Joseph Cross made his motion picture debut in M. Night Shyamalan's Wide Awake, a film that marked the beginning of his illustrious acting career in 1998.
In addition to his debut, Cross was also seen in Strangers with Candy, a comedy film that co-starred Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello, and Greg Hollimon. This prequel to the Comedy Central series of the same name was directed by Paul Dinello and premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, receiving rave reviews from critics and audiences alike.
Cross's impressive filmography also includes the Clint Eastwood-directed Flags of Our Fathers, which was released in August 2006. He also appeared in Running with Scissors, where he reunited with Brian Cox.
Cross's other notable film credits include the 1998 thriller Desperate Measures, where he appeared alongside Brian Cox for the first time, directed by Barbet Schroeder and co-starring Michael Keaton. Cross and Keaton collaborated again in the film Jack Frost, which also starred Kelly Preston.
Prior to his film career, Cross appeared in the television film Northern Lights, directed by Linda Yellen, alongside Diane Keaton. Among his television credits, Cross has appeared in episodes of the popular series Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Third Watch.
In 2003, Cross made his stage debut at the Williamstown Playhouse in John Guare's play "Landscape of the Body," directed by Michael Greif and co-starring Lili Taylor and Michael Gaston.