Who Is Miles Teller?
Miles Teller is an American actor born in Pennsylvania on February 20, 1987, widely recognized for his roles in Whiplash, the Divergent film series, and Top Gun: Maverick.[1][2] Trained at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, he moved from short films and stage work into feature films, gaining early attention for Rabbit Hole and The Spectacular Now.[1][2]
His breakthrough as an obsessive jazz drummer in Whiplash established him as a serious dramatic actor and led to a series of demanding roles across independent films and studio franchises.[1][2][3] Today, he is considered one of Hollywood’s most versatile leading men, balancing critically acclaimed performances with major box-office success.[1][2][5]
Career Breakthroughs and Defining Roles
Teller’s early career was marked by indie standouts such as The Spectacular Now, which earned him a Dramatic Special Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival and showcased his ability to carry emotionally rich coming-of-age stories.[3][4][5] Whiplash then became his signature breakthrough, with his intense portrayal helping the film win major festival and industry awards and significantly raising his profile.[1][2][3]
Building on this momentum, he moved into larger projects including the Divergent trilogy, Fantastic Four, War Dogs, and Bleed for This, where he played boxer Vinny Pazienza and underwent months of physical training for authenticity.[1][2][4] These choices demonstrated his willingness to take on physically and psychologically demanding roles, helping him transition from promising newcomer to established star.[1][2]
Top Gun: Maverick, Streaming Work, and Ongoing Impact
Top Gun: Maverick marked a new phase of Teller’s career, pairing him with Tom Cruise in a legacy sequel that became a global box-office phenomenon, surpassing $1 billion worldwide.[1][2] As Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, he delivered a performance that balanced homage to the original film with a fresh emotional core, helping re-energize theatrical moviegoing in the post-pandemic era.[1][2]
Alongside his film work, Teller has taken on major television and streaming roles, including the Amazon series Too Old to Die Young and the Paramount+ miniseries The Offer, where he portrayed producer Albert S. Ruddy.[1][2] This presence across cinema and streaming platforms reflects broader industry shifts and positions him as a key figure in how character-driven stories are developed and distributed in contemporary Hollywood.[1][2][9]