Miles Teller

Miles Alexander Teller[1] (born February 20, 1987)[2] is an American actor. He made his feature film debut with the independent drama Rabbit Hole (2010), and gained wider recognition for his roles in the coming-of-age film The Spectacular Now (2013) and the Divergent film trilogy (2014–2016). His breakthrough role came in the drama Whiplash (2014) which earned him critical acclaim.

Miles Teller
Teller in 2022
Born
Miles Alexander Teller

(1987-02-20) February 20, 1987 (age 37)
Alma materNew York University (BFA)
OccupationActor
Years active2004–present
Spouse
Keleigh Sperry
(m. 2019)

Teller went on to star in the superhero film Fantastic Four (2015) and the biographical film War Dogs (2016). He garnered worldwide success after starring in the hit action film Top Gun: Maverick (2022).[3] In television, he has starred in the Amazon Prime Video crime drama Too Old to Die Young (2019) and the Paramount+ miniseries The Offer (2022).

Early life

Miles Alexander Teller was born on February 20, 1987 in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.[4] His mother, Merry, is a real estate agent, and his father, Michael, is a nuclear power plant engineer.[5][6][7] He has two older sisters, Erin and Dana.[6][8] His paternal grandfather was of Russian Jewish descent,[9] and his ancestry also includes English and Irish forebears.[10][11]Teller spent his early years in Pennsylvania and Delaware[12] before his family moved to Citrus County, Florida, at age twelve.[5] Growing up, he was involved with acting, was president of his high school's drama club, and played alto saxophone, drums, piano and guitar.[13][14][15] He also played baseball competitively and had dreams of turning professional.[16] He graduated from Lecanto High School in Lecanto, Florida.[6]

Subsequently, he attended the New York University Tisch School of the Arts; there, he studied method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and screen acting with Stonestreet Studios.[17][18][19] He earned a BFA in drama in 2009.[20]

In 2007, Teller was a passenger in a car that lost control at 80 mph (130 km/h) and flipped eight times. He has multiple scars on his face from the crash.[21]

Career

Teller at the film premiere of Divergent in March 2014

Teller appeared in many short films between 2004 and 2010. After graduating from Tisch School of the Arts in 2009,[17] he made his major film debut in Rabbit Hole (2010), after Nicole Kidman handpicked him for the role.[22] Teller starred in the stage musical Footloose in high school,[22] and later starred in the 2011 remake film of the same name.[23] In 2013, he starred in 21 & Over[24] and The Spectacular Now, opposite Shailene Woodley.[25]

In Damien Chazelle's second film Whiplash (2014), Teller played a drummer who tries to impress his abusive jazz teacher (J. K. Simmons),[26] which earned him nominations for the Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Actor, the Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture and the BAFTA Rising Star Award.[27]

Teller received further recognition for playing Peter Hayes in Divergent (2014), and the film's sequels, Insurgent (2015) and Allegiant (2016).[28] He has also played Mister Fantastic in the reboot film Fantastic Four (2015)[29][30] and arms dealer David Packouz in War Dogs (2016).[31] He trained for 5 months to get in shape for the role of biopic boxer Vinny Paz in film Bleed for This (2016).[32][33]

In 2017, he starred in two biopic films, Only the Brave and Thank You for Your Service. In November 2020, it was announced that Teller will star in a political satire called The Fence.[34] In September 2021, it was reported that filming on The Offer, the Paramount+ miniseries about the production of the film The Godfather in which Teller plays producer Albert S. Ruddy, was temporarily halted due to COVID concerns. The miniseries ran from April to June 2022.[35] In November 2021, he appeared in Taylor Swift's music video "I Bet You Think About Me" directed by Blake Lively.[36]

In 2022, he starred in Top Gun: Maverick. He was initially hesitant to accept the role, as he was wary of the potential success and attention he would receive from starring in a major film alongside Tom Cruise. He was convinced to accept it by Cruise himself, who persuaded him that he was perfect for the role.[37] In May 2022, Miles Teller stated that he had been pitching a follow-up film centered around his character to the studio. The actor referred to his pitch as Top Gun: Rooster.[38] By July of the same year, he stated that he has been having ongoing discussions regarding a sequel with Tom Cruise. In regard to the popularity and support, Teller said that the experience has "been awesome" and that "I've never really experienced something like this in my life."[39]

Teller made his hosting debut on the opener of the 48th season of Saturday Night Live in 2022,[40] and during the Super Bowl LVII telecast in 2023, Teller, his wife, and their dog starred in a commercial for Bud Light in which they pass the time while waiting for a customer service representative to speak to them, dancing to the on-hold music.[41]

Personal life

Teller in 2014

Since 2013, he has been in a relationship with model Keleigh Sperry.[42] They were engaged at the Molori Safari Lodge in the Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa, on August 20, 2017,[43] and were married on September 1, 2019, in Maui, Hawaii.[44][45]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010Rabbit HoleJason[46]
2011FootlooseWillard Hewitt
2012Project XMiles (College Jock)
2013The Spectacular NowSutter Keely
21 & OverMiller
2014WhiplashAndrew Neiman
That Awkward MomentDaniel
DivergentPeter Hayes
Two Night StandAlec
2015The Divergent Series: InsurgentPeter Hayes
Fantastic FourReed Richards / Mister Fantastic
2016The Divergent Series: AllegiantPeter Hayes
Get a JobWill Davis[47]
War DogsDavid Packouz[7]
Bleed for ThisVinny Pazienza[33]
2017Only the BraveBrendan "Donut" McDonough[48]
Thank You for Your ServiceAdam Schumann
2022Top Gun: MaverickBradley "Rooster" Bradshaw
SpiderheadJeff
2024The Ark and the AardvarkGilbert (voice)In production[49]
2025MichaelJohn BrancaFilming
TBAThe GorgeLeviPost-production; also executive producer
Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2009The UnusualsJames BoorlandEpisode: "Boorland Day"
2019Too Old to Die YoungMartin JonesMiniseries; 10 episodes
2022The OfferAlbert S. RuddyMiniseries; 10 episodes; also executive producer
Saturday Night LiveHimself (host)Episode: "Miles Teller/Kendrick Lamar"

Short films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004MoonlightersMiles
2007A Very Specific RecipeLee
2008The MusiciansMiguel
2010The Track MeetAndrew

Music video

YearTitleRoleArtistNotes
2021"I Bet You Think About Me"GroomTaylor Swift featuring Chris StapletonDirected by Blake Lively

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2011Chlotrudis AwardsBest Supporting ActorRabbit HoleNominated
2013Sundance Film FestivalSpecial Jury Prize for Dramatic Acting (shared with Shailene Woodley)The Spectacular NowWon
Alliance of Women Film JournalistsBest Depiction of Nudity, Sexuality, or SeductionNominated
Indiana Film Journalists AssociationBest ActorNominated
MTV Movie AwardsBest Kiss (shared with Shailene Woodley)Nominated
Best Breakthrough PerformanceNominated
Napa Valley Film FestivalRising Star Award (shared with Dianna Agron)HimselfWon
2014Chlotrudis AwardsBest ActorThe Spectacular NowNominated
CinEuphoria AwardsBest Supporting Actor - International CompetitionRabbit HoleNominated
Georgia Film Critics AssociationBreakthrough Award21 & Over
The Spectacular Now
Nominated
BAFTARising Star AwardWhiplashNominated
Gotham Independent Film AwardsBest ActorNominated
MTV Movie AwardsBest Male PerformanceNominated
#WTF MomentNominated
Best Musical MomentNominated
Satellite AwardsBest ActorNominated
Golden Schmoes AwardsBreakthrough Performance of the YearNominated
2015CinemaCon AwardEnsemble Award (shared with Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell)Fantastic FourWon
Teen Choice AwardsTeen Choice Award for Choice Movie Scene StealerThe Divergent Series: InsurgentNominated
Chlotrudis AwardsBest ActorWhiplashNominated
Gold Derby AwardsBreakthrough PerformerNominated
2016Golden Raspberry AwardsWorst Screen Combo (shared with Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell)Fantastic FourNominated
Indiana Film Journalists AssociationBest ActorBleed for ThisNominated
Teen Choice AwardsTeen Choice Award for Choice Movie Scene StealerThe Divergent Series: AllegiantNominated
2022Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film AwardBest Supporting ActorTop Gun: MaverickNominated
People's Choice AwardsThe Male Movie Star of 2022Nominated

References

External links