Joe Sears

Joe Sears is an American playwright and actor best known as the co-creator and star of the wildly popular Greater Tuna series of comedic plays. With his longtime writing and performing partner Jaston Williams, Sears helped craft a series of satirical, character-driven works that affectionately poke fun at small-town life in Texas while offering sharp insights into American culture and community.

Born in Texas in 1948, Sears began acting at an early age and developed a love for storytelling and regional humor. In the early 1980s, he teamed up with Jaston Williams and director Ed Howard to create Greater Tuna, a two-man play in which the actors portray over 20 eccentric residents of the fictional town of Tuna, Texas. The play premiered in 1981 and became a runaway success, leading to sequels including A Tuna Christmas, Red, White and Tuna, and Tuna Does Vegas.

Sears and Williams became celebrated for their quick character changes, sharp comic timing, and the emotional depth they brought to their portrayals. A Tuna Christmas earned Sears a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play in 1995, further cementing the duo’s national reputation.

In addition to writing and performing, Sears has been active in arts education and regional theatre, encouraging young performers and playwrights. His work, though comedic, often highlights themes of tolerance, individuality, and the quirks that bind communities together.

Joe Sears’s contributions to American theatre have been praised for their originality, humor, and humanity. Through the lens of Tuna, Texas, he has created a lasting and beloved comic universe that continues to entertain and resonate with audiences across the country.