Joel attended James Madison High School, a public school in Brooklyn, New York. In 2010 he was honored to be added to Madison's "Wall of Distinction," an honor given yearly to famous alumni.
While in high school Joel was good friends with Carole King. They were in a quartet together called The Co-Sines, a name inspired by the advanced math class they shared.
He directed 97 out of 192 episodes of Full House.
Was a major director for Laverne and Shirley and Full House