Drew Starkey is an American actor who turned a villain into a fan favourite. As the volatile Rafe Cameron in Netflix’s Outer Banks he became one of streaming’s most recognisable young stars — then proved his dramatic range opposite Daniel Craig in Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, one of the most acclaimed performances of 2024.
| Full Name | Joseph Andrew Starkey |
| Born | 4 November 1993, Asheville, North Carolina, USA |
| Age | 32 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Known For | Rafe Cameron in Outer Banks; Eugene Allerton in Queer |
| Net Worth (est.) | Around $2 million (estimates vary) |
Early Life and Training
Starkey was born in Asheville, North Carolina, and raised mainly in Hickory, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The eldest of four siblings, he played piano and guitar and was drawn to performance early. He studied at Western Carolina University, graduating in 2016 with a double major in English and theatre performance, and worked his way through the regional and student-film circuit before moving to Atlanta and then Los Angeles to pursue screen work seriously.
Early Roles: Love, Simon and Just Mercy
Starkey’s first screen appearances were small but well chosen: a role in the coming-of-age hit Love, Simon (2018), a part in The Hate U Give (2018), and a supporting turn in the legal drama Just Mercy (2019) alongside Michael B. Jordan. Television guest spots — including Ozark and Scream: Resurrection — built his résumé through the late 2010s. He was working steadily but anonymously when Netflix came calling with the role that would change everything.
Outer Banks: Becoming Rafe Cameron
Cast as Rafe Cameron in Outer Banks (2020), Starkey took what could have been a stock rich-kid antagonist and made him the show’s most fascinating, unstable presence — a performance of charm curdling into menace that fans quote endlessly. Across the show’s hit seasons on Netflix, Rafe’s spiralling storyline gave Starkey the biggest dramatic canvas on the series, and the role made him a global name with casting directors who had previously seen him only for supporting parts.
Queer and Critical Acclaim
Director Luca Guadagnino cast Starkey as Eugene Allerton in Queer (2024), adapted from William S. Burroughs’ novel, playing opposite Daniel Craig’s lovesick expatriate in 1950s Mexico City. Premiering at Venice, the film won Starkey the strongest reviews of his career and a place on every ‘breakthrough’ list of the year; he followed it with a role in the 2022 Hellraiser reboot already behind him and new leading-man offers ahead. The one-two punch of Outer Banks fame and Queer acclaim marked him as more than a streaming star.
What critics responded to in Queer was restraint: where Rafe Cameron is all volatility, Eugene Allerton is stillness and ambiguity, and Starkey holds the screen simply by withholding. Craig himself praised his young co-star’s instinct and professionalism during the film’s festival run. Meanwhile Outer Banks continued towards its fifth and final season, meaning Starkey spent the mid-2020s in the unusual position of closing out the role that made him famous while simultaneously being rediscovered by an entirely different, arthouse audience — a career pivot most young actors only hope for.
Drew Starkey Net Worth
Starkey’s net worth is commonly estimated at around $2 million, reflecting several seasons of a hit Netflix series, studio film work and fashion-world visibility as his profile has risen. Published figures are unofficial estimates drawn from his career trajectory rather than disclosed earnings, and his biggest paydays — leading roles in prestige film — are likely still ahead of him.
Personal Life
Starkey keeps his private life deliberately quiet: no public social-media performance of his relationships, few interviews beyond his work, and a home base split between Los Angeles and his North Carolina roots. Colleagues describe a theatre kid’s work ethic — he has said he still approaches television roles with the same preparation he learned on stage at Western Carolina.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Drew Starkey?
He was born on 4 November 1993, making him 32 years old in 2026.
Who does Drew Starkey play in Outer Banks?
Rafe Cameron, the troubled, dangerous older brother of Sarah Cameron and the show’s principal antagonist.
Who does Drew Starkey play in Queer?
Eugene Allerton, the young former soldier who becomes the object of Daniel Craig’s character’s obsession in 1950s Mexico City.
What is Drew Starkey’s net worth?
Commonly estimated at around $2 million from Outer Banks and his film work — an unofficial estimate.
Related Biographies
Owen Cooper, Mason Thames and Yerin Ha — more in our Actors & Actresses collection.
Sources
Net worth and salary figures are estimates based on publicly available sources and may change over time.
