Exclusive Interview: Joe Chrest Chats Stranger Things Season 4, What’s Ahead, and More

Joe Chrest is an award-winning actor and producer with over a hundred credits to his name! He’s starred in projects including 21 Jump Street, True Detective, and Deepwater Horizon. But he’s best known for his role as the oblivious, fan-favorite character Ted Wheeler on a little show that you may have heard of called Stranger Things. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Joe about his iconic role in Stranger Things, what’s ahead for his character, and more!

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Joe: I saw a touring production of Grease my junior year in high school in Charleston, West Virginia, and I immediately knew that was what I wanted to do. Until then, I was all about playing every sport I could squeeze in. I was always into singing, so I knew I could do that part. Musical theater is still my favorite. I’m still a sports junky—I just watch a lot more than I play now!

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Joe: I would have to say that John Dennis was the biggest influence on my career. He came to LSU to start an MFA acting program after ten years of heading the Mark Taper resident ensemble under Gordon Davidson (I later worked with Gordon in the Music Center’s production of A Little Night Music). I was in John’s very first class at LSU, and it was nothing short of life-changing. It’s also where I first met Steven Soderbergh after a play that I did there. Steven gave me my first break in the movie business in his film King of the Hill. Steven and John are both an actor’s dream to work with.

PC: That might be the answer to this next question. You’ve had a lot of success throughout your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Joe: I think the second Soderbergh movie that I did, The Underneath, stands out. King of the Hill opened a lot of doors for me, but The Underneath was when I really knew I was going to make a career of this.

PC: Stranger Things Season 4 recently premiered. For readers who haven’t seen the season yet, what can you tease about Ted’s arc?
Joe: I’ll just say this about Ted in Season 4…No time for napping. [laughs] If I’m in my La-Z-Boy— I’m on the damn edge of it!

PC: Audiences have fallen in love with Ted. What was it about this character and script that initially attracted you to this project?
Joe: This script sounded so cool, but I really had no idea it could become what it did. I grew up watching the ’80s dads on screen (hell I had one in real life!). I couldn’t wait to put my stamp on one. I had just played Jonah Hill’s dad in 21 Jump Street and saw that my real-life role as a dad to two kids really made these characters come naturally. Most things that parents do to upset their kids just made me scratch my head and laugh as I was growing up. Little did I know this would be a motherlode of material someday.

PC: Ted brings a lot of levity to the series, and you’ve done it all throughout your career. As an actor, is comedy or drama more challenging?
Joe: Comedy just comes naturally to me. I once got paddled at school because I couldn’t quit laughing. I love a good drama and love acting in dramatic stories, but I can hardly look at any situation and not see the humor in it. My parents laughed a lot, and I love to laugh. In the yearbook, I was voted class clown, and I was probably happier with that than making good grades!

PC: If you could pitch a storyline for Ted in Season 5, what would it be and why?
Joe: Ted is most certainly a military veteran (I am in real life a USAF veteran). You know he’s got to be good with a fairway wood or a nine iron. I know he loves his kids—he works his butt off for his family to the point of passing out when he gets home. At some point, now or never, I want to see that Network moment: “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not gonna take it anymore!” Give me a shot at the upside down! Audie Murphy with a golf club! Watch out, Russkies!

To keep up with Joe, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Stranger Things on Netflix today.

Photo Credit: Netflix