Miles Teller

Early life

Teller was born in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. His mother, Merry, is a real estate agent, and his father, Michael, is a nuclear power plant engineer. He has two older sisters, Erin and Dana. His paternal grandfather was of Russian Jewish descent, and his ancestry also includes English, Irish and African-American forebears.

Teller spent his early years in Pennsylvania and Delaware before his family moved to Citrus County, Florida, when he was 12. Growing up, he was involved with acting, was president of his high school's drama club, and played alto saxophone, drums, piano and guitar. He also played baseball and had dreams of turning professional. He graduated from Lecanto High School in Lecanto, Florida. 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. He earned a BFA in drama in 2009.

In 2007, Teller was a passenger in a car that lost control at 80 mph and flipped eight times. He has multiple scars on his face from the crash.

Career

Early work and breakthrough (2004{{ndash}}2021)

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

In Damien Chazelle's second film Whiplash (2014), Teller played a drummer who tries to impress his abusive jazz teacher (J. K. Simmons), 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. Despite the acclaim that the film received and the intensity of his prep time, Teller said in an interview in 2015 that after taxes he "made like $8,000" for the movie.

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

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. 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. In November 2021, he appeared in Taylor Swift's music video "I Bet You Think About Me" directed by Blake Lively.

''Top Gun: Maverick'' and beyond (2022{{ndash}}present)

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. In May 2022, Teller stated that he had been pitching a follow-up film centered around his character to the studio. Teller referred to his pitch as Top Gun: Rooster. By July of the same year, he stated that he has been having ongoing discussions regarding a sequel with 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."

Teller made his hosting debut on the opener of the 48th season of Saturday Night Live in 2022, 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.

Personal life

Teller became engaged to model Keleigh Sperry at the Molori Safari Lodge in the Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa, on August 20, 2017. They married on September 1, 2019, in Maui, Hawaii. In 2025, their home was destroyed by the Palisades Fire. Later that year, he visited his former high school to inspire and answer questions by students, and the school named their theater the "Miles Teller Theatre".

Filmography

Film

Television

Music video

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. (February 13, 2023). "Celebrity birthdays for the week of Feb 19-25". [[The Associated Press]].
2. (December 4, 2021). "Top Gun: Maverick's Miles Teller On Inheriting Goose's Iconic Moustache – Exclusive Image".
3. Longsdorf, Amy. (November 17, 2016). "Movies: Miles Teller says Pennsylvania upbringing helped him in 'Bleed for This'".
4. "Rabbit Hole presskit".
5. Lewis, Tim. (August 22, 2016). "Miles Teller: 'I felt extremely misrepresented'". The Observer.
6. (November 11, 2014). "Snoopy? How rising star Miles Teller, a Lecanto High graduate, found acting (w/video)". [[Tampa Bay Times]].
7. Greco, Patti. (August 27, 2013). "Miles Teller on The Spectacular Now, Moonwalking, and the Divergent–Hunger Games Comparisons". Vulture.com ([[New York (magazine).
8. (February 9, 2015). "Miles Teller". Vogue Italia - L'Uomo Vogue.
9. Miller, Gerri. "Hollywood Now: That Awkward Moment, Labor Day, Somewhere Slow". [[InterfaithFamily]].
10. O'Hare, Brian. (November 14, 2016). "Something to Believe In: Bleed For This' Ben Younger, Miles Teller and Aaron Eckhart Will Their Way to Greatness". [[MovieMaker]].
11. (March 15, 2015). "Miles Teller on 'Insurgent', 'Whiplash' and his not-so-secret crush". NJ.com.
12. Swanson, Carl. (February 2, 2014). "Miles Teller on Awkward, Fame, and Efron". Vulture.com.
13. (October 7, 2014). "Miles Teller: Cinema's Next Great Bad Ass?".
14. Connor, Katie L.. (August 30, 2013). "Unexpected Crush Alert: Miles Teller". [[Cosmopolitan (magazine).
15. (February 6, 2015). "Mr Fantastic Miles Teller on baseball dreams and growth spurts".
16. Morris, Alex. (December 2, 2014). "How Miles Teller Drummed His Way to the Top". Vulture.
17. Kaufman, Amy. (October 8, 2014). "'Whiplash' director, stars march to a friendly beat — off-screen". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
18. "Stonestreet Studios Alumni".
19. "Alumni List".
20. Valiente, Alexa. (August 19, 2016). "Miles Teller on How a Car Accident that Nearly Killed Him Changed His Life". [[ABC News (United States).
21. Yamato, Jen (November 8, 2010). [http://www.movieline.com/2010/11/miles-teller-on-diving-into-rabbit-hole-with-nicole-kidman-and-cutting-footloose.php Miles Teller on Rabbit Hole, Nicole Kidman and Cutting Footloose.] {{Webarchive. link. (August 20, 2011 ''[[Movieline]]'')
22. Durbin, Jonathan (2011). [http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/miles-teller/ Miles Teller.] ''[[Interview (magazine). Interview]]''
23. Weinstein, Joshua L. (May 26, 2011). [https://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/miles-teller-enters-hangover-territory-27760 Miles Teller Joins Relativity's '21 and Over.'] {{Webarchive. link. (October 20, 2016 ''[[The Wrap]]'')
24. Hynes, Eric. (January 26, 2013). "2013 Sundance Film Festival Awards Updates". [[Sundance Institute]].
25. Gleiberman, Owen. (January 17, 2014). "Sundance: 'Whiplash' is the movie that could make Miles Teller a star". [[CNN]].
26. Denham, Jess. (January 7, 2015). "Baftas 2015: Jack O'Connell, Margot Robbie and Shailene Woodley among rising star nominees". [[The Independent]].
27. Lee, Benjamin. (March 23, 2015). "Hunger games: when movie stars work for peanuts".
28. Brown, Emily. (September 14, 2024). "Miles Teller was paid just $8,000 for lead role in an Oscar-winning movie".
29. Williams-Shaw, H. "'Divergent' Sequels Get Release Dates; Director Neil Burger Not Returning". Screenrant.
30. Kroll, Justin. (February 19, 2014). "'Fantastic Four' Cast Revealed".
31. (February 21, 2014). "'What's the Deal?': Jeff Sneider on 'Fantastic Four' Casting, Fan Expectations (Video)".
32. Fleming, Mike Jr.. (February 12, 2015). "'Whiplash' Star Miles Teller Joins Jonah Hill In 'Arms And The Dudes'". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
33. (February 3, 2014). "Aaron Eckhart, Miles Teller Board Vinnie Pazienza Boxing Biopic". [[Variety (magazine).
34. Wiseman, Andreas. (November 11, 2020). "Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley & William Hurt To Star In Timely Political Satire 'The Fence' From Icelandic Director Grimur Hakonarson — AFM Hot Pic".
35. Petski, Denise. (January 11, 2022). "'The Offer': Making Of 'The Godfather' Series Gets Premiere Date On Paramount+".
36. Kreps, Daniel. (November 15, 2021). "Taylor Swift Goes Rogue at an Ex's Wedding in New 'I Bet You Think About Me' Music Video".
37. Rodrick, Stephen. (December 21, 2020). "Miles Teller Is Ready for Takeoff".
38. (May 25, 2022). "Miles Teller Open To Top Gun: Maverick Sequel Involving His Character". Screen Rant.
39. (July 7, 2022). "Miles Teller Says He's Had 'Conversations' With Tom Cruise About Possible 'Top Gun 3' (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight.
40. White, Peter. (September 20, 2022). "'SNL': Miles Teller, Brendan Gleeson & Megan Thee Stallion To Host Opening Three Episodes Of Season 48".
41. (February 12, 2023). "Miles Teller and Wife Keleigh Give a 'Sneak Peek' at Their Home Life in Bud Light's Super Bowl Ad".
42. (August 22, 2017). "Miles Teller Engaged to Longtime Girlfriend Keleigh Sperry". People.
43. (September 2, 2019). "Just Married in Paradise: See the First Photos From Miles Teller and Keleigh Sperry's Elegant Wedding in Maui". Vogue.
44. (November 16, 2021). "Miles Teller finally says he's vaccinated after new Taylor Swift video and months of controversy".
45. "Miles Teller and Keleigh Teller's Pacific Palisades Home Reduced to Rubble by L.A. Wildfires: PHOTO".
46. "Lecanto High School welcomes home actor, alumni Miles Teller".
47. Rodriguez-Juarez, Natalia. (2025-12-06). "The Miles Teller Theatre: Lecanto High School Celebrates a Panther Returning Home - 352today".
48. (November 26, 2017). "Miles Teller opens up about the "horrible" experience of working on his first movie Rabbit Hole with Nicole Kidman".
49. (April 2, 2016). "Anna Kendrick and Miles Teller star in trailer for Get A Job".
50. (December 4, 2017). "How Miles Teller Got in Boxing Shape for 'Bleed for This'".
51. (March 21, 2018). "'Thank You for Your Service' and 'Only the Brave' Establish The Ethos Of A New Decade For Miles Teller".
52. Lodderhose, Diana. (October 3, 2016). "Miles Teller Sails To 'The Ark and The Aardvark'".
53. "Honored guests {{!}} Filmfest".