Joe Thomas (born 28 October 1983 in Chelmsford) is an English actor best known for his breakout role as the hapless Simon Cooper in the E4 sitcom The Inbetweeners (2008–2010), a show that spawned two hit film adaptations in 2011 and 2014. Before his television success, he studied history at Cambridge University, where he served as secretary of the renowned Footlights comedy troupe alongside his future co-star Simon Bird. After the sitcom ended, Thomas stayed on Channel 4 with Fresh Meat and reunited with Inbetweeners colleague James Buckley in the BBC Two series White Gold. He also co-wrote the WWI comedy Chickens with Bird and Jonny Sweet, and starred in the 2018 film The Festival, directed by Inbetweeners co-creator Iain Morris. On a personal note, he has been with fellow Inbetweeners actress Hannah Tointon since 2010, and the couple welcomed their first child in 2022.