A Midwesterner who grew up intrigued with the American films of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Reidy attended NYU film school, finishing in 1976, and soon after found his way into the DGA Assistant Directors Training Program. As a Trainee, he worked on Robert Butler’s Night of the Juggler (1980), Paul Mazursky’s Wille & Phil (1980), and Gordon Willis’ Windows (1980), among others.

A DGA member for over four decades, Joe Reidy is a prolific First Assistant Director. His credits include work on numerous DGA Award-nominated features such as Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan (2010), and Robert Redford’s Quiz Show (1994). Reidy has also had a long working relationship with Martin Scorsese, acting as his First Assistant Director on the DGA Award-nominated films Goodfellas (1990), The Age of Innocence (1993), Gangs of New York (2002), The Aviator (2004) and his 2006 DGA Award-winning feature The Departed. He also worked with Oliver Stone on the DGA Award-nominated film JFK (1991) and the 1989 DGA Award-winning feature Born on the Fourth of July (1989). Most recently, he has worked with Michael Mann on Ferrari (2023). As a Second Assistant Director, he worked on Sydney Pollack’s Tootsie (1982).

Reidy has served eight terms on the Eastern AD/UPM Council, as well as a term on the National Board and two terms as a member of the Negotiating Committee. He has also been a Trustee on the Assistant Directors Training Program since 2006. Additionally, he was a member of the COVID-19 Return to Work Committee that was tasked with formulating the protocols to bring DGA members back to work during the pandemic. For his extensive Guild involvement and career achievements, Reidy was awarded the Frank Capra Achievement Award in 2022.

He has been a member of the Guild since 1979.