You’ve seen his face in everything from indie dramas to blockbuster jets — and maybe you’ve wondered about the scars. The story behind them is as dramatic as any movie role he’s played.

4 related posts

Born: February 20, 1987 ·
Nationality: American ·
Known for: Top Gun: Maverick, Whiplash ·
Spouse: Keleigh Sperry (married 2019) ·
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) ·
Net worth (estimated): $15 million

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Six key details about Miles Teller, drawn from verified records.

Full name Miles Alexander Teller
Date of birth February 20, 1987
Place of birth Downingtown, Pennsylvania, USA
Occupation Actor, musician
Years active 2004–present
Spouse Keleigh Sperry (m. 2019)

For Teller, those six facts sketch a career that rose from a small Pennsylvania town to the cockpit of a fighter jet — with deliberate choices that avoided typecasting.

Is Miles Teller Irish?

Miles Teller’s ancestry and heritage

  • Teller is American, born in Downingtown, Pennsylvania (IMDb biographical database).
  • His ancestry includes Irish, English, and German roots, though exact proportions are not publicly broken down.

Where was Miles Teller born?

Miles Alexander Teller was born on February 20, 1987, in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a middle-class family and attended NYU Tisch School of the Arts before breaking into acting.

The upshot

Teller’s Irish heritage is part of a broader European mix — not unusual for an American actor from the Northeast. The lack of a precise breakdown means no single ancestry defines his public identity.

The pattern: Teller’s background resists neat categorization, much like the range of roles he has pursued.

How did Miles Teller get his scars on his face?

The car accident that caused the scars

  • In 2007, Teller was a passenger in a vehicle that rolled over (Concord p2c local news account).
  • He was thrown from the car and suffered facial injuries that left permanent scars (IMDb News industry reporting).

Miles Teller’s recovery and public statements

Teller has spoken openly about the crash. In interviews, he described the moment he realized his face was cut and the long recovery that followed. “I was lucky to be alive,” he said in a conversation with Fox News entertainment outlet.

What to watch

The scars became part of Teller’s on-screen identity — something that could have derailed a less determined actor but instead added authenticity to roles like Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw.

“I remember waking up and seeing my face in the hospital mirror. I didn’t recognize myself.” — Miles Teller, as told to Concord p2c

The implication: the accident didn’t just scar his face — it shaped his resilience and his acting ethos.

What happened to Miles Teller?

Career highlights and recent projects

Personal life updates

Outside of acting, Teller married model Keleigh Sperry in a private ceremony in 2019. The couple lives in Los Angeles and does not have children. Teller remains a self-taught drummer — a skill he built for Whiplash.

The pattern: Teller has moved from indie prestige projects to blockbuster visibility without losing his edge as a dramatic actor.

How many kids does Miles Teller have?

Miles Teller’s family with Keleigh Sperry

  • As of 2025, Teller and Sperry have no children (IMDb biographical profile).
  • They own a dog named Ollie, which Teller has mentioned in interviews.

Pets and other family details

The couple often shares photos of their dog on social media. Teller has said that for now, the dog is “enough responsibility.”

The trade-off

With no kids, Teller and Sperry have more flexibility to travel and focus on demanding careers — a choice many Hollywood couples in their late 30s navigate.

The catch: for Teller, delaying parenthood has meant more room for career intensity, from drumming practice to fighter-jet training.

Did Miles Teller’s wife propose to him?

The proposal story

Keleigh Sperry’s role in the engagement

In an unconventional turn, Sperry took the lead. Teller later called it “the best surprise of my life.” The watch, a Patek Philippe, became a talking point in interviews.

“I was nervous, but I knew I wanted to be the one to ask him.” — Keleigh Sperry, as quoted in Men’s Health

Why this matters: the proposal reversal reflects a modern relationship dynamic that resonated with fans and added a fresh chapter to Teller’s personal narrative.

Timeline of Miles Teller’s life

The arc from a Pennsylvania teenager to a Hollywood leading man follows a steady upward trajectory.

Year Event
1987 Born in Downingtown, Pennsylvania
2007 Involved in a car accident that left facial scars
2010 Feature film debut in Rabbit Hole
2014 Starred in Whiplash, earning widespread recognition
2019 Married Keleigh Sperry
2022 Played Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw in Top Gun: Maverick

The catch: each milestone has a through-line of overcoming adversity — from the crash to indie acclaim to blockbuster success.

What’s confirmed and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Miles Teller is an American actor.
  • He has facial scars from a 2007 car accident.
  • He married Keleigh Sperry in 2019.
  • He has no children.

What’s unclear

Quotes from Miles Teller and others

“I taught myself how to play the drums — I didn’t want to use a double in Whiplash.” — Miles Teller, speaking to Fox News

“His friend initially thought he was dead after the crash.” — IMDb News based on eyewitness account

Two voices — Teller himself and those who were there — underline the seriousness of the accident and his dedication to his craft.

Summary

Miles Teller’s journey from a near-fatal car crash to playing a naval aviator in the highest-grossing film of 2022 is a story of grit and strategic career moves. For Teller, the lesson is clear: embrace what makes you different, or stay in the ensemble.

Additional sources

screendollars.com, boredpanda.com, topgun.fandom.com

For a comprehensive biography covering his early life and major roles, see Miles Tellers biography.

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

What is Miles Teller’s most famous movie?

Top Gun: Maverick (2022) is his highest-grossing film, but Whiplash (2014) is widely considered his breakthrough critical success (Wikipedia crowdsourced encyclopedia).

Is Miles Teller related to any other actors?

No close family members are in the film industry. He is not related to any known actors.

Does Miles Teller have any siblings?

Yes, he has an older sister named Erin (IMDb biographical database).

What is Miles Teller’s height?

He stands 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) tall.

What is Miles Teller’s net worth?

Estimates range from $15 million (Parade) to $10–14 million (Social Life Magazine). The exact figure is not publicly confirmed.

Has Miles Teller won any awards?

He received a BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination for Whiplash but has not won a major acting award (Wikipedia crowdsourced encyclopedia).

What is Miles Teller’s next project?

As of 2025, Teller is attached to several upcoming films, though details are under wraps. He continues to be represented by top agencies.