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Joe Keery
Joe Keery by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Keery at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Joseph David Keery

(1992-04-24) April 24, 1992 (age 32)
Education DePaul University (BFA)
Occupation
  • Actor
  • musician
Years active 2015–present
Known for Stranger Things
Free Guy
Partner(s) Maika Monroe (2017–2023)
Musical career
Also known as Djo, Cool Cool Cool
Origin Chicago
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
  • drums

Joseph David Keery (born April 24, 1992) is an American actor and musician. He played Steve Harrington in the science fiction series Stranger Things (2016–present) and appeared in the comedy film Free Guy (2021).

He releases music under the stage name Djo, and was a member of the psychedelic rock band Post Animal.

Early life

Keery was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts. His father is an architect and his mother is an English professor. He is the second of five children.

Keery was raised in Newburyport and attended River Valley Charter School, a local Montessori elementary and middle school, and Newburyport High School. When he was young, he participated in Theater in the Open, a performing arts camp at Maudslay State Park, but ultimately began acting in high school, initially performing there at his older sister's insistence.

Keery went on to study at The Theatre School at DePaul University and graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting.

Career

Acting

Before his breakout role in Stranger Things, Keery appeared in a KFC, Domino's, and Amiibo commercials, and had roles in Empire and Chicago Fire. His first appearance in a full-length film was in Stephen Cone's indie, Henry Gamble's Birthday Party.

Keery's breakthrough role was as Steve in the Netflix sci-fi series Stranger Things. He was cast in late 2015; having initially auditioned for the role of Jonathan, he later sent in a tape for his character, Steve. The show premiered in 2016 to critical acclaim. He was promoted from recurring cast to a series regular for the second season of Stranger Things. The third and fourth seasons were released in 2019 and 2022, respectively.

Since beginning Stranger Things, Keery has also acted in a few independent movies, including starring in the 2020 satire film, Spree. He also played the role of Walter "Keys" McKey, a game developer, in the 2021 action comedy film Free Guy, which went on to become a major box-office hit. In May 2022, he was cast opposite Liam Neeson in the sci-fi action film Cold Storage. In August 2022, he was cast as Gator Tillman in the fifth season of Fargo.

Music

Aside from acting, Keery is also a musician. In his early twenties, he released music under the name "Cool Cool Cool." Keery was a guitarist and drummer for Chicago-based garage and psych-rock band Post Animal. Their debut album was released in October 2015. The band's second album, When I Think Of You In A Castle, was released in April 2018 and saw Keery performing guitar and vocals. As of 2019, Keery was no longer a touring member of the band, and he later parted ways due to acting commitments.

On July 19, 2019, Keery self-released the single "Roddy" as a solo artist under the moniker Djo. Keery released a second single on August 9, 2019, titled "Chateau (Feel Alright)" under the same moniker. On September 13, 2019, Keery released his debut album as Djo, Twenty Twenty. In a positive review of the album, NME called Keery "a musician of very high calibre," and compared his music to that of Tame Impala and Ariel Pink.

On September 9, 2020, he released a new single, "Keep Your Head Up". In 2022, he took part in a summer music festival tour. His sophomore album Decide was announced in June 2022, along with the release of its first single "Change". The album was released on September 16, 2022, and received positive reviews.

Personal life

Keery was in a long term relationship with American actress Maika Monroe from 2017 to 2023.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 Henry Gamble's Birthday Party Gabe
2016 The Charnel House Scott
2017 Molly's Game Trust Fund Cole
2018 After Everything Chris
Slice Jackson
2019 How to Be Alone Jack / The Gimp Short film
2020 Spree Kurt Kunkle
2021 Free Guy Walter "Keys" McKeys
2023 Finalmente l'alba Sean Lockwood
TBA Marmalade Baron
TBA Cold Storage Travis Meacham

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 Sirens Scenester Episode: "Screw the One Percent"
Chicago Fire Emmett 2 episodes
Empire Tony Trichter III Episode: "Who I Am"
2016–present Stranger Things Steve Harrington Recurring role (season 1)
Main role (season 2–present)
2019–2021 No Activity Officer Ed Reinhardt Recurring role (season 3–4)
2020 Death to 2020 Duke Goolies Television special
2021 Death to 2021
2023 Fargo Gator Tillman Main role (season 5)

Discography

Post Animal

Studio album

  • When I Think of You in a Castle (2018)

Extended plays

  • Post Animal Perform the Most Curious Water Activities (2015)
  • The Garden Series (2016)

As solo artist

Studio albums

  • Twenty Twenty (2019)
  • Decide (2022)

Singles

Title Year Album
"Roddy" 2019 Twenty Twenty
"Chateau (Feel Alright)"
"Mortal Projections"
"Keep Your Head Up" 2020 Non-album single
"Change" 2022 DECIDE
"Gloom"
"Figure You Out"
"Half Life"

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2017 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Stranger Things Won
2018 Nominated
2020 Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Joe Keery para niños

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