Drew Starkey has built his reputation through a steady run of television and film roles, with Rafe Cameron in Outer Banks becoming the performance that put him firmly in the spotlight. Born on November 4, 1993, in North Carolina, he studied English and Theater Performance at Western Carolina University before pursuing acting professionally. His later work in Queer and other film projects showed a wider range beyond his Netflix fame. As of 2026, Starkey continues developing his career with new film and television opportunities.
Drew Starkey – Quick Bio Table
| Category | Drew Starkey — Full Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Joseph Andrew Starkey |
| Date of Birth | November 4, 1993 |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Age | 32 years old |
| Birthplace | Hickory, North Carolina, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor |
| Years Active | 2014–present |
| Famous For | Rafe Cameron in Outer Banks |
| Parents | Todd Starkey and Jodi Ballard Hutto |
| Siblings | Brooke Starkey, Mackayla Starkey, and Logan Starkey |
| Education | Western Carolina University |
| Education Details | Double major in English and Theater Performance; graduated magna cum laude |
| Career Beginning | Started with smaller television, film, short-film and student-film roles |
| Breakthrough Role | Rafe Cameron in Netflix’s Outer Banks |
| Other Notable Role | Eugene Allerton in Queer |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Weight | No reliably confirmed public figure |
| Marital Status | Not publicly married |
| @drewstarkey | |
| Hobbies | Writing, baseball, basketball, football, fishing, swimming, golf, mountain biking, mountain climbing, weightlifting and body surfing |
| Other Talent | Plays piano |
| Notable Movies | Love, Simon, The Hate U Give, The Devil All the Time, Hellraiser, The Other Zoey, Queer |
| Notable TV Work | Outer Banks, Ozark, Doom Patrol, The Terminal List, Shots Fired |
| Awards Record | 1 win and 3 nominations listed by IMDb |
| Estimated Net Worth | Not officially confirmed; public estimates vary considerably |
| Commonly Reported Net Worth Range | Approximately $300,000–$750,000 in older published estimates |
| 2026 Net Worth Perspective | Some newer estimates place his wealth considerably higher, but there is no verified public financial figure |
| Career Highlight | Outer Banks became his major international breakthrough |
| Recent Career Development | Expanded into prestige film with Queer and continued taking on new projects after Outer Banks |
| Outer Banks Run | Five seasons, 2020–2026 |
| Current Career Direction | Building a broader film and television career beyond Rafe Cameron |
Drew Starkey Career Timeline
| Year | Career Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Began building his professional acting career with early screen work. |
| 2017 | Appeared in television projects including Mercy Street, Shots Fired, Ozark and Valor. |
| 2018 | Featured in films including Love, Simon, American Animals and The Hate U Give. |
| 2019 | Continued expanding his film and television credits with Mine 9, Just Mercy, Doom Patrol and Queen Sugar. |
| 2020 | Landed the role of Rafe Cameron in Netflix’s Outer Banks, marking his major breakthrough. |
| 2020 | Appeared in The Devil All the Time and Embattled, adding more film experience to his résumé. |
| 2022 | Starred as Trevor in Hellraiser and appeared in The Terminal List. |
| 2023 | Played Zach MacLaren in the romantic comedy The Other Zoey. |
| 2024 | Took on the role of Eugene Allerton in Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, starring alongside Daniel Craig. |
| 2025 | Continued developing his film career following the growing recognition of Queer and Outer Banks. |
| 2026 | Continued his work across film and television, with projects including Onslaught and Lucky while remaining widely recognized for Outer Banks. |
Drew Starkey Awards & Nominations
| Year | Award / Organization | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | IndieX Film Festival | Best Ensemble Cast | Limbo | Won |
| 2025 | Dorian Film Awards | Rising Star of the Year | Queer | Nominated |
| 2025 | North Carolina Film Critics Association | Tar Heel Award | Queer | Nominated |
| 2025 | Brazil Online Film Award | Best Supporting Actor | Queer | Nominated |
Drew Starkey Famous Films
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Love, Simon | Garrett Laughlin |
| 2018 | American Animals | Frat Boy |
| 2018 | The Hate U Give | Brian MacIntosh Jr. |
| 2019 | Mine 9 | Ryan |
| 2019 | Just Mercy | Young Guard |
| 2020 | The Devil All the Time | Tommy Matson |
| 2020 | Embattled | Tanner Van Holt |
| 2022 | Hellraiser | Trevor |
| 2023 | The Other Zoey | Zach MacLaren |
| 2024 | Queer | Eugene Allerton |
| 2026 | Onslaught | Cyrus |
