Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1963-05-26
- Born Place: St. Albans, West Virginia, USA
Joe Chrest
Born on May 26, 1963, in Saint Albans, West Virginia, Joe Chrest is a versatile American actor and academic who has built a prolific career spanning over three decades and more than 100 screen credits. A veteran of the United States Air Force with a background in expert marksmanship, Chrest transitioned to the arts after being inspired by a touring production of Grease in high school. He earned his B.F.A. in Directing from Marshall University and an M.F.A. in Acting from Louisiana State University (LSU), where he was discovered by director Steven Soderbergh. Chrest made his film debut in Soderbergh’s King of the Hill (1993) and became a frequent collaborator with the director, appearing in acclaimed films like The Underneath, Erin Brockovich, and Ocean's Thirteen. His filmography is remarkably diverse, ranging from blockbuster comedies like 21 Jump Street and 22 Jump Street, where he played Jonah Hill’s father, to high-stakes dramas such as Deepwater Horizon, Killers of the Flower Moon, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. Despite his extensive film work, Chrest is most widely recognized for his role as Ted Wheeler, the hilariously oblivious and "patriotic" patriarch of the Wheeler family in the Netflix global phenomenon Stranger Things. Appearing in every season since its 2016 debut, Chrest’s portrayal of Ted became a cult favorite for his signature "blank stare" and dry comedic timing. In the 2026 documentary One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5, Chrest reflected emotionally on his decade-long journey with the series, sharing that he spent months "perfecting his dad jokes" and practicing in an '80s-style recliner to prepare for the final season. Outside of his Hollywood career, Chrest is a deeply respected educator, serving as an adjunct professor at LSU’s School of Theatre, where he teaches film acting and helps run the Swine Palace regional theatre. He is the founder and artistic director of the Ignition Film Repertory Company and resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with his wife, choreographer Christine Chrest, and their two children, Nicolas and Samantha.
