Who is Miles Teller?
Miles Teller, born in Pennsylvania, discovered his passion for acting during his high school years in Florida. Despite facing a life-threatening car accident that left him with significant facial scars, Teller overcame these challenges and became an actor to watch. His breakout roles in Rabbit Hole (2010), The Spectacular Now (2013), and Whiplash (2014) showcased his impressive range. While his ventures into big-budget films like Divergent (2014) and Fantastic Four (2015) were met with mixed responses, Teller proved his versatility with standout performances in War Dogs (2016), Bleed for This (2016), and Thank You for Your Service (2017). His status as a Hollywood star was solidified with his role in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), further cementing his place on the big screen.
How Old Is Miles Teller?
Miles Alexander Teller was born on February 20, 1987, in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.
Early Life and Education
The third child of Mike Teller, a nuclear power plant engineer, and Merry Flowers, a real estate agent, Miles Teller lived in several states, including Georgia, Delaware, and New Jersey, before his family settled in Citrus County, Florida, in the late 1990s. There, Teller developed a love for baseball and became proficient in guitar and drums. However, it wasn’t until his sophomore year at Lecanto High School that he discovered his passion for acting, initially drawn in by the appeal of a “hot” drama teacher. Thriving under her mentorship, Teller later became president of the drama club, with his senior year marked by excellent academic achievements and a popular homecoming king title.
Teller continued honing his craft at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, affiliated with NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he graduated in 2009.
Car Accident and Scars
In 2007, Miles Teller was involved in a severe car accident when he and two friends were speeding home from a music festival. Their car skidded, crossed multiple lanes, and flipped eight times. Teller was ejected from the vehicle and thrown more than 30 feet. He required 20 staples to treat his shoulder injuries and endured several months of painful laser surgeries to treat the gashes on his face and neck. Despite the extensive recovery, some scars and fragments of rock remain as lasting reminders of the life-threatening incident.
Movies and TV Shows
Rabbit Hole and Footloose
Miles Teller garnered widespread attention for his feature film debut in Rabbit Hole, where he portrayed a teenager responsible for a tragic accident involving the child of Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart’s characters. This performance marked a pivotal moment in his career. He soon transitioned to lighter fare, notably playing Willard in the 2011 remake of Footloose. His portrayal earned praise from The New York Times, which highlighted his “natural charisma that is both comic and kind of sexy.”
The Spectacular Now and Whiplash
While Teller’s early roles included comedic films like 21 & Over (2013) and That Awkward Moment (2014), his performance as the troubled high school senior Sutter Keely in The Spectacular Now earned critical acclaim. This role opened the door to his most celebrated performance to date, playing the ambitious jazz drummer Andrew Neiman in Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash. His portrayal, which included showcasing his drumming skills, earned him several award nominations and contributed to co-star J.K. Simmons’ Academy Award for Best Actor.
The Divergent Series and Fantastic Four
Teller’s rise continued with the role of Peter Hayes in the dystopian blockbuster Divergent, opposite Shailene Woodley. Despite finding the logistical demands of shooting a large-scale production challenging, Teller reprised his role in the subsequent installments of the series. However, his next major project, Fantastic Four, faced numerous setbacks, including script rewrites and creative clashes between director Josh Trank and 20th Century Fox. The film’s critical and commercial failure was a setback, though Teller expressed pride in his performance and openness to returning for a potential sequel.
War Dogs and Bleed for This
Teller rebounded with strong performances in War Dogs alongside Jonah Hill, which depicted the real-life story of two young men who became arms dealers for the U.S. government. He later took center stage in Bleed for This, where he underwent intense physical training to portray boxer Vinny Pazienza, a role that also required him to endure numerous physical challenges on set.
Only the Brave and Thank You for Your Service
Teller’s commitment to physically demanding roles continued with Only the Brave, a true story about an elite firefighting unit that battled the devastating Yarnell Hill wildfire in Arizona. He followed this with a role in Thank You for Your Service, portraying Iraqi war veteran Adam Schumann, whose struggles with PTSD were chronicled in a 2013 book by David Finkel. Teller’s personal connection to military service made his portrayal all the more poignant, earning praise from Schumann himself.
Too Old to Die Young and The Offer
After an earlier appearance on the small screen in The Unusuals (2009), Teller returned to television in 2019 with Amazon’s Too Old to Die Young, where he portrayed Detective Martin Jones in a slow-burn crime drama. Three years later, he starred in The Offer (2022), a series based on the making of The Godfather, in which he played Albert S. Ruddy, the producer who faced Mafia threats while adapting Mario Puzo’s novel into the iconic film.
Top Gun: Maverick and Spiderhead
Teller’s career took another leap when he joined the cast of Top Gun: Maverick (2022), playing Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, the son of “Goose” from the original Top Gun. His dedication to the role, which involved rigorous flight training, contributed to the film’s massive success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide. Teller also starred in Spiderhead (2022) alongside Chris Hemsworth, playing a prisoner participating in drug experiments. Though Spiderhead didn’t achieve the same commercial success as Top Gun: Maverick, it allowed Teller to explore deeper emotional complexities in his performance.
Who Is Miles Teller’s Wife?
Teller began dating model Keleigh Sperry in 2013 after meeting at a Black Keys party. He proposed in 2017 during a safari in South Africa, and the couple married in Hawaii in September 2019. Sperry was with Teller when he made headlines for helping a pregnant woman out of shark-infested waters in 2015. The couple also appeared in Taylor Swift’s 2021 music video for “I Bet You Think About Me.”
The Long Drink and Personal Interests
Beyond acting, Teller is an investor and pitchman for The Long Drink, a gin-based drink inspired by a traditional Finnish beverage. He discovered it in a New York City liquor store and soon became the public face of the brand. Teller has shared that many product endorsement opportunities do not align with his values, but The Long Drink was a perfect fit for him. He cites actors like Philip Seymour Hoffman and Sean Penn as major influences on his acting style. A dedicated fan of Philadelphia sports teams, particularly the Eagles, he is also an avid admirer of the Grateful Dead’s music.