Joseph Chrest (born May 26, 1963) 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]
Joe Chrest | |
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![]() Joe Chrest at Stranger Things 4 New York Premiere in 2022 | |
Born | Joseph Chrest May 26, 1963 |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1993–present |
Spouse |
Christine Chrest (m. 1997) |
Children | 2 |
Early life and education
editChrest 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
editChrest 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
editYear | 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 | |
Fly Me to the Moon | Senator Vanning | ||
Saturday Night | Herb Sargent | Filming |
Television
editYear | 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
editMonth/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
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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."
- ^ 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."
- ^ (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.
- ^ 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).
- ^ 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.