American actor Drew Starkey (born November 4, 1993, in Asheville, North Carolina) began his career with notable roles in the 2018 films Love, Simon and The Hate U Give. Growing up mostly in Hickory, North Carolina, as the son of college basketball coach Todd Starkey, he played sports and music before discovering his passion in a high school drama class. After double-majoring in English and theater at Western Carolina University and graduating in 2016, he moved to Atlanta to pursue auditions. He skyrocketed to fame with his gripping portrayal of the volatile, troubled teenager Rafe Cameron in the hit Netflix series Outer Banks (2020–2026). Most recently, he took on the complex role of Eugene Allerton in the 2024 film Queer, cementing his status as a versatile and compelling leading man.