Joe Looney Is the Secret Star of 'Fixer to Fabulous'

It seems like every single DIY or home improvement television channel has a plethora of Fixer Upper–type shows. House flipping has been a source of income for many over the past decade, but ever since Chip and Joanna Gaines came onto the scene via HGTV, the formula they made famous has truly taken off. While Chip and Jo may have moved on to bigger and better things, HGTV is certainly trying to fill the void left by the beloved duo with shows like Fixer to Fabulous.

The series follows husband-and-wife team Dave and Jenny Marrs as they renovate homes in northwest Arkansas. Like Fixer Upper, it features a go-to carpenter who takes on special projects for Dave and Jenny to help make their homes that much more special. For the Marrses, that man is Chase Looney, who is occasionally accompanied by his dad, Joe Looney.

The more prominently featured builder and carpenter on Fixer to Fabulous is Chase Looney, Joe’s son. Chase, who truly followed in his father’s footsteps, wrote a touching tribute to Joe and credits him for who he is today.

"They say you love what you know. In my case that rings true. I often accompanied my father on Fire emergency calls, but my favorite place to be was under his feet as he built in his wood shop. Riding along in the Fire Engine was as exhilarating to me as drawing pictures in sawdust on the floor of his shop," Chase wrote.

"At age 14, I began my apprenticeship as a carpenter in training. After school and on weekends, I began at the bottom of the ladder ... My father was kind but honest. If I was going to pursue carpentry, I would have to learn that if it was not perfection then it was not finished. Years of trial and error molded me into the man, all about the detail, I am today," he continued.

There is no doubt that Fixer to Fabulous couldn’t be what it is without some of the quirky side characters who bring not only beautiful carpentry and design to the houses, but also personality and whimsy. In a video posted to Facebook in 2020, Dave Marrs gave tribute to Joe’s kind soul.

“This is the Joe Looney I know and love,” he captioned a video of Joe presenting Dave's daughter with a birthday gift. “You all see him just agreeing with @jennymarrs on Fixer to Fabulous. I know him as a kind generous man that will do anything for kids and animals! Thanks for making a little girl's dream come true yesterday Joe!”

Whenever an episode of Fixer to Fabulous airs, Twitter begins to flood with messages of love for Joe Looney. One fan wrote, “I watched the episode of Fixer to Fabulous about the cabin in the woods. The Marrses did a fantastic job. Joe and Chase Looney are brilliant at what they do. The show wouldn't be as good without them.”

Another expressed the opinion that Joe and his son deserve their own spinoff show. They said, “Someone give Chase and Joe their own show!” We couldn't agree more!

These days, Chase is not on the show as much as he was in earlier seasons, and Joe is also sometimes absent from episodes. This has led people to wonder whether Joe has left the show. There has been no announcement of him leaving the show, though. He might not be on every episode but he is still a valued part of the Fixer to Fabulous team.

Right now, it's unclear how old Joe is, although it appears that his birthday falls on July 1.

On July 1, 2020, Chase posted a birthday tribute to his father on Facebook. "Dad, thank you for everything," Chase wrote at the end of his tribute. "You are an amazing person. I don’t say this to you enough because I know you know, but for the record and for all to see. Dad, I love you."

Some outlets are reporting that Joe was 64 as of March 2021, meaning he would be 65 right now.

Catch new episodes of Fixer to Fabulous Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on TLC.