaments, where he was nationally ranked in Humorous Interpretation, further fueled his passion for writing and performing. After attending Point Park Conservatory for a year, Joe was offered a writing job, penning a screenplay for Gus Van Sant, to be produced by Scott Rudin. This opportunity led to a decade-long collaboration with Van Sant, during which Joe worked as a writing partner, and Van Sant served as a producer on his independent film projects and a close friend and mentor.
Outside of his professional pursuits, Joe is a classically trained violinist, a painter, and an avid runner. He currently resides in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.
