Joseph Midthun was born in a small mining town in East Central Minnesota.
He studied theater at Central Lakes College and Perpich Center for Arts Education, film at Columbia College Chicago, and screenwriting at Minneapolis Community Technical College.
In 2010 he was a recipent of the MN State Arts Board emerging artist grant. He has worked as a freelance editor, author, actor, animator, filmmaker, and interactive developer.
He is known internationally for World Book's bestselling Building Blocks series of educational books for children.