ACTOR Chase Stokes had minor roles in the TV series Stranger Things, Daytime Divas, and Tell Me Your Secrets, but he is best known for playing John B. Rutledge in a hit action-adventure teen drama series.
Despite his starring role in Netflix's Outer Banks, the actor has had a rocky road to stardom, even taking a brief hiatus from social media, before ultimately finding his footing as one of Hollywood's rising stars.
Who is Chase Stokes?
Chase Stokes, whose full name is James Alexander Chase Stokes, is an actor best known for his starring role as John B in Outer Banks.
Stokes started his acting career by landing small roles and appearing in shows including Stranger Things, Daytime Divas, and The First.
He's also set to star alongside Joey King in the science fiction action-fantasy film, The Uglies, based on Scott Westerfeld's novel of the same name.
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The movie was shot back in 2021, and is rumored to be released by Netflix in late 2024.
Stokes attended high school in Florida and graduated from Valencia College.
He also briefly attended the University of Central Florida and Seminole State College.
Despite wanting to be an ice hockey player, Stokes spent most of his free time surfing on the eastern shore.
He would often visit his grandparents in Maryland, where they would go boating.
It is something that Stokes said helped him when he joined the cast of Outer Banks.
“I’m a water child. I grew up all along the eastern shore, I spent my time surfing” Stokes told Refinery29.
“My grandparents lived on the eastern shore in Maryland, and there is a huge boating community there, so I’ve grown up on boats, I’ve grown up driving boats."
"I didn’t tell any of the creators [of Outer Banks] this when I was cast: When we were in Charleston [where the show filmed], I reached in my wallet and pulled out my boating license."
"They were like ‘Great, that makes everything a lot easier.’”
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Did Chase Stokes turn down the role in Outer Banks?
When Stokes was offered the role in Outer Banks, he initially turned down the offer before ultimately accepting.
John B became his breakout role, making him a household name and leading him to other acting opportunities.
"The first time I got the audition it was the most bland email I’ve ever got," Stokes told Barstool Sports' Chicks in the Office in 2020.
"It was four friends on a treasure hunt, Netflix, and the character’s name was John B. So I was like, 'This is f***ing Goonies. It’s a Goonies reboot.'"
"I said no, I don’t want to touch a piece of iconic cinema and destroy it. I was like that’s my worst nightmare is doing a bad reboot."
However, when Stokes was finally sent the script months later, he realized he had made a mistake.
"I read the pilot and I’m like 'Oh my god, this is not The Goonies. I screwed this up so bad.'"
At that time, Rudy Pankow was being considered for the role of John B but was ultimately cast as the character's best friend JJ, and Stokes landed the John B role.
Why did Chase Stokes receive death threats in March 2022?
Stokes started receiving death threats and negative messages on social media in March 2022 after he posted a photo with his little sister Rylie.
His followers allegedly mistook his sister for a new relationship.
Their responses prompted Stokes to step back from social media.
"The fact that I can’t post a picture with my baby sister without death threats is just f***ing absurd,” Stokes wrote in an Instagram post.
“Get a grip," he added.
"Family always comes first and at the end of the day if you don’t know my sister and have the audacity to send me horrific messages then just go ahead and click that unfollow.”
After stepping away from his social media accounts, Stokes cut his hiatus short and returned with a message to those who had forced him off.
He returned to Instagram on April 30, 2022, and filmed a short Instagram Story to share his thoughts.
“Look, I’ve had some time to think about things and I’ve come to a realization that the Internet can be a s**tty place, it can."
"But it also can be an awesome place and I’m very fortunate to have a platform of a lot of incredible people who have decided to follow along on my journey."
“You know what? I’m not gonna let the s**tty stuff be definitive of taking away those who decided to follow along and brought some joy in my life.”
Does Chase Stokes have a girlfriend?
In January 2023, Chase Stokes began dating Kelsea Ballerini.
Social media activity between Chase and Kelsea initially sparked rumors of a relationship between them.
Back on January 13, 2023, Chase uploaded an Instagram carousel post that featured a picture of him and Kelsea intimately seated together at a football game.
Chase's post was captioned: "Lil recap".
Kelsea commented on his post saying: "Go vols" with an emoji of a monkey covering its eyes.
A few hours later, Kelsea posted her own Instagram carousel which included one picture that she tagged Chase as the photographer.
The duo finally confirmed their relationship when Kelsea (and Chase!) appeared on the hit podcast series, Call Her Daddy.
On November 29, 2023, host Alex Cooper asked Kelsea: "You are currently dating Chase Stokes?"
Kelsea confirmed the rumors, responding to Cooper with: "I am."
Kelsea also revealed that a few weeks prior to filming the Call Her Daddy episode, her and her beau had gotten matching tattoos.
The couple, whose birthdays are just four days apart, are both Virgos, and the singer confirmed that they both "have little Virgos."
She gushed about her relationship, telling Cooper: "[Chase] and I have really allowed ourselves to love that part of ourselves and each other: just the need to communicate well and be loyal.”
Kelsea also gave fans some more insights into how the couple met, saying she "slid into his DMs" on December 1, 2022.
After weeks of texting and talking to each other on the phone, the two met on January 7, 2023 – which they both consider their anniversary.
She reminisced on how the two first met, saying: "He hopped out of his Bronco and he did not say a word to me."
"He grabbed my face and he kissed me, and he pulled my face away, and he was like, ‘Thank god you’re real.’ And I was like, ‘Oh.’”
On Monday, May 6, 2024, the duo proved their relationship was stronger than ever by attending the Met Gala together.
Kelsea stunned in a pink and sheer floral gown, while Stokes stood out by attending fashion's big night out decked out in a black sequin suit, Loree Rodkin jewelry, and forgoing a shirt underneath his suit.
Kelsea was previously married to country star Morgan Evans, but they officially divorced in November 2022.
Prior to Chase's current relationship with Kelsea, he was in a relationship with actress Madelyn Cline.
Chase and Madelyn met in April 2019 after being cast on Outer Banks.
They confirmed their relationship in 2020, but reportedly separated in December 2021.
