If your teen is obsessed with Drew Starkey, they likely know him as Rafe Cameron, the volatile, country-club-gone-wrong villain of Outer Banks. But while the beach-blonde chaos of Netflix is what made him famous, his career is currently doing a hard pivot into heavy-hitting R-rated territory that is definitely not for the PG-13 crowd.
TL;DR: Drew Starkey is a massive draw for the Outer Banks fanbase, but his newer roles in films like Queer and the Hellraiser reboot signal a shift toward mature, intense, and often graphic content. If your kid is following him from the Pogues' world into his newer projects, you're moving from teen soap drama to adult prestige cinema and hard-R horror. For a safer bet, check out The Other Zoey.
For most parents, the Drew Starkey conversation starts and ends with Outer Banks. In that show, he plays Rafe, a character who is, quite frankly, a dumpster fire of a human being. He’s the "Kook" who makes every bad decision possible, yet Starkey’s performance is so magnetic that he’s arguably the most popular person in the cast.
It’s a classic case of the "bad boy" appeal, but Starkey plays it with a level of genuine intensity and mental-health nuance that makes the character feel more dangerous than a typical teen show antagonist. The show itself is the gold standard for high schoolers right now — it’s sun-drenched, action-packed, and sits comfortably in that older-middle-school to high-school sweet spot.
As of today, August 2, 2026, the fifth and final season of Outer Banks is the big thing on the horizon. It’s set to drop later this year or early next, and based on how the last season wrapped, Starkey is expected to be at the center of the series' conclusion. Fans are already bracing for what will likely be a high-stakes, emotional end for his character.
If your teen is looking for "more Drew Starkey" outside of the beach, this is where you need to pay attention. Starkey isn't interested in being just another YA heartthrob. He recently starred in Queer, a prestige film directed by Luca Guadagnino (the guy who did Call Me By Your Name).
This is a massive departure. It’s an R-rated, sexually explicit, and psychologically heavy film based on a William S. Burroughs novel. It’s the kind of movie that gets Oscar buzz but would make for an incredibly awkward family movie night. If your 14-year-old is trying to track this one down because they love Rafe Cameron, they’re going to see a side of the actor (and a level of graphic content) they aren't prepared for.
Before the prestige pivot, Starkey also dipped his toes into hard horror with the 2022 Hellraiser reboot. This isn't "scary-fun" horror like Stranger Things; it’s "visceral-body-horror" Hellraiser.
If your kid is a horror fan, they’ve probably already seen it, but if they are only watching it because "the guy from OBX is in it," they should be warned that it’s heavy on the gore and the "disturbing imagery" side of the genre. It’s a solid movie, but it earns its R rating within the first ten minutes.
If you want to support your kid's interest in the actor without jumping into the deep end of R-rated cinema, there is a middle ground.
This is a standard-issue, charming rom-com where Starkey plays the romantic lead. It’s essentially the polar opposite of his role in Outer Banks. It’s light, it’s Rated PG-13, and it’s the kind of movie that fits perfectly into a sleepover rotation. It proves he can do the "nice guy" thing just as well as the "unhinged villain" thing.
Starkey has a smaller role here, but it’s a high-value movie for any teen to watch. It’s a heavy, important story about social justice and police brutality. It’s a great example of him choosing projects with weight, even early in his career.
The "problem" with Drew Starkey isn't the actor himself — he’s a professional, talented guy who stays out of the tabloids. The friction point is the Rafe Cameron fandom.
Rafe is a character who does terrible things (including murder and betrayal), yet there is a massive corner of the internet that "stans" him. This is a great opening for a conversation with your teen about separating the actor from the character.
Ask them: "Why do you think people root for Rafe even when he’s being awful?" It’s a way to talk about how charismatic acting can make us sympathize with people we’d avoid in real life. It’s also a good time to mention that just because an actor is in a "teen show" doesn't mean their entire filmography is for teens.
Q: Is Outer Banks Season 5 okay for my 13-year-old? If they’ve seen the first four seasons, they know the drill. It’s PG-13 for violence, some drug use, and language, but it stays within the bounds of YA fiction. The final season is expected to be the most intense yet, so keep an eye on the "Rafe" storylines, which tend to be the darkest.
Q: What is Drew Starkey's most kid-friendly role? The Other Zoey is the winner here. It’s a sweet, largely harmless romantic comedy that avoids the gritty violence of his other work.
Q: Should I let my teen watch the movie Queer? It’s a hard R. Unless your teen is a serious film student who can handle graphic sexual content and heavy drug themes, this is one to skip until they’re older. It’s a world away from the "treasure hunt" vibes of his Netflix work.
Drew Starkey is a generational talent who is outgrowing the "teen star" label faster than most. He’s transitioning into an adult actor who takes big, risky roles. If your kid is a fan, let them enjoy the Outer Banks ride, but maybe put a "check with me first" rule on his R-rated filmography.
For more context on what your teen is watching, check out our digital guide for high schoolers or browse the best shows for kids.
