Joe Keery

American actor and musician (born 1992)

Joe Keery

Keery at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con

Born|

Joseph David Keery

(1992-04-24) April 24, 1992 (age 32)

Newburyport, Massachusetts, U.S.

Education| DePaul University (BFA)
Occupations|

* Actor
* musician

Years active| 2015–present
Musical career
Also known as|

* Djo
* Cool Cool Cool

Origin| Chicago, Illinois
Genres|

* Neo-psychedelia
* indie rock
* psychedelic rock
* synth-pop

Instruments|

* Vocals
* guitar
* keyboards
* drums

Labels| AWAL
Formerly of| Post Animal
Website| djomusic.com

Musical artist

Joseph David Keery (born April 24, 1992), known professionally in music as Djo, is an American actor and musician.[1] He became known for playing Steve Harrington in the science fiction series Stranger Things (2016–present), and has since starred in the comedy film Free Guy (2021) and in the fifth season of the crime drama series Fargo (2023–2024).

As a musician, Keery was a member of the psychedelic rock band Post Animal. Following his departure from the band, he embarked on a solo career, and released the studio albums Twenty Twenty (2019) and Decide (2022). The latter spawned the sleeper hit and his first Billboard Hot 100 entry, "End of Beginning", after it became viral on TikTok in 2024. His third album, The Crux, will be released in April 2025.

## Early life

[edit]

Keery was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and is the second of five children.[2] He attended River Valley Charter School, a local Montessori elementary and middle school, and Newburyport High School.[3] When he was young, he participated in Theater in the Open, a performing arts camp at Maudslay State Park. He acted during high school at his older sister's insistence.[4][5]

Keery studied at The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago, graduating in 2014 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting.[6][7]

## Career

[edit]

### Acting

[edit]

Before his breakout role in Stranger Things, Keery appeared in KFC, Domino's, and Amiibo commercials,[8] and had roles in Empire and Chicago Fire.[6][9] His first appearance in a full-length film was in Stephen Cone's indie, Henry Gamble's Birthday Party.[6]

Keery's breakthrough role was as Steve Harrington 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.[10] 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.[11] 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,[12] a game developer, in the 2021 action comedy film Free Guy, which went on to become a major box-office hit.[13] In May 2022, he was cast opposite Liam Neeson in the sci-fi action film Cold Storage.[14] In August 2022, he was cast as Gator Tillman in the fifth season of Fargo.[15]

### Music

[edit]

Aside from acting, Keery is also a musician. In his early twenties, he released music under the name "Cool Cool Cool."[16] Keery was a guitarist and drummer for Chicago-based garage and psych-rock band Post Animal.[17] Their debut album was released in October 2015.[18] 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.[19][20]

On July 19, 2019, Keery self-released the single "Roddy" as a solo artist under the moniker Djo.[21] Keery released a second single on August 9, 2019, titled "Chateau (Feel Alright)" under the same moniker.[22] On September 13, 2019, Keery released his debut album as Djo, Twenty Twenty.[23] In a positive review of the album, NME called Keery "a musician of very high calibre who... dabbles in the kind of inventive, warped psychedelia that gently twists your melon and constantly shapeshifts around you," and compared his music to that of Tame Impala and Ariel Pink.[24]

On September 9, 2020, he released a new single, "Keep Your Head Up".[25] 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".[26][27] The album was released on September 16, 2022, and received positive reviews.[28] In 2024, the sixth track of the album, "End of Beginning", was released as a single after gaining popularity and becoming viral on social media.[29] On April 4, 2025, Keery will release his third album, The Crux. It was preceded by the lead single "Basic Being Basic".[30]

## Personal life

[edit]

Keery dated actress Maika Monroe from 2017 to 2023.[31]

## Filmography

[edit]

### Film

[edit]

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  |  | [32]
2023  | Finalmente l'alba | Sean Lockwood  |  | [33]
2024  | Marmalade | Baron  |  |
Pavements | Stephen Malkmus |  | [34]
TBA  | Cold Storage | Travis Meacham  |  | [35]

### Television

[edit]

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 |
2023-2024  | Fargo | Gator Tillman  | Main role (season 5)  | [15]

## Discography

[edit]

### Studio albums

[edit]

List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions  Title  | Studio album details  | Peak chart positions  | Certifications

|
|
|

[36] | US
Rock
[37] | CAN
[38] | GER
[39] | HUN
[40] | NLD
[41] | UK Down.
[42]
Twenty Twenty |

* Released: September 13, 2019
* Label: Djo Music (via AWAL)
* Format: Digital download, streaming, LP

| — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |
Decide |

* Released: September 16, 2022
* Label: Djo Music (via AWAL)
* Format: Digital download, streaming, CD, LP, cassette

| 56 | 11 | 35 | 35 | 32 | 10 | 93  |

* RMNZ: Gold[43]

The Crux |

* Released: April 4, 2025
* Label: Djo Music (via AWAL)
* Format: Digital download, streaming

| To be released
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

### Extended plays

[edit]

List of extended plays, with release date and label shown  Title  | Details

|

D-Sides |

* Released: November 17, 2023[44]
* Label: Djo Music, AWAL
* Format: Digital download, streaming

#### Singles

[edit]

List of singles, with selected chart positions  Title  | Year  | Peak chart positions  | Certifications  | Album

|
|
|
|

[45] | AUS
[46] | CAN
[47] | IRE
[48] | NLD
[49] | NOR
[50] | NZ
[51] | SWE
[52] | UK
[42] | WW
[53]
"Roddy"  | 2019  | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |  | Twenty Twenty
"Chateau (Feel Alright)"  | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |

* RIAA: Gold[54]

"Mortal Projections"  | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |
"Keep Your Head Up"  | 2020  | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |  | Non-album single
"Change"  | 2022  | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |  | Decide
"Gloom"  | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |
"Figure You Out"  | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |
"Half Life"  | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |
"End of Beginning"  | 2024  | 11 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 4 | 3  |

* RIAA: Platinum[54]
* ARIA: 5× Platinum[55]
* BPI: Platinum[56]
* MC: Platinum[57]
* RMNZ: 2× Platinum[58]

"Basic Being Basic"  | 2025  | — | — | — | — | — | — | —[A] | — | — | —  |  | The Crux
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

## Accolades

[edit]

Year  | Award  | Category  | Nominated work  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

2017 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Stranger Things | Won  | [60]
2018 | Nominated  | [61]
2020 | Nominated  |

## Tours

[edit]

* Back on You World Tour (2025)

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ "Basic Being Basic" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 11 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[59]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Celebrity Birthdays for the Week of April 23–29". The Associated Press. April 24, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
2. ^ Sullivan, Jim (August 26, 2016). "NHS alum Keery finds fame in Netflix's 'Stranger Things'". The Daily News of Newburyport. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
3. ^ "'Stranger Things' star Joe Keery spotted in New Hampshire". Yahoo News. August 8, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
4. ^ Slane, Kevin. "Newburyport's Joe Keery on 'Stranger Things' season 3 and his local roots". boston.com. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
5. ^ "Joe Keery Didn't Think He Would Make It Past Stranger Things Season 1". Yahoo Finance. July 19, 2022. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
6. ^ a b c Greene, Morgan (August 17, 2016). "'Stranger Things' pulls Ravenswood actor into its orbit". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
7. ^ "Joe Keery Stars in hit Netflix series Stranger Things | Theatre School News" (blog). blogs.depaul.edu. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
8. ^ Daly, Kelly (July 28, 2016). "Who To Watch: Joe Keery". Chicago Splash. Retrieved July 9, 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
9. ^ Nintendo (October 23, 2014), Super Smash Bros. - Gameplay & Quest for the amiibo!, archived from the original on November 11, 2021, retrieved November 9, 2017
10. ^ Jung, E. Alex. "Stranger Things' Joe Keery Agrees That Steve's Jeans Were Very Tight". Vulture. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
11. ^ Bradley, Laura (December 13, 2016). "What Millie Bobby Brown Really Wants from Stranger Things Season 2". Vanity Fair. Condé Nast. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
12. ^ Jha, Aditya Mani (October 29, 2021). "Ready, set, 'gamified'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
13. ^ "Joe Keery: Stranger Guy". FLOOD. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
14. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 11, 2022). "Hot Cannes Package: Liam Neeson, Joe Keery Star In Jonny Campbell-Helmed Studiocanal Sci-Fi Virus Tale 'Cold Storage;' David Koepp Adapted His Novel". Deadline. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
15. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (August 8, 2022). "'Fargo': Joe Keery, Lamorne Morris & Richa Moorjani Join Season 5 Of FX Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
16. ^ "I'm Not Smart, by Cool Cool Cool". Cool Cool Cool. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
17. ^ Hillyer, Alec (August 14, 2016). "Review: Post Animal's Post Animal Perform the Most Curious Water Activities". Medium. A Medium Corporation. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
18. ^ Cooper, Leonie (August 5, 2016). "Listen To Steve From Stranger Things' Tame Impala Style Psych Band". NME. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved July 9, 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
19. ^ "When I Think Of You In A Castle". www.polyvinylrecords.com. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
20. ^ "Joe Keery on 'Stranger Things' season four: "The end is in sight for these guys"". NME. August 20, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
21. ^ Terry, Josh; Horn, Leslie (July 23, 2019). "'Stranger Things' Actor Joe Keery's New Song Is Even Better Than His Hair". Vice. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
22. ^ Roffman, Michael (August 9, 2019). "Stranger Things' Joe Keery shares dreamy new song "Chateau (Feel Alright)": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
23. ^ Daly, Rhian (September 13, 2019). "Djo - 'Twenty Twenty' Review". NME. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
24. ^ Daly, Rhian (September 13, 2019). "Djo – 'Twenty Twenty' review". NME. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
25. ^ Kaye, Ben (September 9, 2020). "Djo (aka Joe Keery) Unveils New Song "Keep Your Head Up": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
26. ^ Anderson, Carys (June 22, 2022). "Djo (Stranger Things' Joe Keery) announces new album Decide, shares "Change": Stream". Consequence. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
27. ^ Arnone, Joey. "Djo (Joe Keery from "Stranger Things") Announces New Album, Shares New Song "Change"". www.undertheradarmag.com. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
28. ^ "Decide by Djo". Metacritic. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
29. ^ Smith, Carl (February 21, 2024). "Djo's End of Beginning: Joe Keery's synth-pop track goes viral with TikTok trend". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
30. ^ Gregory, Allie (January 24, 2025). "Djo Announces New Album 'The Crux,' Plots World Tour". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
31. ^ "Are 'Stranger Things' Actor Joe Keery and Maika Monroe Still Together? Relationship Details, Update". J-14. April 24, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
32. ^ "'Free Guy': Why Millie and Keys Are the Heart of the Movie". collider.com. March 15, 2022.
33. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (August 29, 2022). "Saverio Costanzo Talks 'Finalmente L'alba' in Which Lily James Plays a 1950s Hollywood Star at Cinecittà – First Look Image (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
34. ^ Hogan, Mike (September 3, 2024). "Watch Joe Keery and Jason Schwartzman Butt Heads in an Exclusive Clip from 'Pavements'". Vanity Fair. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
35. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 11, 2022). "Hot Cannes Package: Liam Neeson, Joe Keery Star In Jonny Campbell-Helmed Studiocanal Sci-Fi Virus Tale 'Cold Storage;' David Koepp Adapted His Novel". Deadline. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
36. ^ "Djo Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
37. ^ "Djo Chart History (Top Rock & Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
38. ^ "Djo Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
39. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Djo – Decide". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
40. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2024. 11. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
41. ^ "Discografie Djo - dutchcharts.nl" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on April 1, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
42. ^ a b "DJO songs and albums | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
43. ^ "Album Certification Search – RadioScope". Retrieved January 11, 2025.
44. ^ "D-SIDES by Djo on Apple Music". Apple Music. November 17, 2023. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
45. ^ "Djo Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
46. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
47. ^ "Djo Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
48. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart: 1 March 2024 – 7 March 2024". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
49. ^ "Djo – End of Beginning". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved March 30, 2024.
50. ^ "Singel 2024 uke 11". VG-lista. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
51. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
52. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 14". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
53. ^ "Djo Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
54. ^ a b "American certifications – Djo". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
55. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2025 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
56. ^ "British certifications – Djo". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 26, 2024. Type Djo in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
57. ^ "Canadian certifications – Djo". Music Canada. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
58. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Djo". Radioscope. Retrieved December 21, 2024. Type Djo in the "Search:" field.
59. ^ "NZ Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. January 31, 2025. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
60. ^ "Screen Actors Guild Awards 2017: Complete Winners List". ABC News. January 30, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
61. ^ "2018 SAG Award Nominations: See the Full List". Vanity Fair. December 13, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Joe Keery at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Joe Keery

Studio albums|

* Twenty Twenty
* Decide
* The Crux

Singles|

* "End of Beginning"

Concert tours|

* Back on You World Tour

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Norway
* Israel

Artists|

* MusicBrainz
* 2
* 3

Other|

* IdRef

*[Ref.]: References
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