Joe Keery (pronounced “carry”; born April 24, 1992) is an American actor and musician who plays Steve Harrington in the Netflix series Stranger Things. Keery was born April 24, 1992, in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and became interested in acting while growing up, studying theatre at DePaul University in Chicago. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting in 2014.
In addition to acting, Keery also performs as a musician under the moniker of Djo. That was the beginning of his music career, but years later the song “End of Beginning” went viral and earned him international fame.
Joe Keery Biography – Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Joseph David Keery |
| Popular Name | Joe Keery |
| Date of Birth | April 24, 1992 |
| Age | 34 years (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor, Musician, Singer, Songwriter |
| Education | DePaul University |
| Degree | BFA in Acting |
| Years Active | 2015–present |
| Famous Role | Steve Harrington |
| Famous Series | Stranger Things |
| Music Name | Djo |
| Height | Around 5 ft 11 in |
| Net Worth | Estimated around $4 million |
| Relationship Status | Private |
Joe Keery Physical Appearance
Joe Keery is also known for his distinctive hairstyle and vintage-inspired fashion.
| Feature | Details |
| Height | Around 5 ft 11 in |
| Hair | Brown |
| Eyes | Brown |
| Build | Slim/Athletic |
| Profession | Actor & Musician |
His hairstyle became especially recognizable during the early seasons of Stranger Things, contributing to Steve Harrington’s memorable appearance.
Early Life and Family
Joseph David Joe Keery was born on April 24, 1992, in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Second of five children, he grew up with four sisters. As a child, he became fascinated with performance and took part in Theater in the Open, a performing arts program at Maudslay State Park.
Keery went to Newburyport High School, where his love for acting began to blossom. He later relocated to Chicago, where he attended The Theatre School at DePaul University, earning a BFA in acting in 2014.
Joe Keery Education
Keery finished school in Massachusetts and followed that up with his studies at DePaul University in Chicago.
This is where the formal theatre training that would later grow into what he did for a living got its footing. After graduating in 2014, he proceeded to audition for television, ads, and movies.
Before his fame, Keery was working other jobs while trying to make it as an actor. He had begun to make adverts for companies like KFC and Domino’s and landed a few minor TV roles.
Joe Keery’s girlfriend and personal life
Keery has largely kept his private life out of the public eye. And in terms of his love life, he’s dated actress Maika Monroe, but they’ve managed to keep their romance fairly low-key.
Instead of frequently discussing his romances out in the open, Keery has generally kept interviews and genres dedicated to his acting and music.
Joe Keery Acting Career
Joe Keery started out with some minor television and film roles as an actor. Among his initial credits were parts in Empire and Chicago Fire, as well as his first feature film, Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party in 2015.
Impossible not to mention how much his career pivoted when he had the part of Steve Harrington in Stranger Things.
Joe Keery Movies and TV Shows
Joe Keery has worked in both independent films and major Hollywood productions.
| Year | Movie/Show | Role |
| 2015 | Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party | Gabe |
| 2015 | Chicago Fire | Emmett |
| 2016–2025 | Stranger Things | Steve Harrington |
| 2017 | Molly’s Game | Cole |
| 2018 | After Everything | Chris |
| 2018 | Slice | Jackson |
| 2020 | Spree | Kurt Kunkle |
| 2020 | Death to 2020 | Various |
| 2021 | Free Guy | Walter “Keys” McKey |
| 2023–2024 | Fargo | Gator Tillman |
| 2025 | The Crux era | Djo music project |
Keys, who plays alongside Ryan Reynolds in Free Guy, also offered the actor wider exposure to a cinema audience. His role as Gator Tillman in season five of Fargo also drew some notice.
Joe Keery Music Career
Acting isn’t the only string to Keery’s bow, though. He is also a successful musician.
Prior to Keery becoming widely recognized as a solo artist, he was part of the Chicago-based psychedelic rock band Post Animal. He was a guitarist and played in the band. In 2018, the band released their debut full-length album When I Think of You in a Castle.
Keery later doubled down on acting and his solo music.
Djo – Joe Keery’s Music Name
Joe Keery is Joe, and he goes by the name of Djo for his solo music, like Joe.
It allowed him to make music that wasn’t immediately likable/prejudged based on what his character does in Stranger Things. He fuses psychedelic rock with elements of synth-pop, indie rock, and electronic music, incorporating influences from retro culture.
Djo Albums
| Year | Album |
| 2019 | Twenty Twenty |
| 2022 | Decide |
| 2025 | The Crux |
| 2025 | The Crux Deluxe |
Joe Keery’s “End of Beginning”
Perhaps the most successful piece of music Djo has made, “End of Beginning” is likely one of his biggest hits.
This was previously featured on 2022’s album Decide. Released back in 2021, it became a huge hit on TikTok and other social platforms before getting an even bigger second life in 2024. The nostalgia for Chicago and the emotive nature of its sound had a strong connection with fans.
Eventually making its way into the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and peaking at No. 11, this success propelled Keery’s Djo project to Mainstream Musical Fame.
Joe Keery Net Worth
Celebrity Net Worth estimates Joe Keery’s net worth to be $4 million. Of course, celebrity net-worth numbers are simply estimates and not audited public financial statements.
Inevitably, his wealth has been accumulated through some entertainment-related income streams, mainly acting and music.
Joe Keery Income Sources
1. Acting
Acting is one of Keery’s main sources of income. One of the biggest contributing factors to his financial well-being is the long-running role in Stranger Things.
2. Film Projects
He has also starred in movies like Free Guy and Spree, which contribute to his acting credits and salary.
3. Music
Keery makes money as an artist through music streaming, recording, publishing, touring and merchandising under Djo.
4. Concerts and Tours
Performing live and touring has become another possible income source as Djo grew into a major music project.
5. Commercials and Brand Work
Keery started in commercials, even running campaigns for more consumer brands.
Joe Keery Car Collection
| Category | Details | Estimated Price/Value |
| Cars | Joe Keery’s personally owned car collection has not been publicly confirmed | Not disclosed |
| Luxury Cars | No specific luxury car has been reliably confirmed as his personal vehicle | Not disclosed |
| Daily-Use Car | Specific model is not publicly disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Main House | Joe Keery keeps his residence private; he has been associated with the Los Angeles area | Not publicly disclosed |
| House Size | Exact property size has not been reliably reported | Not disclosed |
| Property Value | No verified public valuation is available | Not disclosed |
| Other Properties | No complete list of personally owned properties is publicly available | Not disclosed |
Joe Keery Awards and Achievements
Keery has some professional highlights, including:
- International recognition for Stranger Things
- Won a Screen Actors Guild Award, with others, as part of the Stranger Things ensemble
- Major film role in Free Guy
- Role in Fargo
- Successful music career as Djo
- Peaking at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 with End of Beginning
- Multiple successful Djo albums
- Career spanning acting and music
In 2017, they won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for Stranger Things
Interesting Facts About Joe Keery
- Born Joseph David Keery in Newburyport, Massachusetts
- His real name is Joseph David Keery.
- He attended DePaul University to major in acting.
- With a BFA in acting, he graduated in 2014.
- Auditioned for Jonathan Byers in Stranger Things.
- Then he auditioned for and booked the role of Steve Harrington.
- Steve was not originally going to have such a significant role.
- Keery used to be in the band called Post Animal.
- He also has a solo music project called Djo.
- In 2022, his album Decide dropped.
- Originally appeared on Decide
- The song achieved viral success more than a decade after its initial release.
- He appeared alongside Ryan Reynolds in Free Guy.
- He had an appearance in season 5 of Fargo.
- He has split his career between acting and music successfully.
Joe Keery Social Media
Joe Keery maintains a relatively private online presence. His Instagram account is listed under @joe.keery, while his X account is @joe_keery. He also uses Djo (@djotime) for his music career.
| Social Media | Username | Link |
| @joe.keery | Joe Keery Instagram | |
| X (Twitter) | @joe_keery | Joe Keery on X |
| Djo Instagram | @djotime | Djo Instagram |
| Djo Official Website | Djo Music | Official Djo Website |
Joe Keery keeps his personal social-media presence relatively limited. His music identity, Djo, has been more visible online, particularly as his music career has expanded.
Joe Keery Career Timeline
| Year | Career Milestone |
| 2014 | Graduated from DePaul University |
| 2015 | Made early film and TV appearances |
| 2016 | Debuted as Steve Harrington in Stranger Things |
| 2017 | Became a series regular |
| 2018 | Released music with Post Animal |
| 2019 | Released Djo’s Twenty Twenty |
| 2020 | Starred in Spree |
| 2021 | Appeared in Free Guy |
| 2022 | Released Decide |
| 2024 | “End of Beginning” became a viral global hit |
| 2025 | Released The Crux and continued major acting/music work |
Joe Keery FAQs
1. Who is Joe Keery?
Joe Keery is an American actor and musician best known for playing Steve Harrington in Stranger Things.
2. What is Joe Keery’s age?
Joe Keery was born on April 24, 1992, making him 34 years old in 2026.
3. What is Joe Keery’s net worth?
Joe Keery’s net worth is estimated at around $4 million.
4. What is Joe Keery’s music name?
Joe Keery releases music under the stage name Djo.
5. What is Joe Keery’s most popular song?
His most widely known song is “End of Beginning,” which became a global viral hit.
6. What is Joe Keery famous for?
He is best known for Stranger Things, along with his music career as Djo and roles in films such as Free Guy.
Conclusion
There you have it with Joe Keery, though: he has established an entire career beyond the one that made him (and us) fall in love, in this case his former self as Steve Harrington. Stranger Things turned him into an international superstar, while Free Guy and Spree helped cement his status as a diverse performer. Meanwhile, his Djo music project also grew into a successful solo career in its own right, especially after ‘ End of Beginning’ gained traction internationally.
Joe Keery is one of the few, if not the only, contemporary multi-hyphenate entertainers, and most sources estimate his net worth hovering around $4 million thanks to multiple acting credits, successful albums, and an overall rising reputation as a musician.
Read More: The US Bio
Leave a Reply