Joseph Walsh was born on July 11, 1937 in New York City. He was the youngest child born to Edward Walsh, sight-seeing bus barker and Kitty Walsh, homemaker. He became a child actor at the age of 10, acted in over 300 live television shows in NY and performed on television throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s.

 

At 14, Sam Goldwyn chose him to star with Danny Kaye in Hans Christian Andersen. Following that, he starred with Kirk Douglas in The Juggler. Other film credits are: Anzio (1968), The Driver (1978), Poltergeist (1982), Let It Ride (1989) and others.

He is best known for writing/producing the gambling film classic

California Split (1974).

 

He lives in California with his wife Barbara Lightstone Walsh, and has 4 children.