History of Joe Goldberg in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 24, 2025

Joe Goldberg is the protagonist and serial killer in Caroline Kepnes' 'You' novels and its television adaptation. Portrayed by Penn Badgley, with younger versions played by Gianni Ciardiello, Aidan Wallace, and Jack Fisher, and his inner self by Ed Speleers, Joe is characterized by his obsessive stalking and willingness to commit extreme acts, including murder, to manipulate himself into the lives of the women he becomes fixated on. His actions define him as a dangerous and complex character driven by distorted romantic ideals.

1988: Joe Goldberg's Birth

On September 19th, 1988, Joe Goldberg was born to separated parents, Sandy Goldberg and Raphael Passero. Joe's early life was marked by the neglect and abuse inflicted by his father.

2014: Release of 'You' by Caroline Kepnes

In 2014, Caroline Kepnes released her thriller novel 'You'. Kepnes wrote the novel during a challenging time in her life, following the death of her father from cancer.

You: A Novel (1) (The You Series)

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June 2017: Penn Badgley Cast as Joe Goldberg

In June 2017, Penn Badgley was cast as Joe Goldberg. Prior to the show's premiere, Badgley expressed his disinterest in playing the character in an interview with Entertainment Weekly but was convinced by the script and social commentary of the show.

2018: Joe Goldberg named 'Best TV Villain'

In 2018, Christina Radish of Collider named Joe Goldberg as the "Best TV Villain" of 2018 and highlighted how the performance given by Penn Badgley and the writing made Joe complicated and intriguing.

2019: Badgley discusses the 'un-saveable' Joe Goldberg

In 2019, Penn Badgley mentioned that his character was "the hero of his own story...every serial killer is" and that Joe is "ultimately, the word that’s coming to mind is un-saveable".

2019: Emmy Nomination Wish List

In 2019, Samantha Highfill from Entertainment Weekly mentioned You in her wish list of contenders for the 2019 Emmy Nominations and praised Penn Badgley's performance. Highfill notes that the series "presented a different look at a serial killer, one that took viewers inside the mind of Joe Goldberg, thereby presenting them with the reasoning for his actions.

2019: Sera Gamble discusses the series' protagonist

In 2019, Sera Gamble, the showrunner and co-creator of the television adaptation, expressed her intention to delve into the reasons behind Joe's behavior and rationalizations for his actions. Gamble highlighted the importance of casting the right person to play Joe Goldberg and emphasized that if they cast someone who was creepy, the story wouldn’t work.