Joseph David Keery (born April 24, 1992) is an American actor and musician. He is best known for his role as Steve Harrington in the Netflix science fiction series Stranger Things (2016–present). Keery also performs music under the stage name Djo.
Early Life
Joe Keery was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, to Thomas Keery, an architect, and Laura Keery, an English professor. He has an older sister, Caroline, and three younger sisters, Lizzy, Emma, and Kate. Keery attended River Valley Charter School and Newburyport High School. He participated in Theater in the Open, a performing arts camp at Maudslay State Park, and later studied at The Theatre School at DePaul University, graduating in 2014 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting.
Career
Keery began his acting career with appearances in commercials for brands such as KFC, Domino’s Pizza, and Amiibo. He made his film debut in Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party (2015) and appeared in television series such as Chicago Fire, Sirens, and Empire.
Keery’s breakthrough role came in 2016 when he was cast as Steve Harrington in the Netflix series Stranger Things. Initially auditioning for the role of Jonathan Byers, he was later cast as Steve, a character who evolved from a recurring role in the first season to a main character in subsequent seasons.
In addition to Stranger Things, Keery has appeared in films such as Molly’s Game (2017), Spree (2020), and Free Guy (2021). He also starred in the fifth season of the crime drama series Fargo (2023–2024).
Music
Keery is also a musician and was a member of the Chicago-based psychedelic rock band Post Animal. He contributed guitar and vocals to the band’s early releases but left the group in 2018 to focus on his acting career. Keery continues to pursue music as a solo artist under the name Djo. He released his debut album Twenty Twenty in 2019 and his second album Decide in 2022. His single “End of Beginning” became a viral hit on TikTok in 2024.
Personal Life
Keery was in a relationship with actress Maika Monroe from 2017 to 2023. He is known for his distinctive hairstyle and has become a style icon for many fans.
Filmography
- Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party (2015) as Gabe
- The Charnel House (2016) as Scott
- Molly’s Game (2017) as Cole
- Spree (2020) as Kurt Kunkle
- Free Guy (2021) as Walter “Keys” McKey
- Fargo (2023–2024) as Gator Tillman
Discography
- When I Think of You in a Castle (2018) with Post Animal
- Twenty Twenty (2019) as Djo
- Decide (2022) as Djo
