Why Joe Keery Has Captured Hearts Around the World
Joe Keery is the rare kind of artist who excels in not just one creative field, but two. Born on April 24, 1992, in Newburyport, Massachusetts, this 33-year-old has built an impressive career as both an actor and musician.
Though he is not a New Yorker by birth, his work resonates deeply with fans in cities like New York, Chicago and beyond. His breakout series Stranger Things helped shape the streaming-era ritual of ordering in from a favorite neighborhood spot and binging a season in one sitting, while his music has become a staple on playlists in cafes, bars and late-night kitchens across Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Quick Facts About Joe Keery:
- Best Known For: Playing Steve Harrington in Netflix’s Stranger Things
- Music Career: Releases solo music under the stage name Djo
- Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from DePaul University (2014)
- Height: 5’10½” (1.79 m)
- Notable Achievement: His song “End of Beginning” reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100
- Awards: Screen Actors Guild Award winner for Outstanding Ensemble Performance
- Recent Work: Starred in Fargo Season 5 and released album The Crux in 2025
What makes Keery fascinating is how he has carved out distinct identities in both Hollywood and the indie music scene. He transformed his Stranger Things character, Steve Harrington, from a minor antagonist into one of television’s most beloved characters. Meanwhile, his music project Djo has earned critical praise from outlets like NME, which called him “a musician of very high calibre.” From his early days auditioning over 100 times to earning a reported $6 million for Stranger Things Season 5, Keery’s journey reflects both persistence and artistic vision. He intentionally keeps his music separate from his acting fame, a refreshing approach that lets the work stand on its own.
In New York, you are just as likely to hear Djo drifting out of a Lower East Side wine bar as you are to catch a Stranger Things rewatch night at a neighborhood restaurant. His songs have become part of the soundtrack to city life, from subway headphones to back-of-house prep playlists.
Whether you found him through his gravity-defying hair on Stranger Things or his synth-drenched tracks on TikTok, there’s much more to appreciate about this multi-talented artist.
Joe Keery terms made easy:
1. He’s the Unlikely Hero We All Rooted For in ‘Stranger Things’
As Steve Harrington in Stranger Things, Joe Keery delivered one of television’s most iconic character changes. Initially cast as the archetypal high school jock, Steve was expected to be a short-lived character. However, Keery’s nuanced performance inspired the show’s creators to evolve him into much more than a stereotype. After a popular recurring role in the first season, he was promoted to a series regular.
Fans grew to love Steve’s journey from antagonist to ally, culminating in his endearing role as “The Babysitter.” We watched him mature and bravely face otherworldly threats, often armed with little more than a baseball bat and a fierce protective instinct. This evolution from a self-absorbed teen to the self-sacrificing protector of the younger kids is one of the most compelling character arcs in modern television. This resonated deeply with audiences, cementing Steve Harrington as a fan-favorite.
It’s a testament to Joe Keery‘s acting that he infused the character with such humanity and charm. His chemistry with the younger cast, particularly Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), became a highlight of the series, providing both comedic relief and emotional depth. Keery had initially auditioned for the role of Jonathan Byers, but his unique take on Steve won him the part and allowed for the character’s incredible growth. His distinctive hairstyle also became a signature element, spawning countless memes.
The success of Stranger Things brought the cast significant recognition, including a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2017 for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Keery’s reported $6,000,000 salary for the final season underscores his pivotal role in the global phenomenon. Before his breakout role, he appeared in shows like Empire and Chicago Fire, but it was Steve Harrington that launched him into international stardom.
2. He’s a Bona Fide Indie Music Star
While many know Joe Keery for his acting, his journey as a musician is equally impressive. Before his solo project Djo took off, Keery was a guitarist and vocalist for the psychedelic rock band Post Animal. As his acting career grew, he stepped back from touring to allow the band to establish its own identity, separate from his Stranger Things fame. He later rejoined them for their 2025 album ‘IRON’.
In 2019, Keery launched his solo project under the moniker Djo, a playful nod to his name. He often performed in a wig and sunglasses, wanting the music to be critiqued on its own merits. His sound is a blend of neo-psychedelia, indie rock, and synth-pop, showcasing his songwriting and production skills.
New Yorkers have acceptd Djo as part of the city’s listening landscape. His tracks frequently show up on playlists at natural wine bars in Brooklyn, cocktail spots in Manhattan, and even in back-of-house kitchens where line cooks need something propulsive to get through a dinner rush.
The Viral Rise of His Music
Keery’s music career reached a new peak with the viral success of “End of Beginning” from his 2022 album, Decide. The sleeper hit gained immense popularity in early 2024 through TikTok, catapulting Djo into the global spotlight. The song’s nostalgic lyrics about Chicago and its synth-pop sound resonated with listeners, leading to its widespread use on social media. This success was transformative, as “End of Beginning” became his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #11 and proving his musical talent could stand on its own.
In New York, the song quickly migrated from TikTok clips to restaurant speakers, becoming the kind of track you hear while splitting a pizza in the East Village or sipping a martini at a Midtown hotel bar.
A Discography of Psychedelic Gems
Djo’s discography shows Keery’s consistent growth as a musician, exploring themes of identity, technology, and modern life through a mix of psychedelic and synth-driven sounds.
- Twenty Twenty (2019): Djo’s debut introduced his unique sound. While Keery later called it “basic,” critics like NME praised him as a “musician of very high calibre” creating “inventive, warped psychedelia.” It is the kind of record that pairs well with a long Sunday cooking project in a tiny city kitchen.
- Decide (2022): This album featured the viral hit “End of Beginning” and reached #56 on the Billboard 200. It received positive critical reception and showcased a more refined sound and deeper lyrical exploration.
- The Crux (2025): His third album solidified his indie standing, reaching #50 on the Billboard 200 and earning a Grammy nomination for its cover art. It was followed by The Crux Deluxe with 12 new tracks, offering a deeper dive into his creative output.
3. His Acting Range Extends Far Beyond Hawkins
While Steve Harrington is his most recognizable role, Joe Keery‘s acting talents extend far beyond Stranger Things. He has consistently sought diverse roles, proving his versatility in both independent films and mainstream projects.
One of his standout performances was in the 2020 satirical slasher Spree, where he played Kurt Kunkle, a rideshare driver desperate for viral fame. The dark, unhinged role was a stark contrast to the heroic Steve and proved he could carry a film. In 2021, he joined the star-studded cast of the action-comedy Free Guy, playing an earnest programmer and adding emotional depth to the story.
Most recently, Joe Keery delivered a critically acclaimed performance in the fifth season of the FX series Fargo. His role as Gator Tillman, a villainous sheriff’s deputy, allowed him to explore morally ambiguous territory, earning him praise for his dramatic range and ability to transform for a role.
Notable Roles That Showcase His Talent
Joe Keery‘s filmography demonstrates his ambition to explore a wide array of characters and genres. Beyond the roles mentioned above, he has also appeared in:
- Molly’s Game (2017): A small role in Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut.
- Slice (2018): A horror-comedy that showcased his comedic timing.
- Finalmente l’alba (2023): An Italian drama, highlighting his work in international productions.
- Pavements (2024): A film where he shares the screen with Jason Schwartzman.
- Cold Storage (upcoming 2026): A sci-fi thriller where he stars alongside Liam Neeson.
- The American Revolution (upcoming TV series): He lent his voice to this Ken Burns-produced documentary, showcasing his versatility in voice acting.
These roles illustrate Joe Keery‘s commitment to growing as an actor and taking on challenging projects, ensuring his career will continue to evolve.
4. The Fascinating Story of Joe Keery’s Rise to Fame
Joe Keery‘s path to stardom was marked by years of dedication and perseverance. His journey was anything but overnight, involving years of hard work before his breakthrough.
Born and raised in Newburyport, Massachusetts, Keery’s passion for acting was sparked at a young age at a local performing arts camp, Theater in the Open. He continued acting in high school plays before moving to Chicago to study at The Theatre School at DePaul University.
Like many young artists who eventually find their way to New York stages and screens, he honed his craft far from the coasts, then became part of the larger creative ecosystem that fuels the city’s film and television scene—and, by extension, the culture of how and what we eat while we watch.
The Early Days of Joe Keery
After graduating in 2014 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, Keery faced the challenging grind of an aspiring actor. He worked as a waiter in Chicago while tirelessly going on auditions. It’s reported that he went through over a hundred auditions before landing his role in Stranger Things. This period of relentless effort underscores the determination required to succeed in the entertainment industry.
During these early days, Keery also gained on-camera experience through commercials for brands like KFC and Domino’s, where he famously recreated scenes from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. These pre-fame experiences were vital in building his resume and keeping his dream alive until the right opportunity came along.
That familiar story—long shifts in hospitality, short breaks spent memorizing lines or lyrics—mirrors the reality for many servers, bartenders and cooks in Manhattan and Brooklyn who are also pursuing creative careers.
5. He Balances Fame with a Grounded and Relatable Persona
One of Joe Keery‘s most endearing qualities is his ability to handle fame with a remarkably grounded persona. Despite his global recognition, he remains refreshingly authentic and humble.
His public image has been famously tied to his iconic hair, an obsession he has acknowledged with good humor. He even considered shaving his head to “shock people” and declined a hair-care endorsement, calling it a “sellout move.” This self-awareness and willingness to subvert expectations speak to his character.
Keery also takes a thoughtful approach to balancing his dual careers. He created the Djo persona to separate his music from his acting fame, wanting the art to be judged on its own merits. This deliberate separation allows him to maintain creative integrity in both fields.
His personal life has also offered insights into his grounded nature. His past relationship with actress Maika Monroe was kept relatively private. After they reportedly split around October 2022, Keery alluded to the “big breakup” influencing the writing of his album The Crux, which he worked on while feeling “isolated and focused on my work.” His willingness to channel personal experiences into his art, as detailed in interviews like his Esquire profile “Joe Keery Was Never Supposed to Be Here“, shows a vulnerability that connects him with his audience.
It is also what makes him such a natural fit for the way we experience culture around food in New York: playlists curated by people, not algorithms; posters of favorite shows taped up in restaurant bathrooms; and artists who feel like someone you might actually sit next to at a bar while splitting a plate of fries.
6. There’s More Excitement on the Horizon
For fans of Joe Keery, the future looks incredibly bright with a slate of exciting projects. He continues to evolve as an artist, consistently seeking out new challenges.
On the acting front, Keery will reprise his beloved role as Steve Harrington for the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. He also has several film projects in the works, including the sci-fi thriller Cold Storage (2026) alongside Liam Neeson. Other upcoming films include Marmalade and Pavements. Additionally, he lent his voice to the PBS documentary mini-series The American Revolution.
His music career as Djo is also showing no signs of slowing down. Following the release of The Crux and its deluxe version in 2025, Djo has announced tours in South America and Mexico for March 2026, highlighting his music’s global appeal. In a full-circle moment, Keery also rejoined his former band, Post Animal, for their 2025 album IRON, showcasing his enduring connection to his musical roots.
For New Yorkers, that means more chances to experience his work in the wild—whether it is a Djo track soundtracking a date night in a dimly lit Soho restaurant, a themed watch party at a neighborhood bar when the final season of Stranger Things drops, or simply hearing his music drifting from a café while you grab a morning pastry.
With these diverse projects on the horizon, Joe Keery is set to continue captivating audiences on both screen and stage.
Frequently Asked Questions about Joe Keery
How old is Joe Keery?
Joe Keery was born on April 24, 1992. As of 2025, he is 33 years old.
What is the story behind Joe Keery’s music persona?
Joe Keery performs his solo music under the stage name Djo, a stylized version of his first name pronounced “Jah-oh.” He created the persona to separate his music from his acting fame. He initially used a disguise, including a wig and sunglasses, to encourage audiences to judge the music on its own artistic merit without preconceived notions from his acting career.
What is Joe Keery’s most popular song?
Joe Keery‘s most popular song as Djo is “End of Beginning,” from his 2022 album Decide. The track became a “sleeper hit,” going viral on TikTok in early 2024. Its introspective lyrics about nostalgia and its synth-pop sound resonated with a massive audience, propelling the song to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and giving Keery his first major mainstream hit.
Conclusion
From his breakout role as the beloved Steve Harrington in Stranger Things to his critically acclaimed work as the indie psychedelic musician Djo, Joe Keery has proven himself to be a truly multi-talented artist with enduring appeal. His journey is a compelling narrative of dedication, artistic integrity, and a genuine passion for both acting and music. We’ve seen him transform characters on screen, craft intricate soundscapes in the studio, and steer the complexities of fame with a refreshing sense of humility.
Joe Keery embodies the spirit of an artist who is constantly evolving, challenging himself, and striving for authenticity in all his endeavors. Whether he’s wielding a baseball bat against interdimensional monsters or crafting a synth-laden anthem that resonates with millions, his work consistently leaves a lasting impression.
For readers of Edible Manhattan, his story also speaks to the way food, drink and culture are intertwined in city life. His shows become the reason friends gather around a takeout spread; his albums become the soundtrack to late-night service in cramped restaurant kitchens or to a quiet solo dinner at the bar of a neighborhood spot.
As he continues to explore new acting roles and release more captivating music, we can only anticipate greater future success for this remarkable individual. His story is a testament to the fact that with talent and perseverance, you can truly excel in multiple creative worlds.
For those of us who appreciate the finer things in life, from compelling storytelling to evocative music, Joe Keery offers a rich and rewarding experience. And speaking of rich experiences, why not check out some local delights? More info about NYC bakeries still taking orders for Thanksgiving pie.
