By Rebecca Stephens
From the Old Main Auditorium on campus to the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Joe Chrest’s career has taken him far from West Virginia, but never far from the alma mater that helped shape him. Now, 40 years after graduating from Marshall University, Chrest returns to Huntington as the 2026 Homecoming grand marshal.
“It’s an honor,” Chrest said. “To be asked to represent an institution that means so much to me is humbling. I have been hoping to get more involved with Marshall and all things West Virginia.”
Chrest graduated from Marshall in 1986 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in directing and has acted professionally for more than 30 years. Most notably, fans know Chrest from the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things.”
“When I was at Marshall studying to be an actor, I just wanted to get better at the craft — to be the best artist I could be. I never really thought about being in a global hit TV show that means so much to so many people,” he said.
“Stranger Things” premiered in the summer of 2016. The show was an instant hit, encapsulating the nostalgia of the 1980s and dominating the streaming platform for nearly a decade thereafter.
At the 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2017, Chrest and his co-stars received the award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series at the Shrine Auditorium. Chrest portrayed Ted Wheeler in the series, a character who embodied the quintessential 1980s dad and whose family is caught in a mystery unfolding around them.
“It’s been quite a decade-long ride,” Chrest said. “Looking back to standing up on the stage at Old Main, I couldn’t have imagined it would lead to all this. What a strange trip it’s been.”
Chrest had his own journey in the 1980s as a Marshall student. He acted in multiple student productions, including “Camelot,” “See How They Run,” “The Shadow Box” and “THE HOT L BALTIMORE.”
Looking back on his time at Marshall, Chrest spoke highly of his mentor, Dr. N.B. East, former chair of the theatre department. He also admired his good friends Craig Johnson, author of the “Longmire” series, Dan Henthorn and Ed Heaberlin.
“East was definitely my most trusted mentor,” Chrest said. “I was also so blessed to have so many talented peers to watch and learn from. Dan is one of my best friends to this day, and Ed was such a passionate and talented artist.”
Chrest, a native of St. Albans, West Virginia, visits the Mountain State often to see family — and to track down a West Virginia hot dog. His favorites include the Hinton Dairy Queen, Trivillian’s Pharmacy and Soda Fountain in Kanawha City and Stewart’s Hot Dogs in Huntington. Though, his current “top dog” is Bammy’s Chili Dogs in St. Albans.
“The more you travel, the more you come to appreciate the West Virginia hot dog. I could make a whole tour of my favorite dog spots,” he joked.
In addition to Chrest’s role in “Stranger Things,” he has appeared in major films such as “21 Jump Street,” “22 Jump Street,” “Ant-Man,” “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” and “Killers of the Flower Moon,” along with dozens of other television and film productions.
He is also an adjunct professor at the School of Theatre in Louisiana State University’s College of Music and Dramatic Arts. Chrest received his Master of Fine Arts from Louisiana State in the late 1980s.
Chrest said he enjoys helping young artists develop their passions and is grateful to Dr. Kristin Sosnowsky, executive associate dean of Louisiana State’s College of Music and Dramatic Arts, for allowing him to balance his teaching responsibilities with his professional career.
“She recognized the importance of working with someone who has not just done it but is currently out there in the professional world,” he said.
Chrest said he emphasizes to his students that success extends beyond talent. He encourages them to prioritize preparation, discipline, hard work and a positive attitude, often sharing lessons he learned from coaching giants Nick Saban, a fellow West Virginian, and the late John Wooden. For Chrest, being a successful professional also means being the kind of colleague who makes others want to show up and do their best.
Highlighting his role as grand marshal, Chrest will lead the Homecoming parade at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, and will be recognized on the field Saturday, Sept. 26, during Marshall’s football game against Gardner-Webb University. The Homecoming theme, “’80s Echoes: Come Back Curious,” celebrates Chrest’s time at Marshall and the 1980s mysteries often referenced in “Stranger Things.”
“I’m excited,” he said. “Go Herd!”
Homecoming week kicks off Monday, Sept. 21. To learn more about Homecoming and scheduled events, visit https://www.formarshallu.org/homecoming/.