Joel Heyman
The foundational voice actor and co-founder of Rooster Teeth who brought the hilariously dim Michael J. Caboose to life for a generation of fans.
Born 1971 (age 55)·American actor·Birthday: September 16·Generation X
Biography
Joel Heyman wasn't seeking internet fame; he was a friend with a microphone. In the early 2000s, he joined Burnie Burns and others to create a quirky web series using the video game Halo as a backdrop. As a co-founder of Rooster Teeth, Heyman provided not just the unforgettable, childlike voice of the soldier Caboose in 'Red vs. Blue,' but also served as the company's first business manager, helping steer it from a dorm-room project to a multimedia empire. His deadpan delivery and comic timing became a signature of the studio's early, DIY charm. While less visible in front of the camera in later years, his role in building the infrastructure and culture of one of the web's first major production houses was instrumental.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Joel was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Joel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Joel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-founded the pioneering online entertainment company Rooster Teeth Productions in 2003.
- Voiced the beloved character Michael J. Caboose in the long-running machinima series 'Red vs. Blue' for 17 seasons.
- Served as the original Business Manager for Rooster Teeth, helping establish its early operational and financial structure.
- Appeared in and contributed to numerous other Rooster Teeth projects, including 'The Strangerhood' and 'RWBY.'
Did You Know?
He originally auditioned for the role of Church in 'Red vs. Blue' but was given the part of Caboose instead.
His character Caboose is named after the tank from the video game 'Halo: Combat Evolved.'
He worked as a system administrator before helping start Rooster Teeth.
He is known for having a very low, calm speaking voice in real life, contrasting with Caboose's higher pitch.
“I just showed up to hang out, and they gave me a microphone.”
