Joe Keery | It's Netflix Nerd

Joe Keery (born April 24, 1992) is an American actor and musician best known for his role as Steve Harrington in the Netflix science fiction horror series Stranger Things. Originally cast as a supporting character, Keery’s performance transformed Steve into a fan-favorite, earning him critical acclaim and establishing him as a versatile talent in both acting and music.

Quick Facts

Category	Details
Full Name	Joseph David Keery
Date of Birth	April 24, 1992
Place of Birth	Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA
Nationality	American
Occupation	Actor, Musician
Years Active	2015–present
Known For	Steve Harrington in Stranger Things
Height	5’11” (180 cm)
Education	DePaul University (BFA in Acting, 2014)

Early Life and Background

Joseph David Keery was born and raised in Newburyport, Massachusetts, a historic coastal town north of Boston. He is the second of five children in his family, growing up in a creative household that encouraged artistic expression. His mother, Nina Keery, worked as an English professor, while his father, David Keery, was an architect. This combination of literary and creative influences shaped Keery’s early interests in both performance and music.

During his childhood, Keery showed interest in the performing arts, participating in Theater in the Open, a local performing arts camp. He attended Newburyport High School, where he was actively involved in drama productions. After graduating in 2010, Keery pursued formal training in acting at DePaul University’s Theatre School in Chicago, one of the country’s most respected conservatory programs. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting in 2014.

Early Career and Struggles

After graduating from DePaul, Keery faced the common struggles of a young actor trying to break into the industry. He moved to Chicago initially, working various jobs while auditioning for roles. During this period, he supported himself through commercial work and appeared in numerous advertisements for brands including KFC, Domino’s, and amiibo.

Early Acting Work:

Commercial appearances for major brands (2014-2015)
Background and small roles in Chicago theater productions
Guest appearances on television shows
Nearly 100 auditions before landing Stranger Things

Keery has spoken candidly about the rejection and uncertainty that defined this period of his career. Like many actors, he experienced self-doubt and considered alternative career paths while waiting for his breakthrough opportunity. He worked as a waiter and took on various odd jobs to support himself during this challenging time.

Breakthrough with Stranger Things

In 2015, Keery auditioned for the role of Steve Harrington in the upcoming Netflix series Stranger Things. Initially conceived as a stereotypical antagonist—a popular jock and the boyfriend of Nancy Wheeler—the character was expected to be killed off in the first season. However, the chemistry between Keery and the cast, particularly with co-star Gaten Matarazzo who plays Dustin Henderson, convinced the show’s creators, the Duffer Brothers, to keep Steve alive and expand his role.

Character Evolution:

Season 1: Introduced as Nancy’s boyfriend and typical popular antagonist
Season 2: Transformed into unlikely protector and babysitter to the younger kids
Season 3: Further developed as comic relief and heroic figure
Season 4: Continued growth as mentor and fan-favorite character

Keery’s portrayal of Steve’s transformation from shallow high school jock to beloved protector became one of the series’ most celebrated character arcs. His performance earned widespread critical acclaim and made Steve Harrington one of the most popular characters in the show.

Recognition from Stranger Things:

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2017)
Multiple MTV Movie & TV Award nominations
Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series
Teen Choice Award nominations

Film Career

While continuing his work on Stranger Things, Keery expanded into film, taking on diverse roles that showcased his range beyond the Steve Harrington character.

Major Film Projects

Year	Film	Role	Genre
2018	Slice	Jackson	Horror Comedy
2019	After Everything	Chris	Drama
2020	Spree	Kurt Kunkle	Thriller/Horror
2021	Free Guy	Keys/Programmer	Action Comedy
2024	Marmalade	Baron	Crime Thriller
2025	Honey Don’t!	TBA	Comedy

Notable Film Roles:

Spree (2020) represented a significant departure for Keery, playing Kurt Kunkle, a rideshare driver who livestreams a violent spree for social media followers. The film, directed by Eugene Kotlyarenko, was a dark satire on influencer culture and social media obsession. Keery’s intense, disturbing performance demonstrated his willingness to take risks and explore darker material.

Free Guy (2021) featured Keery in a supporting role alongside Ryan Reynolds in a big-budget action comedy about a video game NPC who becomes self-aware. The film’s commercial success introduced Keery to wider audiences beyond Stranger Things fans.

Music Career

Beyond acting, Keery is an accomplished musician who has pursued music seriously throughout his career. His musical journey has been a significant part of his creative identity, often providing a counterbalance to his acting work.

Musical Projects:

Post Animal (2015-2019):

Guitarist and vocalist for Chicago-based psychedelic rock band
Contributed to albums: Post Animal (2015), When I Think Of You In A Castle (2018)
Performed with the band at various venues and festivals
Departed amicably in 2019 to focus on solo work due to scheduling conflicts with acting

Solo Career as Djo (2019-present):

Adopted the stage name “Djo” for solo music projects
Debut album: Twenty Twenty (2019) – written, recorded, and produced independently
Second album: DECIDE (2022) – featured viral hit “End of Beginning”
Musical style: Psychedelic pop, indie rock, synth-pop
Plays multiple instruments and handles production

Notable Musical Achievements:

“End of Beginning” went viral on TikTok in 2023, reaching millions of streams
Performed at major music festivals including Lollapalooza
Critical acclaim for production quality and songwriting
Successfully balanced music career with acting commitments

Keery’s music under the Djo moniker has been praised for its sophisticated production, introspective lyrics, and eclectic blend of genres. He writes, performs, and produces all of his solo work, demonstrating significant musical talent beyond his acting abilities.

Awards and Recognition

Major Awards and Nominations:

Screen Actors Guild Award (2017) – Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (Winner)
Saturn Award – Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series (Nominated)
MTV Movie & TV Awards – Multiple nominations for Best Duo (with Gaten Matarazzo)
Teen Choice Awards – Multiple nominations

Industry Recognition:

Praised for character development and improvisation skills
Recognized for versatility across comedy, drama, and horror genres
Acknowledged for contributions to psychedelic rock and indie music scenes

Net Worth

Year	Estimated Net Worth	Primary Income Sources
2018	$2 million	Stranger Things, commercials, music
2020	$4 million	Increased Stranger Things salary, film roles
2023	$6 million	Continued acting, music royalties, endorsements
2025	$8-10 million (est.)	Multiple revenue streams, film projects

Income Breakdown:

Acting Salary: Reported $250,000-350,000 per episode of Stranger Things (later seasons)
Film Roles: Supporting and lead role compensation in feature films
Music Revenue: Album sales, streaming, touring, merchandise
Endorsements: Brand partnerships and commercial work
Residuals: Ongoing royalties from Stranger Things and film work

Public Image and Influence

Keery has cultivated a reputation as down-to-earth and authentic, often praised by fans and colleagues for his humility despite growing fame. He maintains a relatively low-key public presence compared to many of his peers, preferring to let his work speak for itself.

Style and Fashion:

Known for distinctive hairstyle that became iconic as Steve Harrington
Recognized as a fashion-forward dresser at red carpet events
Collaborated with fashion brands and appeared in style magazines
Hair care routine became subject of public interest and media coverage

Social Media Presence:

Instagram: 10+ million followers
Relatively selective about personal information shared
Uses platform primarily for professional promotion
Occasional posts about music, acting projects, and causes

Personal Life

Relationships and Privacy:

In a long-term relationship with actress Maika Monroe since 2017
Maintains strong privacy boundaries around personal life
Rarely discusses relationships in interviews
Based in Los Angeles, California

Interests and Hobbies:

Passionate about music production and recording
Enjoys skateboarding and outdoor activities
Interest in vintage synthesizers and recording equipment
Supporter of various charitable causes

Keery has been deliberate about maintaining a separation between his public persona and private life. He rarely engages in celebrity culture beyond professional obligations and has expressed a preference for focusing on creative work rather than fame itself.

Acting Style and Approach

Keery’s approach to acting draws from his conservatory training at DePaul, emphasizing character development and emotional authenticity. He has spoken about the importance of improvisation in his work, particularly in developing Steve Harrington’s comedic timing and relationship dynamics.

Acting Strengths:

Strong comedic timing and physical comedy skills
Ability to convey vulnerability and emotional depth
Chemistry with ensemble casts
Willingness to take creative risks with character choices
Skilled at character transformation and arc development

Directors and co-stars have praised Keery’s collaborative spirit and professionalism on set. His background in theater training provides him with strong technical skills while his natural charisma adds authenticity to his performances.

Legacy and Impact

Though still establishing his career, Keery has already made a significant mark on popular culture through his portrayal of Steve Harrington. The character’s evolution from antagonist to beloved hero has been studied as an example of effective character development in television writing and performance.

Cultural Impact:

Steve Harrington became one of television’s most beloved character redemptions
“Steve the Babysitter” and “Mom Steve” became popular fan memes
Influenced portrayal of masculinity in teen-oriented media
Demonstrated successful transition from television to film
Proved actors can maintain dual careers in music and acting

His work has contributed to broader conversations about character growth, redemption arcs, and the subversion of stereotypes in popular media. The “Djo” music project has also gained recognition as a legitimate artistic endeavor beyond celebrity vanity projects.

Complete Filmography

Television:

Stranger Things (2016–2025) – Steve Harrington (Main Role, Seasons 1-5)
Chicago Fire (2015) – Emmett (1 episode)
Sirens (2015) – Scenester (1 episode)
Empire (2015) – Tony Trichter (1 episode)

Film:

Honey Don’t! (2025) – TBA
Marmalade (2024) – Baron
Finestkind (2023) – Costa
Free Guy (2021) – Keys/Programmer
Spree (2020) – Kurt Kunkle
After Everything (2019) – Chris
Slice (2018) – Jackson
Molly’s Game (2017) – Trust Fund Coleman (uncredited)
Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party (2015) – Gabe

50 Fascinating Facts About Joe Keery

Joe is the second of five children in his family
He grew up in Newburyport, Massachusetts, a historic coastal town
His mother was an English professor and his father is an architect
Joe attended Theater in the Open, a performing arts camp as a child
He graduated from DePaul University’s Theatre School in Chicago in 2014
Joe auditioned nearly 100 times before landing Stranger Things
Steve Harrington was originally supposed to die in season one
The Duffer Brothers kept Steve alive because of Joe’s chemistry with the cast
Joe’s iconic hair requires specific maintenance and products
He has revealed his hair care routine in multiple interviews due to fan demand
Joe was in a band called Post Animal before going solo
His solo music project is released under the name “Djo”
He writes, performs, and produces all his solo music
Joe plays multiple instruments including guitar, bass, and keyboards
His song “End of Beginning” went viral on TikTok in 2023
He worked as a waiter while auditioning after college
Joe appeared in commercials for KFC, Domino’s, and other brands early in his career
He is a big fan of psychedelic rock and 1960s music
Joe owns an extensive collection of vintage synthesizers
He has been dating actress Maika Monroe since 2017
Joe is very private about his personal relationships
He lists Paul McCartney as one of his biggest musical influences
Joe’s favorite Stranger Things scene to film was the Russian base infiltration
He improvised many of Steve’s funniest lines in the show
Joe is close friends with his Stranger Things co-stars, especially Gaten Matarazzo
He attended Lollapalooza as a performer with his band
Joe has said he initially struggled with the attention from Stranger Things
He prefers recording music late at night in his home studio
Joe has expressed interest in directing in the future
He enjoys skateboarding in his free time
Joe’s hairstyle as Steve Harrington became a pop culture phenomenon
He has stated that acting and music fulfill different creative needs for him
Joe moved to Los Angeles from Chicago to pursue more acting opportunities
He was a theater major and took his training very seriously
Joe has said his conservatory training was invaluable to his career
He enjoys collaborating with other musicians and actors
Joe rarely uses social media for personal posts, focusing on professional content
He has mentioned feeling more creatively free in his music than in acting roles
Joe’s role in Spree was intentionally disturbing and different from Steve Harrington
He spent time researching social media culture for the Spree role
Joe has said he doesn’t watch himself in his own projects
He supports various environmental and social causes quietly
Joe prefers indie and art house films over blockbusters
He has mentioned wanting to work in more experimental film projects
Joe’s music has been described as psychedelic pop with indie influences
He records most of his music in a home studio setup
Joe has stated that failure and rejection made him a better actor
He maintains friendships with his DePaul classmates and Chicago theater community
Joe has expressed gratitude for the opportunities Stranger Things provided
He hopes to be remembered as someone who took creative risks and stayed authentic

Disclaimer: This biography is based on publicly available information as of January 2026. Personal details, net worth estimates, and career information have been compiled from credible sources but may not reflect the most current developments or complete private information. All facts presented represent publicly known information and should be considered general knowledge rather than comprehensive personal disclosure.

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