Joe Keery

Joseph David “Joe” Keery was born on April 24, 1992, in Newburyport, Massachusetts. He is the second of five children, growing up with four sisters. His early exposure to performing arts began with Theater in the Open, a performing arts camp at Maudslay State Park. Keery’s interest in acting solidified in high school, largely due to his sister’s encouragement. He pursued formal training at The Theatre School at DePaul University, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting in 2014.

After completing his studies, Keery actively sought acting roles, attending numerous auditions. Prior to his breakthrough, he appeared in commercials for brands such as KFC, Domino’s, and amiibo. He also secured early roles in television series like “Empire” (2015) and “Chicago Fire” (2012). His debut in a full-length film was in Stephen Cone’s independent production, “Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party” (2015).

Keery’s career trajectory significantly shifted in late 2015 when he was cast in the Netflix science-fiction horror series “Stranger Things.” He initially auditioned for the role of Jonathan but ultimately secured the part of Steve Harrington. The show premiered in 2016, and his character was promoted to a series regular for the second season, which premiered on October 27, 2017. Beyond “Stranger Things,” Keery has expanded his filmography with roles in movies like “Molly’s Game” (2017), “Spree” (2020), and “Free Guy” (2021). He also joined the cast of the fifth season of the crime comedy-drama series “Fargo” (2023–2024), playing Gator Tillman. As a musician, Keery was a guitarist and drummer for the psychedelic rock band Post Animal, releasing their debut album in October 2015 and a sophomore album, “When I Think Of You In A Castle,” in April 2018. He later launched a solo music career under the moniker Djo, releasing his debut album “Twenty Twenty” in 2019 and “Decide” in 2022. The track “End of Beginning” from “Decide” gained significant viral popularity in 2024.