Joe Chrest

Joseph Chrest was born on May 26, 1963, in St. Albans, West Virginia. He began his early career as an actor, establishing a foundation that would lead to a comprehensive body of work in both film and television. His educational background includes a BFA in Directing from Marshall University and an MFA from Louisiana State University, which he earned after serving in the United States Air Force and receiving commendations for Cold War service and expert marksmanship. Chrest’s diverse career highlights his adaptability across various roles.

Chrest has accumulated over 100 screen credits and has performed in more than 60 plays and musicals. His significant film roles include the character of Ben in Steven Soderbergh’s “King of the Hill” (1993) and Mr. Rodman in Soderbergh’s “The Underneath.” He also played David Schmidt in “22 Jump Street” (2014) and Mitchell in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” (2015). On television, he is widely recognized for his recurring role as Ted Wheeler in the series “Stranger Things” (2016–present), which has spanned 20 episodes. Additional television appearances include roles in “True Detective” (2014) and “Looking for Alaska” (2019).

Beyond his acting career, Chrest is also involved in theatre and academic pursuits. He performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. He was a founding member of the regional theatre company Swine Palace and is the Founding Artistic Director of Ignition Film Repertory Company, an organization focused on developing original screen works. Chrest also serves as an adjunct professor at Louisiana State University’s School of Theatre, where he teaches film acting.