Keith, portrayed by Matty Cardarople, is a recurring character in the second and third season of Stranger Things.

Keith was previously an employee at the Palace Arcade in 1984, but later worked at Family Video nearly a year later.

History

Keith attended Hawkins High School along with Steve Harrington, Nancy Wheeler, and Robin Buckley. He harbored a crush on Nancy while harboring resentment towards Steve due to his douche-like nature throughout high school, meaning he was possibly a victim of Steve's bullying.

1984

While the Party watches Dustin fail to play Dragon's Lair, Dustin comments that despite the loss, he is still on the top score on Centipede and Dig Dug. Just then, Keith says if he's sure about that while he smugly eats Cheetos. Dustin checks out Dig Dug and Centipede to find that his scores have been beaten by a player called "MADMAX". When Dustin asks who the player is, Keith simply says, "Better than you.", causing Dustin to flip him off. As the boys try to get an answer out of him, Keith says he'll reveal it in exchange for a date with Mike's sister Nancy, though Mike denies the offer. Dustin agrees, saying Keith will spread his "nasty-ass rash" (his acne) to his family, causing Keith to call Dustin a "wastoid" and have an argument with him.^[1]

When Lucas Sinclair needed to talk to Max alone, Keith helped arrange the meeting by putting a broken sign over Dig Dug and lying to Max that he has a spare game in the backroom in exchange for Lucas getting him a date with Nancy.^[2]

1985

By October of 1985, Keith now worked at Family Video right near the Arcade. One day, Robin and Steve apply to work there. When being interviewed by Keith, he asks each of them their three favorite movies, to which Robin answers successfully while Steve does not. Keith then hires Robin to start working Monday while Steve fails. Robin tells Steve to back away so she can talk to Keith privately, which he reluctantly does. Though Keith still holds animosity towards Steve for his former douchebaggery, Robin says having Steve work there will bring ladies into the store, and Keith could benefit from it. Fully convinced, Keith then asks if Robin has a thing for him, to which she confirms they're just best friends. The two then watch as Steve trips over a Phoebe Cates cutout and says his favorite movie is Fast Times at Ridgemont High.^[3]

1986

In 1986, Keith was confirmed to still be working at Family Video via Robin telling Max and Dustin they can utilize Keith's phone in the back room if they need it. Following Vecna's plan causing an "earthquake" that claimed several lives in Hawkins, Keith's status is unknown as he is not seen again.

1987 (possibly)

In a Target commercial, Keith was shown to be alive and working at Target, although this is likely not intended to be canon.

Personality

Keith is an acquaintance of the boys; despite being much younger than them, he often verbally spars with them, trading juvenile insults back and forth. He talks very slowly with a monotone and laidback cadence, even in the aforementioned moments when he is teasing the boys or defending himself from them. Keith is a fan of video games and movies and followed career paths based on these interests. He worked at the Palace Arcade before moving onto Family Video, where he demonstrated his love for film by asking Steve and Robin their favorites as a test on whether or not he should hire them. Much like the boys, he appears to hold Star Wars in particularly high regard and was visibly annoyed when Steve could not recount the plot of one of the films in the series.

Keith isn't conventionally attractive but tries pushing his luck trying to get Mike Wheeler to set him up on a date with Nancy, even going to the lengths of helping Lucas trick Max to get in a room with him to inform her on the events of the previous year. Keith is also seen snacking very frequently and is often eating bags of chips during conversations.

Memorable Quotes

• "You know I despise Dig Dug..."
• "Acne isn't a rash, and it isn't contagious you prepubescent wastoid."
• "Eyes on me, Harrington."
• "Just keep it PG..."
• (Dustin: "Who's MADMAX?") "Better than you."
• "Thanks for sharing. Didn't know.
• "He's a douchebag of the highest order, Robin." - Keith to Robin about Steve.
• "Three favorite movies. Go".

Appearances

Stranger Things appearances

Season 2 MADMAX Trick or Treat, Freak The Pollywog Will the Wise Dig Dug The Spy The Lost Sister The Mind Flayer The Gate Season 3 Suzie, Do You Copy? The Mall Rats The Case of the Missing Lifeguard The Sauna Test The Flayed E Pluribus Unum The Bite The Battle of Starcourt Season 5 The Crawl The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler The Turnbow Trap Sorcerer Shock Jock Escape From Camazotz The Bridge The Rightside Up

Video games

Video game appearances

Dedicated games Stranger Things: The Game Stranger Things 3: The Game Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales Stranger Things: The VR Experience Stranger Things VR Crossovers/DLC Dead by Daylight Fortnite Smite Roblox The Vanishing

Gallery

For this subject's gallery, see Keith/Gallery.

References

Characters in Stranger Things
Main "The Party" Will Byers • Eleven • Dustin Henderson • Max Mayfield • Lucas Sinclair • Mike Wheeler Hawkins High/Hawkins Middle/Hawkins Elementary Robin Buckley • Jonathan Byers • Vickie Dunne • Billy Hargrove • Steve Harrington • Eddie Munson • Erica Sinclair • Derek Turnbow • Holly Wheeler • Nancy Wheeler Adults Robert Akers • Murray Bauman • Martin Brenner • Joyce Byers • Jim Hopper • Dr. Kay • Bob Newby • Sam Owens • Vecna • Karen Wheeler Other Argyle • Eight/Kali Prasad
Non-main See also: Minor Characters Hawkins High/Hawkins Middle/Hawkins Elementary Stacey Albright • Benji • Fred Benson • Scott Clarke • Russell Coleman • Jason Carver • Chance • Chrissy Cunningham • James Dante • Freak 1 • Gareth • Glenn • Joshua Gunn • Tommy H • Thomas Hall • Andy Harper • Jennifer Hayes • Jeremy Higgins • Barbara Holland • Heather Holloway • Jeff • Marsha Kelley • Ashley Klein • Mary • Patrick McKinney • Debbie Miller • Nicole • Carol Perkins • Rebecca • Roger • Doug Teague • Tammy Thompson • Tina Turnbow • Troy Walsh • Valerie • Wendy Hawkins P.D. Phil Callahan • Glenn Daniels • Florence • Calvin Powell Hawkins Lab Dr. Ellis • Connie Frazier • Shepard • Elevator Scientist • Lead Scientist • Lead Agent • Nerdy Tech • Agent Repairman • Hawkins Head of Security Two • Three • Four • Five • Six • Ten • Test Subjects Hawkins Alice Creel • Virginia Creel • Laura Cunningham • Phillip Cunningham • Doris Driscoll • Benny Hammond • Neil Hargrove • Susan Hargrove • Claudia Henderson • Dale • Earl • Gary • Marsha Holland • Mr. Holland • Henry • Janet Holloway • Tom Holloway • Keith • Larry Kline • Bruce Lowe • Marissa • Eugene McCorkle • Mews • Donald Melvald • Wayne Munson • David O'Bannon • Charles Sinclair • Sue Sinclair • Ken Turnbow • Mrs. Turnbow • Mrs. Walsh • Brenda Wood • Ted Wheeler • Merrill Wright California Angela • Billy's mother • Jake USA Axel • Eden Bingham • Mr. Bingham • Bingham Siblings • Lonnie Byers • Victor Creel • Cynthia • Diane • Dottie • Funshine • Anthony Hatch • Sara Hopper • Becky Ives • Terry Ives • Mick • Cathy Owens • Luis Ramirez • Jack Sullivan Soviet Union Alexei • Dmitri Antonov • Grigori • Yuri Ismaylov • Ivan • Warden Melnikov • Oleg • Ozerov • Russian Agent • Russian Scientist • Stepanov • Dr. Zharkov