Joel Carlin Drabble was born December 2, 1997 in Christchurch, New Zealand, to Sue Messado and Kieren Drabble. Joel grew up in Rangiora, a small suburb outside of Christchurch before moving with his family to Gold Coast, Australia when he was 11 years old. It was then Joel finally began pursuing acting where he studied at The Warehouse Workshop Acting Studio. He made his film debut as a radioman in Danger Close (2019), directed by Kriv Stenders