Movie Stars
Joe Locke Bio: Family, Ancestry, Education, Boyfriend, Net Worth
Joe Locke, a British Gen Z TV actor from Isle of Man, is openly gay, is a college graduate, has a stepbrother: catch up with his full biography
Who is Joe Locke?
Joe Locke, whose real name is Joseph William Locke, is a British Gen Z television and theater actor from Douglas, Isle of Man. He’s best known for playing Charlie Spring in the Netflix series Heartstopper, which premiered in 2022. Joe was chosen from over 10,000 actors through an open casting call for the role.
Currently, Joe has 4 million followers on Instagram and 4.5 million on TikTok with 24.5 million likes. He’s become one of the most popular young actors on television and has expanded into theater and Marvel projects.
In 2024, Joe starred as Billy Maximoff/William Kaplan in the Marvel series Agatha All Along and played Tobias Ragg in the Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. He made his London West End debut in 2025 in the play Clarkston.
Profile Summary
- Real Name: Joseph William Locke
- Date of Birth: September 24, 2003 (Gen Z Creators Born in 2003)
- Age: 22 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Libra
- Place of Birth: Douglas, Isle of Man
- Nationality: British (Manx)
- Ethnicity: Manx (Celtic and Norse-influenced)
- Sexuality: Openly gay
- Current Residence: London, United Kingdom (also maintains ties to Los Angeles)
- Years Active: 2020 to present
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Family Life
Joe Locke was born on September 24, 2003, in Douglas, Isle of Man. The Isle of Man is a small self-governing island located between England and Ireland in the British Isles. Joe is one of very few actors from this small island. And, oh, his last name Locke has English, Dutch, and German roots, traced back to Northwestern and Central Europe.
His mother is Helen Locke, who works as a special needs teacher on the Isle of Man. His father runs a newsagent. Joe has a stepbrother named Dylan Goldie.
Cue into this: Growing up on the Isle of Man, Joe attended Ballakermeen High School. While in high school, he was already showing his passion for activism. He and three fellow students submitted a petition to government officials asking them to investigate welcoming Syrian refugees to the Isle of Man.
Joe studied politics, history, and English for his A-levels. In April 2022, he told ITV’s This Morning that he was still studying for his A-level exams while filming Heartstopper.
During his school years, Joe participated in local theater productions at the Gaiety Theatre and with the Kensington Art Centre’s youth group. He also took part in the 2020 National Theatre Connections program, which helped prepare him for his professional acting career.
Joe’s mom has said she sometimes finds his fame strange and overwhelming. People occasionally ask her for favors because of her son’s work, which has been an adjustment for their family.
Boyfriend
Joe Locke is openly gay and is dating his long-term boyfriend, Tobie Donovan. The two are in a relationship and have been public about their romance.
Joe first came out on Instagram when he was just 12 years old and told his mother he was gay. After realizing he was ready to be out to his family but not to the whole world yet, he deleted that Instagram post. He came out again publicly at age 15, during his freshman year of high school.
Joe has spoken a lot about his experiences being a young gay man from the Isle of Man. He’s talked about how his story parallels Charlie Spring’s story in Heartstopper, which helped him connect deeply with the role.
In August 2022, Joe made headlines when he called for the Isle of Man’s “archaic” blanket ban on gay men donating blood to be changed. He made this call in a video message played at the island’s annual pride celebration. Isle of Man Health Minister Lawrie Hooper announced shortly after that the government would change the rule.
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Height, Weight & Physical Appearance
- Height: 5 feet 9 inches tall (175 cm)
- Weight: 60 kg (132 lbs)
- Ethnicity: Manx (Celtic and Norse heritage)
- Hair Color: Dark brown/black
- Eye Color: Blue
- Body Type: Slim
Career Timeline
2020 Timeline: Theater Beginnings
Joe participated in the 2020 National Theatre Connections program and performed in productions at the Gaiety Theatre. He also worked with the Kensington Art Centre’s youth group, building his theater foundation.
2022 Timeline: Breakout Year
Joe made his official television debut in April 2022 with Heartstopper on Netflix. He was just 17 when filming began, playing 15-year-old Charlie Spring. Out of 10,000 actors who auditioned through an open casting call, Joe got the role.
Heartstopper became a massive hit, and Joe became an overnight sensation. He received a nomination for the inaugural Children’s and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Performance. He also got nominated for Rising Star at the National Television Awards.
That same year, Joe appeared in the play The Trials at the Donmar Warehouse in London, which earned him the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Professional Debut Performance in 2023.
2023 Timeline: Rising Star
Joe won the Queerty Award for Performance in TV for Heartstopper. The show’s second season came out, cementing his status as one of Gen Z’s most beloved actors. His Instagram and TikTok followings exploded, reaching millions of fans.
2024 Timeline: Marvel and Broadway
This was a huge year for Joe. He starred in Marvel’s Agatha All Along as Billy Maximoff/William Kaplan (also known as Wiccan). His character was initially referred to as “Teen” before the big reveal. The show ran for nine episodes on Disney+.
Joe also made his Broadway debut playing Tobias Ragg in the revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. He received a nomination for Favorite Replacement (Male) at the Broadway.com Audience Awards.
He appeared on The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off as a contestant. He also won the Queerty Award for Coming Out for Good.
2025 Timeline: West End and Awards
In September 2025, Joe made his London West End debut in the UK premiere of Clarkston by Samuel D. Hunter, playing the role of Jake at the Trafalgar Theatre.
In April 2025, it was announced that Joe would star in Heartstopper Forever, a feature-length film that will serve as the series finale. He will also executive produce the film, which is set for release in 2026.
Joe won the Human Rights Campaign Impact Award and the Newport Beach Film Festival Breakout Award. He was nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance at the Independent Spirit Awards and Best Young Performer at the Saturn Awards, both for Agatha All Along.
2026 Timeline: Film Debut
Joe will star in the film Black Church Bay as Jasper, his first major film role outside of Heartstopper Forever.
Net Worth
Joe Locke has an estimated net worth of $880k thousand. His money comes from his role in Heartstopper, his Marvel series Agatha All Along, Broadway salary from Sweeney Todd, West End theater work, brand partnerships, and social media sponsorships.
At just 22 years old, Joe has built an impressive career in a very short time, moving from a high school student on the Isle of Man to a recognized name in television and theater.
Follower Count: Here’s Joe’s social media numbers:
- Instagram: @joelocke03, 4 million followers
- TikTok: @joelocke03, 4.5 million followers, 24.5 million likes
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FAQ
What is Joe Locke’s real name? His real name is Joseph William Locke.
How old is Joe Locke? He’s 22 years old, born September 24, 2003.
Where is Joe Locke from? He’s from Douglas, Isle of Man, a small island between England and Ireland.
Is Joe Locke gay? Yes, Joe is openly gay. He first came out at age 12 and again publicly at age 15.
Who is Joe Locke’s boyfriend? He’s dating his long-term boyfriend, Tobie Donovan.
What is Joe Locke’s net worth? His net worth is estimated at $880k thousand.
How tall is Joe Locke? He’s 5 feet 9 inches tall (175 cm) and weighs 60 kg (132 lbs).
What is Joe Locke known for? He’s best known for playing Charlie Spring in Netflix’s Heartstopper and Billy Maximoff/William Kaplan in Marvel’s Agatha All Along.
Is Joe Locke on Broadway? Yes, he made his Broadway debut in 2024 in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Who is Joe Locke’s best friend? His best friend is Sebastian Croft, who also appeared in Heartstopper.
