Finn Wolfhard has never been shy about his love for music — but now, he’s shining a heartfelt spotlight on the person who helped shape that passion early on: his Stranger Things co-star Joe Keery.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, December 16, the actor-musician, who turns 23 later this month, opened up about how Keery played a pivotal role in his creative development long before fame entered the picture.
“Joe is a huge influence for me, and still is,” Finn said. “His band’s amazing. He was one of the first people I ever knew that was actually in a band.”
Wolfhard recalled meeting Keery when he was just 12 years old, while Keery was in his early twenties — a dynamic that quickly turned into a mentor-like relationship.
“Before Stranger Things came out, he was kind of a cool, older brother,” Finn explained. “I was twelve and he was 22? He was like fresh out of being in a really cool psych rock band in Chicago, and introduced me to a ton of music that I think really informed everything.”
That exposure, Wolfhard says, became foundational to his own artistic identity — not just as an actor, but as a musician carving out his own sound.
“I wouldn’t be here without Joe,” he added.
The moment felt especially meaningful given where both stars are now. Keery has found success as the musician Djo, earning critical acclaim for his synth-driven sound, while Wolfhard has steadily built a parallel career in music alongside acting, releasing solo material and performing live.
Their bond — rooted in creativity rather than celebrity — has remained intact as Stranger Things evolved into a cultural phenomenon.
While on The Tonight Show, Wolfhard also teased what fans can expect from the final stretch of the hit Netflix series. During a segment with Fallon, he was asked to describe the upcoming episodes using just one word each — and his answers only fueled anticipation.
Episode 5: “Crispy.”
Episode 6: “Shocking.”
Episode 7: “Enlightening.”
Episode 8: “Emotional.”
Earlier this week, Netflix dropped the trailer for Volume 2 of the final season, giving fans their most revealing look yet at how the story will conclude. The final episodes of Stranger Things return on Christmas Day, December 25, at 8pm ET / 5pm PT.
As the series that launched his career comes to an end, Wolfhard’s reflections feel fitting — a reminder that behind the spectacle, the show was also about friendships formed off-camera. And in Joe Keery, Finn Wolfhard found not just a co-star, but a creative compass whose influence still resonates.
