Joe McCrea was born and raised in Columbus, Georgia. McCrea attended school in Columbus eventually graduating from Columbus State University (CSU) with a Baccalaureate Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Public Administration Degree. McCrea is also an Adjunct Professor at CSU as well as a thirty-five-year law enforcement veteran with the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office.

McCrea had his debut in the film industry when contacted as the law enforcement consultant to Robert De Niro in the film Savage Salvation (2022) directed by Randall Emmett. McCrea also played the part of Deputy Simmerly alongside De Niro.

McCrea worked as an Associate Producer and played the role of an FBI agent for the film Cash Out (2022) starring John Travolta and Kristin Davis