Joe Keery: From Small-Town Beginnings to Hollywood Stardom – Stranger Things, Fargo, & Djo Music Journey

You know him as Steve Harrington, the bat-swinging, hair-perfect fan favorite from Stranger Things. But before taking on Demogorgons, Joe Keery was a struggling actor, juggling auditions and waiting tables in Chicago. Unlike his teenage co-stars, he was already in his mid-20s when he landed the role, turning a one-note jock into one of the show’s most beloved characters.

Beyond acting, Keery has built a second career as Djo, crafting indie-psychedelic music that’s as bold as his acting. With viral hits like End of Beginning and a new album, The Crux, he’s proving he’s more than just Steve Harrington—he’s an artist in his own right.

Childhood and Upbringing

Joseph David Keery, known to the world as Joe Keery, was born on April 24, 1992, in the coastal town of Newburyport, Massachusetts. He grew up in a household with four sisters—Caroline, Lizzy, Kate, and Emma—where creativity and artistic expression were encouraged. His mother, Heather, was an English professor, while his father, David, worked as an architect. Despite their academic backgrounds, his parents were supportive of his artistic ambitions, particularly his growing interest in music and acting. His father, however, had strong opinions about his now-iconic thick hair, frequently suggesting he cut it short or gel it down.

Music played a significant role in Keery’s upbringing. His father frequently played classic rock legends such as The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, The Cars, and The J. Geils Band during road trips, influences that would later shape his musical style. His younger sister played the ukulele, reinforcing a home environment filled with creativity and performance.

Keery’s childhood was filled with imaginative play and humor. He spent much of his time outdoors, creating elaborate games with his siblings and making home movies. He had a strong sense of humor and a natural ability for storytelling, often entertaining his family with impressions and skits. His love for film and performance was evident early on, as he immersed himself in favorite childhood movies like Star Wars and later Indiana Jones. He was particularly obsessed with Star Wars, memorizing every ship and character from visual guidebooks.

Newburyport’s local culture played a significant role in shaping Keery’s early experiences. He fondly remembers family trips to Cape Cod, a place that continues to hold sentimental value for him. Growing up, he often visited favorite local spots like Abraham’s Bagels & Pizza, which he still considers to have the best bagels, and Flatbread Company in Amesbury, a childhood staple for pizza. When returning home, these places remain an essential part of his visits, tying him to the familiar flavors of his youth.

Keery attended a Montessori school for his early education before moving on to River Valley Charter School and later Newburyport High School. While he wasn’t particularly academically inclined, he excelled in creative endeavors.

Early Interest in Performance: Theater and Music Beginnings

During his teenage years, Keery’s love for performance began to take shape. He became involved in high school theater and participated in Drama Fest, a judged high school theater competition. His school often lost to Matt Damon’s alma mater, which had a well-regarded drama program, but Keery enjoyed the thrill of performing and was eager to improve his skills. Initially working in lighting and sound for productions, he transitioned to acting thanks to encouragement from his sister Caroline, a pivotal moment in his artistic development.

Beyond acting, Keery had a deep love for music. His earliest inspiration came from The Beatles, whom he first heard on a road trip to Cape Cod. That interest led him to pick up his first guitar, a beat-up TSCO model that his dad helped him repair for Christmas. His first recording setup was in a freezing garage, where he experimented with recording demos using a single Shure SM58 microphone. The garage, which often dipped to around 35°F (1.6°C) in winter, was far from ideal, but his determination to create music never wavered. He was also part of a one-time high school band called JJ and the PNPs, which performed covers at a house party.

Part-Time Jobs and Early Work Ethic

In addition to acting and music, Keery worked various part-time jobs during high school. He took a job at a local pizza shop and also worked as a delivery driver, though he humorously recalls struggling with directions before GPS became widely available. He once received a receipt from a customer that read, “Pizza delivery is not for you,” a moment he remembers as both humbling and amusing. These early work experiences helped instill a strong work ethic, which he carried into his acting and music careers.

Keery’s early attempts at making a living as an actor included unusual jobs, such as playing a singing bush in a commercial for a hunting-related website. He later referred to it as one of his most bizarre and least successful creative endeavors.

College Years and Struggles in Acting

Keery attended DePaul University’s School of Theatre in Chicago, which had an audition-based admissions process that allowed him to showcase his talent beyond his academic record. While at DePaul, Keery fully immersed himself in theater and the vibrant Chicago arts scene. He attended plays, collaborated with local artists, and spent six years in the city refining his craft. To support himself while auditioning for roles, he worked as a waiter. During this time, he also lived with his bandmates from Post Animal, a psychedelic rock group he later performed with, blending his passions for acting and music.

Keery’s early acting career was defined by persistence. Before landing a major role, he took on various commercial gigs, including ads for KFC and Domino’s. He also appeared in student films and independent projects to build his acting portfolio.

Stranger Things and Success

Audition Process and Early Struggles

Before becoming the fan-favorite Steve Harrington on Stranger Things, Joe Keery was a struggling actor in Chicago, juggling auditions while waiting tables to make ends meet. After graduating from DePaul University’s School of Theatre, he began auditioning for various roles, landing small gigs in commercials for brands like KFC and Domino’s. However, he had yet to secure a breakthrough role.

When Stranger Things was casting, Keery originally auditioned for the role of Jonathan Byers. He recorded a self-taped audition in his Chicago apartment with the help of his friend and roommate Matt Williams. After sending the tape, he didn’t hear back for months and assumed he didn’t get the part. However, his name later came up again for another character—Steve Harrington.

For his Steve audition, Keery once again filmed a self-tape, this time with a friend reading lines off-camera. His natural charisma and effortless charm came through, catching the attention of the show’s creators, the Duffer Brothers. After sending the tape, he was called for a Skype session with the Duffers, where they asked him to read additional lines. It was during this stage that he got an unusual request—he was asked to send a shirtless photo. At the time, Steve was originally written as a high school swimmer, and they wanted to see if he could fit the part. Though the swimming aspect was later dropped, Keery went along with the request, not realizing how much the role would change his life.

Getting the Role and First Days on Set

Keery received the life-changing call confirming that he had been cast while working at a high-end burger restaurant in Chicago. Stepping outside to take the call, he immediately high-fived a random customer before going back to work, keeping the news to himself. At the time, his role was relatively small, and he wasn’t sure if Steve would be in the show for long.

Arriving on set in Atlanta, Keery was one of the older actors in the teenage cast, but he quickly bonded with his co-stars. His first scene filmed for the show was the iconic moment where Steve climbs through Nancy Wheeler’s window, a moment he remembers being nervous about but ultimately enjoying.

One of the biggest surprises for Keery was his hair. The show’s hairstylist initially gave him a bad bowl cut, but after some adjustments, they landed on the now-iconic voluminous style. The Duffers liked it so much that it became part of Steve’s signature look, complete with a hairspray-heavy grooming routine later referenced in the show’s dialogue.

Steve Harrington’s Evolution

Originally, Steve Harrington was intended to be a stereotypical 1980s high school bully—an arrogant jock meant to be disliked. However, as filming progressed, Keery’s natural likability and comedic timing changed the trajectory of the character. The Duffer Brothers rewrote Steve’s arc, giving him a redemption story that turned him into one of the show’s most beloved characters.

By Season 2, Steve transitioned from the cocky high school boyfriend to the unlikely “babysitter” of the younger cast, forming an iconic friendship with Dustin Henderson (played by Gaten Matarazzo). The duo’s humorous and heartfelt dynamic became one of the show’s standout elements. Keery credits Matarazzo for making their scenes so enjoyable, saying their real-life friendship made the comedic moments feel effortless.

One of Keery’s favorite moments in Season 2 was the now-famous “hair advice” scene, where Steve shares his secret to great hair with Dustin. This improvised moment became one of the most memorable comedic beats in the series.

Physical Challenges and Stunt Work

Playing Steve Harrington meant taking quite a few hits—literally. Steve quickly became the show’s unofficial punching bag, often finding himself in brutal fight scenes. In Season 1, he had a physical altercation with Jonathan Byers, but it was in Season 2 that he truly took a beating. The fight between Steve and Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery) was one of the most intense moments to film, with Keery walking away with real bruises.

Season 3 pushed Steve’s physical limits even further. His Russian torture scene, where he was tied to a chair and beaten, was one of the most grueling experiences for Keery. He spent multiple days filming the sequence, completely immobilized for hours at a time.

One of the most challenging stunts came in Season 4, when Steve had to dive underwater and fight off bat-like creatures. Keery underwent free-diving training for the scene, at one point holding his breath for up to four minutes during practice. The scene took four days to film, with the cast submerged in water for extended periods. Keery later revealed that because they were in the pool so long, cast members often didn’t leave to use the bathroom—resulting in a less-than-pleasant filming experience.

Life-Changing Impact of Stranger Things

Keery was completely unprepared for the overnight fame that came with Stranger Things. When Season 1 premiered on Netflix, it quickly became a global phenomenon. The first time he realized the show’s massive reach was while doing press in Italy, where a young fan recognized him on the street and excitedly shouted, “Stranger Things!” in an Italian accent.

Despite the overwhelming attention, Keery remained grounded. He continued working his restaurant job for months after Stranger Things premiered, unsure if the show’s success would translate into long-term career stability. It wasn’t until his role expanded in Season 2 that he fully embraced acting as his future.

While he loved playing Steve Harrington, Keery was careful not to let himself be typecast as “the cool high school guy.” He actively sought roles that challenged him, eventually landing projects like Spree and Fargo that showcased his range beyond Stranger Things.

Expanding His Acting Career

Keery’s first major post-Stranger Things role came in the 2020 satirical thriller Spree, where he played Kurt Kunkle, a desperate and fame-hungry rideshare driver who livestreams his killing spree in an effort to go viral. The film was a stark departure from his previous work, showcasing his ability to embody dark, unsettling characters. His performance was praised for its intensity, with critics noting that he successfully captured the disturbing nature of internet-driven obsession.

In 2023, Keery took on a significant role in Fargo Season 5, playing Gator Tillman, the insecure and overcompensating son of Jon Hamm’s character. His performance added depth to the character, blending humor with emotional vulnerability. Playing Gator allowed him to break away from his Stranger Things persona and work alongside established actors in a critically acclaimed series.

Keery has also appeared in films like Molly’s Game (2017), where he had a minor role alongside Jessica Chastain, and Free Guy (2021), where he played a game developer opposite Ryan Reynolds. While these roles varied in size, they contributed to his growing resume as a credible actor outside of Stranger Things.

The Shift to More Mature Roles

As Keery continues to build his career, he has been selective in choosing roles that challenge the perception of him as simply a comedic or teenage character. He has expressed interest in psychological thrillers, drama, and even experimental films that push creative boundaries. His work in Spree and Fargo indicates a desire to explore flawed and morally complex characters, signaling a promising future in the industry.

Music Career as Djo

Early Musical Endeavors

Music has been a core part of Joe Keery’s life since childhood. Before rising to fame as an actor, he was a guitarist and vocalist for the Chicago-based psychedelic rock band Post Animal. The band, known for its experimental sound, signed with Polyvinyl Records and recorded their debut album in a secluded lake house in Michigan. They gained a cult following for their energetic live performances and intricate compositions. However, as Keery’s acting career took off, he had to step away from touring but maintained strong ties with his bandmates.

Solo Career and the Birth of Djo

After leaving Post Animal, Keery launched his solo project under the moniker Djo to ensure his music stood independently from his acting career. His 2019 debut album, Twenty Twenty, was a synth-heavy, psychedelic project influenced by artists like Tame Impala and The Talking Heads. Tracks like Roddy and Mortal Projections showcased his ability to blend dreamy soundscapes with introspective lyrics, earning critical acclaim. Keery recorded much of the album himself, experimenting with production techniques and layering sounds to create a distinct sonic identity.

His sophomore album, Decide (2022), built on this experimental approach, featuring viral tracks like End of Beginning, which exploded on TikTok with 60 billion views, reaching #1 on the Global Spotify Chart. The album explored themes of personal growth, nostalgia, and the impact of fame, solidifying his reputation as a legitimate musician. He worked closely with producer Adam Thein, fine-tuning the album’s intricate blend of electronic beats, distorted guitars, and introspective lyrics. Keery described Decide as an evolution of his sound, incorporating elements of funk, post-punk, and synthpop.

The Crux: A New Chapter

In early 2025, Keery announced on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon that his third album, The Crux, would be released on April 4, 2025. He described it as his most ambitious project, blending psychedelic rock, funk, and electronic influences. The album’s surreal cover art, featuring Keery hanging out of a window, was inspired by a friend’s idea and aligns with the mysterious aesthetic of his Djo persona. Fans speculate that The Crux will continue the sonic evolution seen in Decide, with layered instrumentation and a fusion of nostalgic and futuristic elements. Keery hinted that the album would contain more live instrumentation, marking a shift from the heavily electronic sound of his previous works.

Live Performances and Future Plans

Despite his busy acting schedule, Keery actively performs as Djo, bringing his music to major festivals like Coachella and intimate venues alike. His performances, enhanced by a full band and immersive stage visuals, have further separated his musical identity from his acting fame. Keery has been known to adopt a unique stage persona, often wearing a wig and sunglasses during performances to maintain an air of mystery and intrigue.

In late 2023, Keery moved to New York City, where he recorded new music at the legendary Electric Lady Studios. He has cited the influence of David Bowie, Prince, and Beck on his evolving musical style. With Stranger Things wrapping up, he now has more time to dedicate to his music, fueling anticipation for a potential world tour alongside his former bandmates from Post Animal. As 2025 unfolds, Keery continues to balance his dual careers, proving that his artistry extends beyond the screen into the heart of the music industry.

Joe Keery Trivias

1. Rejected from All Boston Schools – Joe Keery didn’t get accepted into any of the Boston colleges he applied to. His mother discovered DePaul University’s audition-based admissions process, which allowed him to showcase his talent and get accepted despite his low GPA.
2. First Music Setup in a Freezing Garage – His earliest music recordings were done in his parents’ unheated garage, where temperatures could drop to 35°F (1.6°C). He used a single Shure SM58 microphone for vocals, guitar, and drums.
3. Almost Became a Swimmer in Stranger Things – The original script for Steve Harrington described him as a competitive swimmer. This led to Keery training for six weeks, only for the swimming aspect to be cut before filming started.
4. “Pizza Delivery is Not for You” – While working as a pizza delivery driver, an elderly customer once wrote on the receipt, “Pizza delivery is not for you,” after he got lost. This made him reconsider the job.
5. Famous “Steve Harrington Hair” Was Almost a Bowl Cut – When he first arrived on set for Stranger Things, the hairstylists initially gave him a bad bowl cut before adjusting it to the now-iconic voluminous style.
6. Had to Send a Shirtless Photo for Stranger Things Audition – When auditioning for Steve, the Duffer Brothers asked him to send a shirtless photo to see if he could fit the swimmer look, though this detail was later scrapped.
7. “I’m a Winner” Scene in Fargo Was Improvised – One of his standout scenes in Fargo Season 5, where Gator Tillman repeatedly says, “I’m a winner,” was originally just a single line. Noah Hawley expanded it into a full scene on set.
8. Used a Nail Bat in Fargo by Coincidence – His character in Fargo wielded a bat with nails, unintentionally mirroring his signature weapon from Stranger Things.
9. Secretly Took Multiple Props from Stranger Things – Joe admitted to “taking a bunch of stuff” from set but won’t reveal exactly what, joking that he doesn’t want Netflix to come after him.
10. Almost Missed Out on Stranger Things Due to a Delayed Callback – After auditioning for Jonathan Byers, he didn’t hear back for months. His name only resurfaced later for Steve Harrington through a different casting call.
11. Ghost Encounter While Recording Music – While recording with his old band Post Animal at a cabin in Michigan, a friend saw a ghostly figure of a girl bent sideways at the waist. Another musician had a dream about the same figure before arriving, leading them to cancel the session.
12. Competed Against Matt Damon’s High School in Drama Fest – His high school’s drama team always lost to Matt Damon’s alma mater in a state competition.
13. Quit a Job After an Old Man Criticized Him – While working as a waiter, an elderly customer criticized his service so harshly that he quit the job soon after.
14. First Acting Role Was a Singing Bush – One of his earliest acting gigs was playing a singing bush in a commercial for a hunting-related website, which he calls one of his “biggest creative failures.”
15. Almost Went Unrecognized at a Joe Keery Lookalike Contest – He once joked that he entered a lookalike contest for himself and placed third, winning a $5 Arby’s gift card.
16. Tried to Minimize Social Media in His Life – He believes social media is an “echo chamber” and avoids engaging with it too much. His song On and On explores themes of digital overconsumption.
17. Believes Steve Harrington Would Have Died in Season 1 – Steve was initially written as an antagonist, and Keery thought his character would be killed off by the end of the first season.
18. Never Attended Lollapalooza Before Performing There – Despite growing up near Chicago, his first Lollapalooza experience was as a performer, not an attendee.
19. The Stranger Things Cast Joked About Making a Heavy Metal Track – If he were to collaborate musically with a castmate, he said it would be David Harbour (Hopper), and they would make a heavy metal song where Harbour screams all the lyrics.
20. Recorded The Crux at Electric Lady Studios – His upcoming 2025 album The Crux was recorded at Electric Lady Studios, where he learned about the hidden underground stream, Minetta Creek, running beneath the studio.
21. Once Thought Stranger Things Was a Small Project – During early filming, the cast had no idea the show would be a hit. Even Winona Ryder was skeptical about its success.
22. Avoids Watching His Own Work Alone – He made the mistake of watching Stranger Things Season 2 alone in his apartment and found it to be a terrible experience.
23. Joked About Running for President – When asked what his first presidential action would be, he said he’d get everyone in a room and tell them to “chill and figure this out.”
24. Once Said He’d Shave His Head for $20 – While known for his signature hair, he jokingly said he’d shave his head for the right role or if a random director offered him $20.

References:

Jimmy Fallon Dec 2023: https://youtu.be/-Fqq1HunDQU Jimmy Fallon Jan 2025:https://youtu.be/m-8n_B5c_kM Capital Buzz Mar 2024: https://youtu.be/dknxroV4oU8 Wired Nov 2017: https://youtu.be/_EvMYEfF_hQ Z100 New York May 2024 : https://youtu.be/I3ClcdC0drk GQ Aug 2021 : https://youtu.be/0tCu4jmSFz0 Jimmy Fallon July 2022: https://youtu.be/o_76lmF7F-A NME My 2024: https://youtu.be/3I_ELK8vLeA Build Series NOv 2017: https://youtu.be/qEklBC2BQig iheart Radio April 2024: https://youtu.be/HDsfQdSkMZI KIISFM April 2024: https://youtu.be/dGJr1EC1uyM NME March 2024: https://youtu.be/p1TVOjf-tvg Seth Myers Nov 2017: https://youtu.be/C4YNcqNF4hg AwardsRadar Jun 2024: https://youtu.be/fGJFpDJKk14 GQ May 2022: https://youtu.be/cH6HKIOG3Nc The Project Feb 2025: https://youtu.be/jtvo1svZD10 https://youtu.be/Riu-AK8YLn0 https://youtu.be/-1wRBPjLgp4 https://youtu.be/xtktpvzjrRE https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a61007032/joe-keery-stranger-things-fargo-djo-interview-2024/