Joe Chrest
Joe Chrest at Stranger Things 4 New York Premiere in 2022
Born
Joseph Chrest

(1965-09-15) September 15, 1965 (age 58)
Saint Albans, West Virginia, U.S
Occupations
  • Academic
  • actor
Years active1993–present
Spouse
Christine Chrest
​
(m. 1997)​
Children2

Joseph Chrest (born September 15, 1965) is an American academic and actor. He has had roles in numerous films and television shows including 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street, Oldboy, Lee Daniels' The Butler, The Perfect Date, and as Ted Wheeler in Stranger Things.[1][2]

Early life and education

Chrest was born and raised in St. Albans, West Virginia, where he attended St. Albans High School.[3][4] He earned his undergraduate degree from Marshall University.[5][4] In the late 1980s, he earned an MFA in acting from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[4][6]

Career

Chrest is also an adjunct professor at the School of Theatre in Louisiana State University's College of Music & Dramatic Arts.[7] He teaches a film acting class.[2] Since 1992, he is a founding member of LSU's Swine Palace.[1][8]

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1993 King of the Hill Ben
The Pelican Brief Song and Dance Man from Bar
1995 The Underneath Mr. Rodman
1997 Clockwatchers Detective
Yukie Michael
1998 Dangerous Proposition Mark
Out of Sight Andy
2000 Erin Brockovich Tom Robinson
Lush Greg
Auggie Rose Rhineback Uncredited
2002 Full Frontal Sex Shop Man #1
The Ring Doctor
2003 Runaway Jury Owens
2004 The Aviator Hell's Angels Director of Photography
2005 The Skeleton Key[9] Paramedic
2007 Ocean's Thirteen Fender Roads' Manager
2008 The Secret Life of Bees Mr. Forrest
Miracle at St. Anna MP Doyle Ellis
Who Do You Love? Malcolm Chisholm
2009 I Love You Phillip Morris Steven's Dad
Kink Ed Short film
The Informant! Visiting Client
The Blind Side Clemson Coach
2010 Welcome to the Rileys Jerry
Louis Tom Anderson
Red Retirement Home Detective
Secretariat Sports Broadcaster
Knucklehead Child Services Inspector
2011 Drive Angry F***ing Passenger
Battle Los Angeles 1st Sgt. John Roy
Mask Maker Electrician
That's What I Am Mr. Clear
Love, Wedding, Marriage John
Seeking Justice Detective Rudeski
Butter Butter Fan
Texas Killing Fields Salter
Jeff, Who Lives at Home Paul
2012 21 Jump Street David Schmidt
Battleship JPL Controller
The Lucky One Deputy Moore
Killing Them Softly Business Suit Agent
On the Road Virginia Cop
The Campaign Rainbowland Audience
The Baytown Outlaws ATF Agent
Playing for Keeps Referee
2013 The Last Exorcism Part II Pastor
G.I. Joe: Retaliation Chief of Staff
The Hot Flashes Millie's Dad
Now You See Me Elkhorn Janitor Agent
The Butler White Usher
Oldboy Johnny / Schizophrenic Man
Homefront DEA Agent #1
King of Herrings The Professor
2014 Barefoot Trooper
22 Jump Street David Schmidt
Black or White Dave
American Heist Captain Sullivan
2015 Focus Jeweler Uncredited
Ant-Man Frank
I Saw the Light Oscar Davis
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 Mitchell
2016 Showing Roots Fuzzy Canaday
Cold Moon Charles Darrish
Free State of Jones James Eakins
LBJ McGeorge Bundy Uncredited
Deepwater Horizon Sims
Like Son Jeff Rugger
2017 Gifted Kevin Larsen
2018 Assassination Nation Lawrence
The Front Runner Ira Wyman
2019 The Dirt David Lee
The Perfect Date Harvey Lieberman
Average Guys Tommy
Turducken Bob Miller Short film
2020 The Lovebirds Red Robe Man
2021 The Cran Isaac
2022 Where the Crawdads Sing Dr. Cone
2023 Ganymede Big Lee
Killers of the Flower Moon Lawyer Freeling
Quiz Lady Mr. Walters
2024 Lisa Frankenstein Dale

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Law & Order Lt. Charles Bates Episode: "Conduct Unbecoming"
House of Secrets Batist Television film
1994 Family Matters Officer Carmichael Episode: "Good Cop, Bad Cop"
Columbo Mercer Episode: "Undercover"
Cries from the Heart Brandon Richards Television film
1995 Sweet Justice Dylan Episode: "Bloodlines"
Kingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long Carl Weiss Television film
Fallen Angels Dino Episode: "The Professional Man"
1996 The Lottery Deputy Jeff Simmons Television film
Nash Bridges Kevin McMillan Episode: "The Brothers McMillan"
Millennium Raymond Dees Episode: "5-2-2-6-6-6"
Desert Breeze Jack Television film
1997 Promised Land Gary McNeely Episode: "Downsized"
1998 Chicago Hope Judas Episode: "Tantric Turkey"
1999 Snoops Joel Hilburn Episode: "Singer in the Band"
Hefner: Unauthorized Ed Gunn Television film
2000 Touched by an Angel Joe Episode: "Finger of God"
2001 Level 9 Derek Santos Episode: "Wetware"
2004 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Al Maguire Episode: "Getting Off"
Deadwood Persimmon Phil Episode: "Deep Water"
Star Trek: Enterprise Bar Patron Episode: "Home"
3: The Dale Earnhardt Story Jake Elder Television film
Nikki and Nora Charlie
2005 Medium Henry Yellen Episode: "Coded"
Faith of My Fathers Craner Television film
Surface Rich's Friend Episode: "Episode 5"
2006 Thief Art Luster Episode: "Everything That Rises Must Converge"
2007 K-Ville Det. Ray McPherson Episode: "Ride Along"
2008 Front of the Class Jim Ovbey Television film
2010 House of Bones Benjamin
One Tree Hill Investor Episode: "We All Fall Down"
2011 Hound Dogs Trainer Television film
2012 Breakout Kings Detective Estes 2 episodes
Treme James Townsend
2013 Occult Agent Colquitt Television film
2014 Nashville Ed Marshall Episode: "I'll Keep Climbing"
True Detective Detective Demma 5 episodes
2016–present Stranger Things Ted Wheeler 20 episodes
2016 Killing Reagan Jerry Parr Television film
2017 Sun Records Vernon Presley 7 episodes
2018 Mr. Mercedes Detective 2 episodes
The Purge Ross Bailes 3 episodes
2019 Looking for Alaska Walter Halter[8] 4 episodes
2020 When the Street Lights Go On Mr. Chambers Pre-production

Theatre

Month/Year Venue Title Role Notes
October 1986 LSU Theatre The Rimers of Eldritch Lanford Wilson[10]
May 1987 LSU Theatre The Rose Tattoo "In a large and energetic cast, Joe Chrest and Amanda P. White bring credibility to their small (unaccented) roles."[11]
April 1988 LSU Theatre Fool for Love Martin[12] The cast also performed at the Kennedy Center as part of the American College Theater Festival.[13][14]
December 1988 LSU Theatre The Wild Duck Gregers Werle[15]
August 2001 Theatre West Virginia (Charleston, WV) The Sound of Music Captain von Trapp He was also director of the play.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b Sigur, Matt (21 November 2016). "Baton Rouge actor in 'Stranger Things' teases his role in Season Two: 'Anything is possible.'"". Baton Rouge Advocate. The Advocate. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b Bergeron, Judy (13 December 2017). "Baton Rouge actor part of 'Stranger Things' ensemble nominated for SAG Award". The Baton Rouge Advocate. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2023. Chrest, who plays Ted Wheeler on the series, grew up in West Virginia, but in the late 1980s came to LSU to get his master's degree in acting. The longtime character actor teaches a film acting class at LSU.
  3. ^ Lilly, Alexia (18 April 2017). "Marshall alum, actor finds 'Stranger Things' to explore". The Parthenon. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Orosz, Monica (10 June 2012). "W.Va. native Joe Chrest embraces supporting role". Newsbank. Charleston Daily Mail (WV). Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  5. ^ Ferrell Smith, Charlotte (14 June 2001). "What's the most fun job Joe Chrest has ever had?". newsbank. Charleston Daily Mail (WV). Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2023. Chrest, 38, earned his undergraduate degree from Marshall University and his master's from Louisiana State University.
  6. ^ Sigur, Matthew (22 November 2016). "'Stranger Things' happened to BR actor *** Joe Chrest racks up roles while teaching at LSU". The Baton Rouge Advocate. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2023. Though Chrest grew up in West Virginia, he landed in Baton Rouge on a whim. In the late 1980s, he came to LSU to get his master's degree in acting. "I was on my way to New York," Chrest said, laughing. "I didn't intend to go to grad school. I had to look on the map to see where Baton Rouge was. I thought I would go audition and get a tune up for the stuff I wanted to do. Because I didn't care about it, it was one of the best auditions I ever gave. I got the full ride down here, and I was like, 'I'll go try it out.' It turned out to be one of the best things I ever did." Chrest now teaches a film acting class at LSU. And, 20 years into his career, his résumé as a character actor continues to grow.
  7. ^ Auglair, Hailey (8 November 2017). "LSU professor balances acting career and teaching". Reveille. LSUReveille.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  8. ^ a b Bergeron, Judy (15 October 2019). "Hulu's 'Looking for Alaska' finds Louisiana; series will debut on Friday". The Baton Rouge Advocate. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2023. Walter is portrayed by former Baton Rouge actor Joe Chrest ("Stranger Things"), who lived in the area while earning his master of fine arts degree from LSU, where he helped found Swine Palace Theatre. Shooting the series last spring brought Chrest close to his old stomping grounds, as filming locations included Hammond, Amite, Loranger, Covington and Mandeville, as well as Birmingham, Alabama.
  9. ^ Bergeron, Judy (28 October 2022). "Bring on the screams, shudders with these 5 Louisiana-shot thriller movies". The Baton Rouge Advocate. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2023. Starring Kate Hudson, Gena Rowlands, Joy Bryant and Peter Sarsgaard. Louisiana cast includes actor Joe Chrest and the Rebirth Brass Band.
  10. ^ Foil, David (27 October 1986). ""Rimers of Eldritch" a meaningful production". Newsbank. Baton Rouge Advocate. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2023. The audience's close proximity to the action even enhances the performances of Kathryn Green, as the satisfied small-town girl Lena Truit, and Joe Chrest as the deceptively laid-back Josh, her boyfriend.
  11. ^ Foil, David (2 May 1987). ""Rose Tattoo" doesn't sing as dialogue suggests". Newsbank. Baton Rouge Advocate. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  12. ^ Foil, David (30 April 1988). "Shepard's "Fool for Love" achieves seething tension". Newsbank. Baton Rouge Advocate. Retrieved 18 April 2023. "As Martin, the unfortunate fellow who has a date with May, Joe Chrest is superb."
  13. ^ Ferrell Smith, Charlotte (14 June 2001). "What's the most fun job Joe Chrest has ever had?". newsbank. Charleston Daily Mail (WV). Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2023. A few of his stage credits include "Fool for Love" at the Kennedy Center and a Gordon Davison production of "Guns."
  14. ^ (1989, January 25). The Baton Rouge Advocate, p. 32. Available from NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A138F0D9908AC8D5F%40EANX-14AD694211F43DCB%402447552-14ACDAECABCBBB86%4031-14ACDAECABCBBB86%40 Archived 2024-01-16 at the Wayback Machine.
  15. ^ Goldsmith, Sue (3 December 1988). ""The Wild Duck" cast captivates audience. *** Hateable villain leads Ibsen drama". Newsbank. Baton Rouge Advocate. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2023. If ever there were a villain the audience loved to hate, it is Joe Chrest's portrayal of Gregers in the LSU Theatre production that opened Thursday and ends Dec. 9. By the time he made his stage entries in the second act, audience members were whispering such comments as, "Oh, God, shoot him before he can do any more harm!" Gregers takes idealism to idiotic extremes as he sets out to meddle in other people's lives (he is trying to help, not being deliberately malicious).
  16. ^ Ferrell Smith, Charlotte (14 June 2001). "What's the most fun job Joe Chrest has ever had?". newsbank. Charleston Daily Mail (WV). Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2023. Chrest, who now lives in Los Angeles, will spend his summer working with Theatre West Virginia. Aside from his director duties, he also will perform in "The Sound of Music" as Captain Von Trapp.

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