Miles Alexander Teller, born on February 20, 1987, in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, is an American actor. He is best known for his physically committed performance in Whiplash (2014) and his global blockbuster role in Top Gun: Maverick (2022).
His films have collectively grossed billions of dollars worldwide.
Who is Miles Teller?
Miles Teller is an American actor whose career spans intimate indie dramas, major studio franchises, and prestige biographical films.
He made his feature film debut in Rabbit Hole (2010) alongside Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart, signaling immediately that he could hold his own against veteran performers.
He announced himself as a serious talent from the very first role.
His breakthrough came with Whiplash (2014), in which he played Andrew Neiman, an obsessive jazz drummer opposite J.K. Simmons. That performance earned him widespread critical acclaim and a BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination.
Additionally, he starred as Lieutenant Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), which grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide.
Few actors of his generation have ranged as widely across genres.
In 2026, he appeared in Michael, a major biographical film about Michael Jackson, playing Jackson’s longtime attorney John Branca. He also starred in the sci-fi horror film The Gorge (2025) alongside Anya Taylor-Joy and Sigourney Weaver. Furthermore, he hosted Saturday Night Live, cementing his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most versatile and bankable stars.
Early Life of Miles Teller
Miles Alexander Teller was born on February 20, 1987, in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. His father, Michael Teller, worked as a nuclear power plant engineer, and his mother, Merry Flowers Teller, worked as a real estate agent. He has two older sisters, Erin and Dana.
His family relocated to Citrus County, Florida, when he was twelve.
Growing up, he was deeply involved in music, playing alto saxophone, drums, piano, and guitar. He also played competitive baseball during his school years and aspired to become a professional player. Additionally, he was president of his high school’s theatrical club and participated actively in drama productions.
His passion for performance emerged long before his professional career began.
As a young man, he survived a life-threatening car accident when the vehicle he was a passenger in flipped multiple times. He came away with permanent facial scarring. Furthermore, that experience is widely cited as a turning point that sharpened his appreciation for the craft of storytelling.
Miles Teller Age
Miles Teller is 39 years old as of June 7, 2026, born on February 20, 1987.
His zodiac sign is Pisces, a sign associated with emotional depth, creativity, and an instinct for artistic commitment. At 39, he is at the peak of his Hollywood career, with major releases in both 2025 and 2026 adding to an already substantial filmography.
Miles Teller Ethnicity and Nationality
Miles Teller holds American nationality, having been born and raised in the United States. His paternal grandfather was of Russian Jewish descent, while his paternal grandmother was of Irish and Polish ancestry.
His mother’s family background includes English, Irish, German, and African-American roots, giving him a notably diverse ethnic heritage.
Miles Teller Height and Weight
Miles Teller stands at 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) tall. His weight is not publicly confirmed in verified sources. His athletic, lean build and strong physical presence have made him well-suited for the demanding action and dramatic roles that have defined his career.
Miles Teller Education
Miles Teller graduated from Lecanto High School in Citrus County, Florida, in 2005. He then enrolled at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and screen acting at Stonestreet Studios Film Conservatory.
That rigorous training showed immediately in his early professional work.
He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drama from NYU Tisch in 2009. During college, he also starred in a number of short films that helped him develop as a screen performer. Furthermore, his Tisch training gave him the technical foundation to later teach himself professional-level jazz drumming for Whiplash.
Miles Teller Career
Miles Teller has built one of the most eclectic and respected careers of his generation in Hollywood. He moves with equal confidence between intimate indie dramas, massive action franchises, and prestige biography projects.
Breakthrough Role and Early Career
Miles Teller made his feature film debut in Rabbit Hole (2010), a quiet emotional drama alongside Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart. That debut showed a naturalism that immediately attracted director attention. Also, he appeared in the Footloose remake (2011), which expanded his mainstream profile considerably.
His defining early moment came at Sundance in 2013.
The Spectacular Now (2013) premiered at Sundance and earned him a Special Jury Award alongside co-star Shailene Woodley.
He played Sutter Keely, a self-destructive teenager navigating love and alcoholism, with a raw authenticity that drew serious critical praise. That performance introduced him to prestige film circles in a way no earlier project had.
Whiplash and Critical Acclaim
In 2014, Miles Teller starred in Whiplash, directed by Damien Chazelle. He spent months learning to play jazz drums to a performance level sufficient to execute the complex sequences himself. His hands bled during filming, and that physical commitment showed on screen in every frame.
That performance remains the artistic peak of his career to date.
Whiplash earned him a BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination and Golden Globe Award consideration. The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for J.K. Simmons, with Teller’s performance as the central emotional engine.
Furthermore, Whiplash brought him nominations from the Gotham Independent Film Awards, MTV Movie Awards, and Satellite Awards.
Notable Films and Franchises
Miles Teller starred in the Divergent film trilogy between 2014 and 2016, playing Peter opposite Shailene Woodley. He also starred as Reed Richards in Fantastic Four (2015). Additionally, he took on lead roles in the biographical films War Dogs (2016) and Bleed for This (2016), as well as Thank You for Your Service (2017).
Top Gun: Maverick (2022) became the defining commercial peak of his career.
Top Gun: Maverick grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide, making it his highest-grossing film. He also appeared in the Netflix film Spiderhead (2022) and starred in the Paramount+ miniseries The Offer (2022), playing real-life producer Al Ruddy during the making of The Godfather.
Recent Work (2025-2026)
In 2025, Miles Teller starred in The Gorge alongside Anya Taylor-Joy and Sigourney Weaver. In 2026, he appeared in Michael, the Michael Jackson biographical film directed by Antoine Fuqua, playing John Branca, Jackson’s longtime attorney and estate manager.
Michael is one of the most high-profile projects of his career.
He also reportedly holds a minority stake in The Long Drink Company, a Finnish-inspired ready-to-drink cocktail brand, which was acquired in 2026.
Additionally, his hosting appearance on Saturday Night Live demonstrated a comedic range that extends beyond his dramatic work. Overall, his career in 2025 and 2026 shows an actor adding significant new creative territory.
Miles Teller Filmography
Miles Teller’s notable film credits include Rabbit Hole (2010), The Spectacular Now (2013), Whiplash (2014), Divergent (2014), Insurgent (2015), Allegiant (2016), Fantastic Four (2015), War Dogs (2016), Bleed for This (2016), Only the Brave (2017), Thank You for Your Service (2017), Spiderhead (2022), Top Gun: Maverick (2022), The Gorge (2025), and Michael (2026).
On television, his credits include Too Old to Die Young (2019) on Amazon Prime Video and The Offer (2022) on Paramount+.
His range across the list speaks for itself.
Miles Teller Awards and Recognition
Miles Teller received a nomination for the BAFTA Rising Star Award following Whiplash (2014). He also received a Golden Globe Award nomination for the same film. Additionally, he won a Special Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013 for The Spectacular Now.
His nomination record reflects consistent peer and critic recognition.
His work in The Offer (2022) on Paramount+ generated further awards attention and critical recognition. Furthermore, his physicality and preparation for Whiplash, including months of actual drum training, drew specific praise from film industry observers as one of the more committed performance preparations in recent Hollywood history.
Miles Teller Wife
Miles Teller is married to Keleigh Sperry, a model. The couple first met in 2013 and dated for several years before Miles proposed on August 20, 2017, during a trip to the Molori Safari Lodge in the Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa.
They married on September 1, 2019, in Maui, Hawaii.
Their relationship has been a consistent feature of Miles’s public profile throughout his career. No confirmed public information indicates they have children as of June 2026.
Furthermore, the couple reportedly sold a Studio City home for approximately $4.7 million and invested in a Pacific Palisades property in 2023.
Miles Teller Net Worth
Miles Teller’s estimated net worth is $16 million as of 2026. His wealth comes primarily from his film career, including franchise roles in Top Gun: Maverick and the Divergent trilogy.
His business investments have added significantly to his financial profile.
He reportedly holds a minority stake in The Long Drink Company, acquired in 2026. He also paid approximately $3 million for a Studio City home and later sold it for $4.7 million.
Furthermore, his role in the $1.5 billion-grossing Top Gun: Maverick placed him firmly among Hollywood’s most commercially valuable performers.
Miles Teller Social Media
Miles Teller is active on Instagram under the handle @milesteller, where he shares career updates, personal moments, and behind-the-scenes content.
He also maintains a presence on X (formerly Twitter) under the handle @MilesTeller. His social media presence is measured and consistent. Additionally, high-profile releases including Top Gun: Maverick and Michael have kept him regularly in the public conversation across all major platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Miles Teller’s net worth?
Miles Teller’s estimated net worth is $16 million as of 2026. His wealth comes from franchise film roles, a minority stake in The Long Drink Company, and real estate investments.
How old is Miles Teller?
Miles Teller is 39 years old as of June 7, 2026, born on February 20, 1987, in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.
Who is Miles Teller married to?
Miles Teller is married to Keleigh Sperry, a model. They married on September 1, 2019, in Maui, Hawaii, after meeting in 2013.
What is Miles Teller’s height?
Miles Teller stands at 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm). His weight is not publicly confirmed.
What movies has Miles Teller been in?
Miles Teller is best known for Whiplash (2014), Top Gun: Maverick (2022), The Spectacular Now (2013), and the Divergent trilogy. His 2026 film Michael, playing Michael Jackson’s attorney John Branca, is among his most high-profile recent projects.
Where was Miles Teller born?
Miles Teller was born in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, on February 20, 1987. He grew up in Citrus County, Florida, and later studied at New York University Tisch School of the Arts.
The Bottom Line
Miles Teller learned to play jazz drums well enough to perform the sequences himself for Whiplash, a level of preparation that few actors of his generation have matched.
That film, made for a fraction of a blockbuster budget, became both a critical landmark and the cornerstone of his entire career.
He survived a near-fatal car accident as a young man, carrying its physical marks into a profession built on presence. The facial scarring that accident left has never been hidden or explained away, and that honesty characterizes how he carries himself publicly.
Michael and The Gorge confirm that his ambitions remain large and his range continues to expand. We hope you enjoyed reading about Miles Teller. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!