Joseph Andrew Starkey (born November 4, 1993) is an American actor. He began his career with supporting roles in the teen drama films Love, Simon and The Hate U Give (both in 2018). He gained recognition for his portrayal of troubled teenager Rafe Cameron in Outer Banks (2020–2026), and as Eugene Allerton in Queer (2024).
Early life and education Joseph Andrew Starkey was born in Asheville, North Carolina, on November 4, 1993. He is the son of Todd Starkey, a college basketball coach. His family moved around the Blue Ridge Mountains area, but he mostly grew up in Hickory, North Carolina.
As a child, he played baseball and basketball, and learned to play the guitar and the piano. He attended St. Stephens High School in Hickory. In his freshman year of high school, he became serious about acting after joining a drama class.
Starkey graduated from Western Carolina University in 2016, where he double majored in English and theater performance. After college, he moved to Atlanta to join two friends who were forming a production company, and started to audition for roles.
Filmography + Key Denotes works that have not yet been released
Film Year Title Role Notes2018 American Animals Frat Boy Love, Simon Garrett Laughlin The Hate U Give Brian MacIntosh Jr. (Officer 115) 2019 Just Mercy Young Guard2020 The Devil All the Time Tommy Matson Embattled Tanner Van Holt 2022 Hellraiser Trevor 2023 The Other Zoey Zach MacLaren 2024 Queer Eugene Allerton 2026 Onslaught Cyrus 2027 Joe Morrow Post-production Filming
Television Year Title Role Notes2017 Mercy Street Gambling Soldier Episode: "Unknown Soldier" Shots Fired Clint Jr. Episode: "Hour Four: Truth" Ozark Boy Episode: "Ruling Days" Dead Silent Ethan Walton Episode: "Run for Your Life" Valor Bobby Episode: "Zero Visibility" Good Behavior Agent Bradfield Episode: "You Could Discover Me"2018 Brockmire Brad Christie (uncredited) Episode: "In the Cellar" Bobcat Goldthwait's Misfits & Monsters Hunter Robison Episode: "Better World" The Resident Young Lawyer Episode: "About Time"2019 Doom Patrol Tim Episode: "Donkey Patrol" Queen Sugar Beau Episode: "I No Longer Imagine" Scream: Resurrection Hawkins 4 episodes Dolly Parton's Heartstrings Lookout Episode: "J.J. Sneed"2020 Limbo Rodney TV movie Acting for a Cause Demetrius Episode: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" 2020−2026 Outer Banks Rafe Cameron Main role; 49 episodes 2022 The Terminal List Junior Alba 4 episodes 2026 Lucky Cary 2 episodes
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult2020IndieX Film FestivalBest Ensemble Cast (shared with Pat Dortch, Lacy Camp, and Gary Weeks)Limbo 2025Brazil Online Film AwardBest Supporting ActorQueer Dorian AwardsGALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critic Rising Star of the Year North Carolina Film Critics AssociationTar Heel Award References
External links