
In the Netflix horror-comedy series *Santa Clarita Diet*, Timothy Olyphant plays Joel Hammond, the supportive husband of Sheila Hammond, a zombie realtor with a taste for human flesh. Joel and Sheila are real estate agents and parents living in Santa Clarita, California, who must deal with the challenges of balancing family life with Sheila's undead state. Olyphant's character is known for his restraint and reason, often going along with his wife's absurd plans to keep her cravings under control.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Joel Hammond |
| Played By | Timothy Olyphant |
| Relationship Status | Married to Sheila Hammond |
| Occupation | Real estate agent |
| Children | Abby Hammond |
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What You'll Learn

Timothy Olyphant played Joel Hammond
In the show, Joel is a suburban real estate agent and the husband of Sheila Hammond (played by Barrymore). The Hammonds' lives are upended when Sheila undergoes a transformation, becoming undead and developing a craving for human flesh. As Joel and the family try to help Sheila navigate her new appetite, they must also deal with neighbours, cultural norms, and a potentially mythological mystery.
Olyphant's character, Joel, serves as the rationalizing straight man to Sheila's erratic behaviour. Despite his initial reluctance to embrace the undead lifestyle, Joel eventually comes around and supports his wife's endeavours, even helping her cover up her tracks and target specific individuals to satisfy her cravings.
Olyphant's performance in Santa Clarita Diet showcased his comedic talents, and he received praise for his on-screen chemistry with Barrymore. The show's cancellation disappointed fans, who enjoyed the dynamic between Joel and Sheila, as well as Olyphant's portrayal of the character's struggle to adapt to his wife's unique situation.
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Joel is a human
Joel Hammond, played by Timothy Olyphant, is a human in the Netflix horror-comedy Santa Clarita Diet. The series centres on Joel and his wife Sheila, played by Drew Barrymore, whose lives take a dark turn when Sheila dies and comes back to life as a zombie.
As a human, Joel has to grapple with his wife's undead state and her intense cravings for human flesh. He tries to help Sheila through this difficult time while also dealing with their neighbours and cultural norms. Joel is described as the "straight man" in the series, often acting as the voice of reason to his erratic wife. Despite this, he almost always goes along with Sheila's plans, no matter how absurd. For example, in the opening scene of the second episode, Joel helps Sheila bury the remains of a colleague she has killed, while she cheerfully chats about a potential real estate listing.
In one notable scene in the third season, Joel almost disparages his undead wife by calling her a zombie, before correcting himself. He suggests killing another undead person to prevent harm to others, but Sheila balks at the idea, asking for more courtesy towards the undead. Joel, being human, points out that the undead "eat people," to which Sheila responds, "So do I, Joel. But I'm also much more than that, and no matter how much good I'm doing, is that all you're ever gonna see?" This exchange highlights Joel's humanity and his struggle to understand and accept Sheila's new nature.
Portrayed as a supportive husband, Joel redefines what "til death do us part" means as he stands by his wife even after her transformation. Timothy Olyphant's performance as Joel Hammond received praise for his on-screen chemistry with Drew Barrymore, contributing to the success of the series.
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Joel is a real estate agent
Joel Hammond, played by Timothy Olyphant, is a real estate agent in Santa Clarita, California. He is Sheila Hammond's husband and Abby Hammond's father. Joel and Sheila are a married couple who work as real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California. Their lives take a dark turn when Sheila dies and comes back to life as a zombie with a craving for human flesh.
As a real estate agent, Joel is often out in the field, meeting with clients and showing properties. In one instance, he digs a hole to bury the remains of a colleague that Sheila killed. Despite the challenges of dealing with Sheila's undead state, Joel remains supportive and tries to help her through her transformation. He also has to deal with the cultural norms and neighbours of their suburban community.
Joel's personality is described as restrained and rational, serving as a counterbalance to Sheila's erratic behaviour. He often goes along with Sheila's plans, no matter how absurd they may seem. For example, in the third season, Joel almost disparages his undead wife by calling her a zombie but quickly pivots and suggests killing another undead person to prevent harm.
The show highlights the contrast between Joel's humanity and Sheila's undead state, as he remarks that the undead "eat people," to which she responds, "So do I, Joel. But I'm also much more than that." Despite the challenges of having an undead wife, Joel remains devoted to his work and their relationship, showcasing his commitment and loyalty.
Overall, Joel's character as a real estate agent in "Santa Clarita Diet" adds a layer of normalcy to the show's supernatural elements, and his dynamic with Sheila provides comedic and heartfelt moments throughout the series.
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Joel is married to Sheila Hammond
Joel Hammond is married to Sheila Hammond in the Netflix horror-comedy series Santa Clarita Diet. The series centres on the couple, who are real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California, and their lives take a turn when Sheila becomes undead and starts craving human flesh.
Joel is played by Timothy Olyphant, while Sheila is played by Drew Barrymore. The couple has a daughter, Abby Hammond, played by Liv Hewson. The show also features their neighbour Eric Bemis, played by Skyler Gisondo, and his parents, Lisa and Dan Palmer, played by Mary Elizabeth Ellis and Ricardo Chavira, respectively.
Despite the challenges of dealing with Sheila's undead state and her new appetite, Joel and Sheila maintain a strong and loving marriage. They work together to cover up a series of cannibalistic murders to keep Sheila fed, and Joel even learns as much as he can about Sheila's undead way of life. Their relationship is described as perfect, as they support each other's interests and maintain a healthy sex life.
The show explores the couple's dynamic as they navigate their work and personal lives, dealing with issues such as annoying neighbours and rebellious teenage children. It also delves into the challenges of maintaining a marriage while working together and facing unusual circumstances, such as one partner becoming a zombie.
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Joel has a friend called Rick
Joel Hammond, played by Timothy Olyphant, has a friend called Rick, played by Richard T. Jones. Rick is a Santa Monica police officer, the Hammonds' neighbour, and Joel's friend. Joel is a supportive husband to Sheila Hammond, played by Drew Barrymore, who becomes a zombie. The couple tries to balance family life with zombie life. Joel and Sheila Hammond are everyday suburban real estate agents in Santa Clarita, California. They face a series of challenges when Sheila undergoes a transformation, becomes undead, and develops a craving for human flesh.
Joel and the family try to help Sheila through her metamorphosis while dealing with neighbours and cultural norms and attempting to unravel a potentially mythological mystery. They also try to keep Sheila's undead state a secret, with assistance from their stubborn teenage daughter, Abby (played by Liv Hewson), and their geeky neighbour, Eric (played by Skyler Gisondo).
The show received generally positive reviews from critics, with a focus on its excellent cast, frequent laughs, and engaging premise. Despite its success, Netflix decided to cancel the series, leaving fans disappointed and longing for more.
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Frequently asked questions
Timothy Olyphant plays Joel Hammond in the Santa Clarita Diet.
Joel is a human and the husband of Sheila Hammond, who becomes a zombie. Joel is described as the rationalizing straight man and the more restrained and reasonable of the pair.
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy sitcom about a husband and wife real estate team, Joel and Sheila Hammond, whose lives take a dark turn when Sheila dies and comes back to life as a zombie with a craving for human flesh.
In the third season, Sheila asks Joel if she can turn him into a zombie so that he can be immortal with her.
Timothy Olyphant has appeared in Deadwood, The Good Place, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He also had a small role in the Oscar-winning film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.



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