Not many actors get to break out the way Joe Keery did. Until 2016, the then-24 year old actor was experiencing a typical actor’s journey, trying to gain a foothold through various commercials, guest appearances and smaller roles in obscure movies.
Then Stranger Things happened, and all bets were off. Kerry’s popularity skyrocketed when he took on the role of Steve Harrington, and it didn’t take long for that role, which was only supposed to last for the first season, to get continued.
As a result, Joe Keery has a net worth of $4 million in 2022 and earns $250,000 per episode on Stranger Things. The show’s popularity has faded some, but Keery remains a shining star who’s won awards for his performances and now seems to have one of the most promising careers in the entertainment industry.
Early Life
The Massachusetts native had a surprisingly ordinary life growing up. He grew up surrounded by estrogen, with four sisters (two of whom are twins), and his family could easily be described as upper middle class given that his father was an architect and his mother an English professor.
He attended a charter school, then a nearby public high school, and he went on to graduate from DePaul with a degree in Fine Arts in Acting in 2014.
Acting Career
When he graduated from DePaul, Keery lived the typical life of a struggling actor, working as a waiter while taking jobs here and there. His initial roles included guest spots in “Empire: and “Chicago Fire,” but of course “Stranger Things” was a complete game-changer for him.
Give Keery credit for recognizing an opportunity. Many actors would have sat back and enjoyed the popularity that comes with being a featured character on a show like “Stranger Things,” but Keery has continued to work diligently.
He’s been in “The Charnel House” and “Molly’s Game,” and every year he does a film or three while continuing to appear in “Stranger Things.” One of his most recent movie successes was a role in “Free Guy” last year, which became a box office hit.
Music Career
No rundown of Keery’s life would be complete without an account of his foray into the music world. He played in a garage band called Post Animal for over a half decade, and they released a couple of albums in the 2015-1018 stretch.
Keery stopped touring with the band in 2019, in part because he feared his association with “Stranger Things” would hurt the band. Since then, though, he’s released several singles and an album, so it seems safe to say that the music bug has bitten Keery for good.
Dating Life
Evidently, Joe Keery values continuity and stability in his life. In addition to appearing in season 4 of Stranger Things, he’s been dating fellow actor Maika Monroe, who started her career as a kiteboarder before she took to the stage and screen.
The couple has been remarkably stable given the success they’ve both attained, and by all reports they’re still going strong together.
The fact that Keery has apparently found “the one” will doubtless disappoint his legion of female fans, but it’s hard not to be happy for Keery for his stability given all the romantic opportunities that doubtless come knocking at his door.
