Joel Hodgson Net Worth

Joel Gordon Hodgson net worth is
$1.5 Million

Joel Gordon Hodgson was born on 20 February 1960, in Stevens Point, Wisconsin USA, and is a comedian, television actor and writer, perhaps best known for creating “Mystery Science Theater 3000”, a television comedy series, and starring in it as Joel Robinson.

So just how rich is Joel Hodgson? According to sources, Hodgson’s net worth reaches $1.5 million, as of mid-2017, amassed through his involvement in the entertainment industry which really began in the late 1970s.

Joel Hodgson Net Worth $1.5 million

Hodgson grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he attended Ashwaubenon High School, and after matriculating, he relocated to Minneapolis, enrolling at Bethel University, where he studied Theatre and Mass Media, and majored in Speech Communication.

He began his career in the entertainment world during his teenage years, as a magician and ventriloquist, performing for various local events. During his college days, he decided to become a stand-up comedian, and started performing on campus, and in coffee houses and comedy clubs.

In 1982 he moved to Los Angeles, and began to perform at places such as Comedy Store, Hollywood Magic Castle and Comedy Magic Club, while also doing traveling stand-up. It was in one of these clubs that he was discovered by Barry Sand, the producer of the popular “Late Night with David Letterman” show. This enabled him to appear on the show several months later, and to start landing other TV appearances as well, such as in several HBO and Showtime comedy specials, and then on “Saturday Night Live”. His net worth began to grow.

In 1985, Hodgson stepped away from stand-up and returned to Minneapolis, taking up various jobs, such as building and selling sculptures, designing toys, ironing decals at a t-shirt factory and building props for comedy acts. He also taught a class called “Creative Stand-Up and Smartology”.

In 1987 he began performing stand-up again, making his official return to the profession the following year, introducing his prop comedy-style humor. His wealth grew larger.

Later that year, Hodgson created his own television comedy series called “Mystery Science Theater 3000″, with the help of local television producer Jim Mallon. The show, which was based on a group of robots watching and mocking B-movies, premiered on Minneapolis’ TV station KTMA, and after the first season received positive reviews, it was picked up by The Comedy Channel/Comedy Central, becoming one of the biggest cult favorites of the ’90s. It ran for seven seasons on the network, before being aired on The Sci-Fi Channel for three more seasons, until its cancellation in 1999. The show spawned a feature film of the same name in 1996.

“MST3K” achieved an astonishing popularity with worldwide audiences too, being listed as ‘one of the top 100 television shows of all time’ by Time.com., enabling Hodgson to gain a great level of fame. In addition to writing and building props for the show, he also starred in it as Joel Robinson. Aside from boosting his popularity, the success of his show also enabled Hodgson to earn a considerable net worth. Being somewhat uncomfortable with acting, he left it in mid-’90s, but became involved again in 2015, deciding to create a new season. The show was revived, running its eleventh season on Netflix in 2017. All contributed to his net worth.

After leaving “MST3K” ” back in the ’90s, Hodgson co-founded a small idea and product company in Los Angeles – Visual Story Tools. He has also served as creative lead for media at a technology company, Cannae located in Pennsylvania. His involvement in these companies has served as another source of Hodgson’s wealth.

As for his acting career, he has appeared in television series such as “Freaks and Geeks”, “The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd”, “Arrested Development”, “Other Space” and “Steven Universe”.
Hodgson’s writing credits include an HBO special written with Jerry Seinfeld, with whom he also appeared in the web show “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee”. All added to his net worth.

Speaking about his private life, Hodgson has been married to Tiffany since 1996, otherwise little is known of Joel’s private life.


Full NameJoel Hodgson
Net Worth$1.5 Million
Date Of BirthFebruary 20, 1960
Place Of BirthStevens Point, Wisconsin, USA
Height5' 10" (1.78 m)
ProfessionWriter, Comedian, Music Department, Actor
EducationBethel University
NationalityAmerican
SpouseTiffany Hodgson
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/joelghodgson
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/joelghodgson
IMDBhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0388273/
MoviesHoney, We Shrunk Ourselves, Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie, The TV Wheel, Other Space Since, Cartoon Dump Since, Mystery Science Theater 3000: Girl in Gold Boots, Mystery Science Theater 3000: Eegah!
TV ShowsCinematic Titanic, Mystery Science Theater 3000
#Quote
1I'm like everybody else - when I'm in a movie theater, I'm relaxing and hoping for what everybody hopes for when they watch a movie: that it'll take you into it. I compare it to a magic show. A really good magic show is amazing, but a bad magic show is even better.
2If you take a deal in Hollywood now, you pretty much have to take notes. If we went to someone for the money to make six or eight or 12 shows, they would go "Okay, but we really have some strong opinions on how you need to do it." And "Mystery Science Theater" was really rare in that the Comedy Channel [which was later redubbed Comedy Central] was so busy getting a network going that they really didn't give us notes. After being in Hollywood for ten years, I said to myself, "This is really screwing me up. Right or wrong, I'm kind of used to doing these autonomous shows. 'Mystery Science Theater' was an autonomous show, so maybe we should just do that again." The only way to do that was to just pay for it ourselves.
3Mystery Science Theater still sells. I still get a royalty from it.
4[Talking about Michael J. Nelson, who replaced him as the host of Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)]: "You have to admit, the man looks great standing next to puppets."
5Sometimes I go into my own little world...but that's okay, they know me there.
6Being an oddity doesn't bother me, as long as I'm a thought provoking one.
7By day, I'm a clever comic magician, by night...Agent J.
#Fact
1Working on The Jimmy Kimmel Show [January 2003]
2Supervising Producer of "Everything You Need to Know" [March 2006]
3Friend of Jerry Seinfeld & co-writer of Seinfeld's "Stand Up Confidential" video.
4Wears glasses, but did not wear them during the host segments of Mystery Scinece Theater 3000 (1988). However, he did wear his glasses during the commentary segments, as can be seen when his silhouette is caught at a profile angle, the outline of his glasses becomes visible.
5During the first season of MST3K (Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)), he went by his real name as the show's host. In the second season, he started using the surname 'Robinson'.
6Many of the inventions featured in the MST3K (Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)) Invention Exchange were props that he had personally built and used in his stand up comedy routines. When he left, the exchange was quickly discontinued since the inventions were usually of his devising.
7Some fans of Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)thought his character was a stoner because of his sleepy eyed demeanor. In truth, it was a holdover from the pilot, which he was exhausted while filming because he hadn't slept for four days.
8When the Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988) theatrical film was being made, the studio wanted him to come back and do the film as a kind of origin story for the show, but he declined. Similarly, when he did a guest appearance on MST3K in the episode "Soultaker" he declined to do the running gag commentary because he hadn't taken part in writing it, much to the disappointment of fans who wanted to have him and second host Michael J. Nelson do a gag commentary together.
9When he decided to leave Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988), he chose the show's head writer, Michael J. Nelson, to replace him as the show's host based on his natural leadership skills, his skills in music and the fact that he looked good with the puppets.
10Inventor of "Gizmonics Institute."

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Cinematic Titanic: Rattlers2012
Cinematic Titanic: The Doll Squad2012
Cinematic Titanic: The Astral Factor2011
Cinematic Titanic: Danger on Tiki Island2010
Cinematic Titanic: The Alien Factor2010
Cinematic Titanic: East Meets Watts2009Video creator - writer
Cinematic Titanic: Blood of the Vampires2009Video creator
Cinematic Titanic: Samson and the Seven Miracles of the World2009
Cinematic Titanic: Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks2008Video creator
Cinematic Titanic: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians2008Video creator
Cinematic Titanic: Legacy of Blood2008Video
Cinematic Titanic: The Wasp Woman2008Video creator / written by
Cinematic Titanic: Doomsday Machine2008Video creator / written by
Cinematic Titanic: The Oozing Skull2007Video creator / written by
Jimmy Kimmel Live!2003TV Series writer - 116 episodes
Mr. B's Lost Shorts2001Video
You Don't Know Jack2001TV Series
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts Volume 21999Video
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts Volume 31999Video
Mystery Science Theater 3000TV Series creator - 189 episodes, 1988 - 1999 written by - 86 episodes, 1989 - 1993 writer - 21 episodes, 1988 - 1989 created by - 8 episodes, 1997 - 1998
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts1998Video creator
2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review1998TV Short creator
1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review1997TV Short creator
Statical Planets1997
Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves1997Video written by
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie1996television series "Mystery Science Theater 3000"
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special1995TV Special creator
The TV Wheel1995TV Movie
Space Ghost Coast to Coast1995TV Series writer - 1 episode
Higgins Boys and Gruber1990TV Series creator - 1990
Jerry Seinfeld: Stand-Up Confidential1987TV Movie
Melon Drop 19881987TV Special

Music Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Mystery Science Theater 3000TV Series composer - 198 episodes, 1988 - 1999 lyricist - 107 episodes, 1988 - 1993 performer - 107 episodes, 1988 - 1993

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Steven Universe2013-2015TV SeriesMayor Dewey Mayor Bill Dewey Mirror Dewey
Other Space2015TV SeriesZalian Fletcher
Arrested Development2013TV SeriesJoel Robinson
A Belly Full of Anger2012Generic Thugs (voice)
Darkstar: The Interactive Movie2010Video GameCaptain Kane Cooper
Water and Power2008TV Series short
Mr. B's Lost Shorts2001VideoJoel Robinson
Freaks and Geeks2000TV SeriesSalesman / Discotheque DJ
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts Volume 21999VideoJoel Robinson
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts Volume 31999VideoJoel Robinson
Mystery Science Theater 30001988-1999TV SeriesJoel Robinson Joel Hodgson Joel
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts1998VideoJoel Robinson
Jerry Seinfeld: Stand-Up Confidential1987TV MovieCast Member

Art Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Mystery Science Theater 3000TV Series set designer - 129 episodes, 1989 - 1996 puppet builder - 1 episode, 1988
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special1995TV Special set designer
Space Ghost Coast to Coast1994TV Series production designer: alternate title sequence

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Spoof Movie No Jutsu!2011Short performer: "Master Ninja Theme Song" - uncredited
Naruto: The Abridged Comedy Fandub Spoof Series Show2009TV Series performer: "Master Ninja Theme Song" - uncredited
Cinematic Titanic: Legacy of Blood2008Video performer: "My Dog's Better Than Your Dog" - uncredited
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie1996music: "Love Theme From Mystery Science Theater 3000"
Mystery Science Theater 3000TV Series performer - 88 episodes, 1988 - 1993 writer - 1 episode, 1992

Art Director

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Mystery Science Theater 30001988-1993TV Series 106 episodes

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Mystery Science Theater 30001990-2017TV Series executive producer - 83 episodes
Cinematic Titanic: East Meets Watts2009Video producer
Cinematic Titanic: Blood of the Vampires2009Video executive producer
Cinematic Titanic: Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks2008Video executive producer
Cinematic Titanic: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians2008Video producer
Cinematic Titanic: The Wasp Woman2008Video producer
Cinematic Titanic: The Oozing Skull2007Video producer
Everything You Need to Know2006TV Series documentary supervising producer
Mr. B's Lost Shorts2001Video co-executive producer
The TV Wheel1995TV Movie producer

Special Effects

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Mystery Science Theater 30001989-1993TV Series gizmonic devices - 86 episodes

Miscellaneous

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch1996-1997TV Series magic consultant - 19 episodes
The Paula Poundstone Show1993TV Series consultant - 2 episodes
Mystery Science Theater 30001990-1991TV Series this week's creative pit boss - 3 episodes

Director

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Statical Planets1997
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Poopie!1995Video short uncredited
Mystery Science Theater 30001992-1993TV Series 8 episodes

Set Decorator

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Mystery Science Theater 30001995-1996TV Series 9 episodes

Production Designer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Mystery Science Theater 30001988-1993TV Series 3 episodes

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Public Domain Theatre2011-2014TV Series special thanks for bringing the funny - 34 episodes
This Is MST3K1992TV Short documentary special thanks

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Cinematic Titanic: Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks2008VideoHimself
Cinematic Titanic: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians2008VideoHimself
The History of MST3K2008Video documentaryHimself
Cinematic Titanic: Legacy of Blood2008VideoHimself
Comic-Con '08 Live2008TV MovieHimself
Cinematic Titanic: The Wasp Woman2008VideoHimself
Cinematic Titanic: Doomsday Machine2008VideoHimself
Cinematic Titanic: The Oozing Skull2007VideoHimself
American Scary2006DocumentaryHimself - Host, Mystery Science Theater 3000
Space Ghost Coast to Coast1996TV SeriesHimself
The TV Wheel1995TV MovieHimself - Host
This Is MST3K1992TV Short documentaryHimself (Creator, 'Mystery Science Theater 3000')
Higgins Boys and Gruber1990TV SeriesHimself (1990)
Late Night with David Letterman1983-1984TV SeriesHimself
Saturday Night Live1983-1984TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Special Guest
The 8th Annual Young Comedians Show1983TV SpecialHimself
Stalking Emopost-productionHimself (rumored)
RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion2016Himself
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Turkey Day Marathon2014Video shortHimself
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee: Single Shot2014TV SeriesHimself
Return to Eden Prairie: 25 Years of Mystery Science Theater 30002013Documentary
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee2012TV SeriesHimself
Cinematic Titanic: Rattlers2012Himself
Cinematic Titanic: The Doll Squad2012Himself
Cinematic Titanic: War of the Insects2011Himself
Cinematic Titanic: The Astral Factor2011Himself
Citizen Wood: Making the Bride, Unmaking the Legend2010Video documentary shortHimself
Cinematic Titanic: Danger on Tiki Island2010Himself
Cinematic Titanic: The Alien Factor2010Himself
Cinematic Titanic: East Meets Watts2009VideoHimself
Cinematic Titanic: Blood of the Vampires2009VideoHimself
Cinematic Titanic: Samson and the Seven Miracles of the World2009Himself

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Making of 'Mystery Science Theater 3000'1997TV Movie documentaryJoel Robinson
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Poopie!1995Video shortJoel Robinson (uncredited)

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1994CableACECableACE AwardsWriting a Comedy SeriesMystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)
1994CableACECableACE AwardsArt Direction in a Comedy or Music Special or SeriesMystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)
1994CableACECableACE AwardsComedy SeriesMystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)
1993CableACECableACE AwardsWriting a Comedy SeriesMystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)
1992CableACECableACE AwardsComedy SeriesMystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)

Known for movies

Source
IMDB Wikipedia

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