Fans are addicted to Netflix’s Outer Banks. The series follows the Pogues, a group of youngsters from the Outer Banks of North Carolina, as they search for hidden wealth.
Not only has the show garnered praise for its thrilling plotlines, but its breakthrough outer banks cast members have also become famous.
Many actors find joy in deepening their relationships with co-stars. Chase Stokes told PEOPLE, “Since day one, we’ve had practically the same crew on and off camera. Working with people you’ve traveled with is the most rewarding element of this trip. I think that drives us.”
In advance of the highly anticipated third season of the program, which debuted on February 23,
Here is a comprehensive outer banks cast biography, including everything from their early careers to their love lives, before the show returns.
Chase Stokes as John B.
Maryland native James Alexander Chase Stokes, 30, began acting with small roles in Stranger Things and Daytime Divas.
His breakthrough performance as John B. in Outer Banks was a turning point, yet he hesitated. On Jimmy Kimmel Live, he said, “‘That’s The Goonies. Definitely The Goonies. Not to ruin that. So I declined… I said, “Nope.” Not doing that.”
In order to get a job, he changed his mind and auditioned for Topper. Even though Stokes thought he didn’t do well in the audition, the East Coast casting director called his agency again to suggest him for John B., and the rest is history.
Despite focusing on Outer Banks, he briefly appeared on TNT’s Tell Me Your Secrets in 2021. He’ll also star in The Uglies on Netflix with Joey King and Laverne Cox. This Atlanta project concluded filming in late 2021.
Stokes will star in Music Got Me Here, based on the true story of high school music teacher Tom Sweitzer, who used music therapy to help his beloved former student Forrest Allen (Stokes) recover from a life-changing accident.
Stokes dated Madelyn Cline, his co-star and on-screen girlfriend. Before splitting in November 2021, they dated for about a year.
After being seen kissing at a football event in early January, the actor has been linked to country singer Kelsea Ballerini.
Madelyn Cline as Sarah Cameron
Madelyn Cline, 25, is from Goose Creek, South Carolina, near Charleston, where Outer Banks is filmed. Before her breakout performance on Outer Banks, she had recurring parts on Stranger Things and The Originals.
Cline has continued working with Netflix after her breakout role as Sarah Cameron. She recently appeared in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery opposite Daniel Craig, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista.
Cline said she had a “little freak-out” when she met her famous Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery co-stars in a PEOPLE interview. She said, “Daniel hosted supper at his property, which drew everyone together. I was nervous because I knew their characters but don’t know them.”
Cline was overwhelmed and excused herself: “I freaked out when I met everyone. I had to go the bathroom and said, ‘You’re good.’ From then on, it was fun.”
Cline’s on-screen romance with Stokes became real during Outer Banks’ first season. The couple split in November 2021 after nearly a year together.
In June 2022, Cline was seen with Jackson Guthy many times in California, sparking romance rumors.
Cline revealed in her February 2023 Cosmopolitan cover story that she was “happily taken.” Despite not revealing her new boyfriend, the two appeared together at the Outer Banks season 3 premiere. Cline brought Guthy as her date to the afterparty, where they kissed and cuddled, witnesses told PEOPLE.
Jonathan Daviss as Pope
Despite not being from North Carolina like his Outer Banks persona, Jonathan Daviss, 23, has deep southern roots. In his youth, he participated avidly in high school football in Conroe, Texas. He and his family moved to California after graduating, which gave him the opportunity to pursue an acting career.
Daviss’ journey included roles in films like Deliverance Creek and Edge of the World, but it was his portrayal of Pope on Outer Banks that catapulted him to recognition. Like many of his fellow outer banks cast members, Daviss has continued to collaborate on projects with Netflix. One notable instance is his recent role in Do Revenge, alongside Camila Mendes and Maya Hawke.
While Daviss has chosen to keep his romantic life under wraps, he has formed tight-knit connections with his co-stars from Outer Banks. It’s not uncommon to spot him at various award shows and sporting events alongside fellow outer banks cast members like Stokes, Austin North, and others.
Madison Bailey as Kiara
Madison Bailey, 24, is from North Carolina like her Outer Banks character. Her adoptive parents reared her in Charleston from Kernersville, North Carolina. Bailey wanted to sing but switched to acting about 13 or 14.
Her professional acting journey began in 2015, with roles in Mr. Mercedes and Constantine. Later in 2018, she portrayed Wendy Hernandez on The CW’s Black Lightning for two seasons before landing the role of Kiara on Outer Banks.
In between filming episodes of Outer Banks, Bailey made an appearance in the American Horror Story universe, playing the character Kelley in an episode of the show’s spin-off series, American Horror Stories.
Bailey, who openly identifies as pansexual, has been in a relationship with basketball player Mariah Linney since 2020. They not only share glimpses of their relationship on social media but also post heartfelt tributes to each other on Instagram. Additionally, they’ve been spotted together at various events since making their romance public.
Drew Starkey as Rafe Cameron
Drew Starkey, 29, originally hails from Hickory, North Carolina. He pursued his education at Western Carolina University, specializing in their Stage and Screen program. After completing his studies in 2016, Starkey made the decision to relocate to Atlanta in order to chase his acting aspirations.
His journey in the industry included roles in projects like Love, Simon, Ozark, and Scream: Resurrection. It was on Outer Banks that he landed the role of Rafe Cameron, the assertive brother of Sarah Cameron.
Since then, Starkey has been consistently busy, securing various roles in both television and film. In 2022, he took a prominent role in Hulu’s Hellraiser reboot, sharing the screen with Odessa A’zion. Additionally, he had a recurring part in the Amazon Prime Video series The Terminal List, headlined by Chris Pratt.
Furthermore, Starkey is poised to feature in the Netflix romantic comedy The Other Zoey, alongside Josephine Langford and Archie Renaux. This project was recently filmed in his home state of North Carolina.
Rudy Pankow as JJ
Rudy Pankow, 24, originates from Ketchikan, Alaska, a place he finds quite akin to the show’s primary setting in the Outer Banks.
“Both are fishing, tourism towns,” he shared with Wonderland. “The biggest difference is the temperature. It was fun to be on boats and catch people off guard when they noticed I already knew how to drive a boat and tie it up and be comfortable on the water all day.”
Pankow considered culinary school after high school. His career changed when he stayed in L.A. with pals and took acting training. “I knew it was the route I was supposed to take,” he told Wonderland.
Following a few short film Like many of his castmates, this was a professional breakthrough.
Pankow and several of his co-stars found love on the Netflix hit. He is presently in a relationship with Elaine Siemek, who works behind the scenes as an assistant to showrunner Jonas Pate.
Austin North as Topper
Before taking on the role of Topper, Sarah Cameron’s ex-boyfriend from the rival Kook group, Austin North, now 26, made a name for himself as a Disney Channel personality. He got his start with a role on the Disney XD series Kickin’ It back in 2011. However, he’s most recognized for portraying Logan Watson on the Disney Channel series I Didn’t Do It.
In addition to these, North has also graced shows like Jessie and All Night with his presence before landing a spot on Netflix’s hit series, Outer Banks.
In terms of his personal life, he was previously in a relationship with Sadie Robertson, a star from Duck Dynasty. Their romance ended in 2018 after four months of dating. North tends to keep his romantic affairs private, but he frequently shares pictures of himself hanging out with his co-stars, as well as fellow Disney Channel alum Dylan Sprouse.
Carlacia Grant as Cleo
Carlacia Grant, who joined the outer banks cast in season 2 and was later promoted to a series regular in season 3, shared her journey into the entertainment industry. She began with plays and pageants, discovering her love for acting at the age of 13.
“Initially, my parents, being West Indian, didn’t see acting as a viable career option. Eventually, after much persuasion, my mom agreed to support me. We faced numerous challenges along the way, but things eventually fell into place,” she revealed to Sheen magazine.
Her television debut came in the History Channel’s remake of Roots in 2016. Following that, she appeared in several other shows including Greenleaf and The Resident. However, it’s on Outer Banks that she takes on her first leading role.
Reflecting on joining the outer banks cast, Grant remarked to Elle, “The fan base is just so intense. Even the response Cleo was getting before the show came out… Yeah, it’s a really, really, really big job.”
Charles Halford as John Routledge
At 42 years old, Charles Halford brought a wealth of experience to his role as John B’s father in Outer Banks, already an accomplished actor in TV and film. While he boasts an extensive resume, his standout portrayals include Chas Chandler on the NBC series Constantine, Earl in Logan Lucky, and Sammy Wilds in Bad Times at the El Royale.
Furthermore, Halford has lent his voice to several popular video games, contributing to titles like Rise of the Tomb Raider and The Walking Dead: A New Frontier.
Much like his fellow outer banks cast members, Halford has generously shared glimpses from behind the scenes of filming, often posting pictures alongside his onscreen son, Stokes.
Charles Esten as Ward Cameron
At 57, Charles Esten has made a career in drama, but he started in humor. In the 1990s, Drew Carey’s popular improvisational show Whose Line Is It Anyway? featured him.
He guest-starred on Married… with Children, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and The Office. However, his 2012–2018 stint on Nashville with Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere garnered critical acclaim.
In Outer Banks, Esten has found a new audience, portraying Ward Cameron, the father of Sarah and Rafe. During an interview with PEOPLE at the season 3 premiere, the actor reflected on the close bonds he’s formed with his co-stars, and whether he feels like a fatherly figure to them.
“I’m not sure it’s father, more uncle, maybe really old big brother,” he shared. “They’re very kind and they listen to some things and they’re very kind about what they say about any lessons that the old guy has ever taught them just from being on the set together.”
On the personal front, Esten is happily married to his college sweetheart, Patty Hanson Puskar. Together, they have three children.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Q1: Who are the main outer banks cast members of Outer Banks?
The main cast members of Outer Banks include Chase Stokes as John B., Madelyn Cline as Sarah Cameron, Jonathan Daviss as Pope, Madison Bailey as Kiara, Rudy Pankow as JJ, Drew Starkey as Rafe Cameron, Austin North as Topper, Carlacia Grant as Cleo, Charles Halford as John Routledge, and Charles Esten as Ward Cameron.
Q2: What are some of the notable projects the cast members worked on before Outer Banks?
Before Outer Banks, several outer banks cast members had notable roles in other projects. For example, Chase Stokes had small roles in “Stranger Things” and “Daytime Divas,” while Madelyn Cline had recurring parts on “Stranger Things” and “The Originals.” Jonathan Daviss had roles in films like “Deliverance Creek” and “Edge of the World,” and Rudy Pankow had a few short film appearances.
Q3: Are any of the cast members in relationships with each other?
Some cast members have dated. Chase Stokes and Madelyn Cline, who played John B. and Sarah Cameron, parted in November 2021 after a year together. Rudy Pankow is in a relationship with Elaine Siemek, who works behind the scenes as an assistant to showrunner Jonas Pate.
Q4: Have any of the outer banks cast members worked on other projects while filming Outer Banks?
Some cast members worked on other projects while on Outer Banks. In 2021, Chase Stokes appeared briefly on TNT’s “Tell Me Your Secrets” and Madison Bailey starred in “American Horror Stories.”
Q5: What is the background of the actor who plays John B.’s father, John Routledge?
A accomplished TV and film actor, Charles Halford plays John B.’s father in Outer Banks. He played Chas Chandler in “Constantine,” Earl in “Logan Lucky,” and Sammy Wilds in “Bad Times at the El Royale.” Popular video games like “Rise of the Tomb Raider.” feature his voice.
Final Words
Outer Banks’ third season is a huge hit, and fans are ready to return to the Pogues’ world. Chase Stokes’ portrayal of John B. and Madelyn Cline’s Sarah Cameron have won hearts and cemented their stardom.
The cast’s off-screen friendship parallels their on-screen one. This true connection enhances the captivating plot. From the Outer Banks’ coastline beauty to its hidden gems, the series captivates audiences worldwide.
As we await more Pogues adventures, it’s apparent their trip is far from over. This cast and their unique characters will leave an impact on television. Each cast member has a bright future, and we can’t wait to watch where they go.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just discovering Outer Banks, this series and its amazing cast are here to stay, changing modern television.
