Anyone who watched Stranger Things season 2 probably remembers Billy Hargrove — the mullet, the muscle car, the character you loved to hate. The actor behind him, Dacre Montgomery, has been the subject of online speculation ever since his character’s death in season 3.
Born: 22 November 1994 ·
Birthplace: Perth, Western Australia ·
Known for: Billy Hargrove in Stranger Things ·
Major film: Jason in Power Rangers (2017)
Quick snapshot
- Billy Hargrove in Stranger Things (IMDb)
- Jason in Power Rangers (2017) (IMDb)
- Later film roles include Faces of Death (Popcorn Podcast interview)
- Continued acting after Stranger Things (Deadline)
- Official Instagram and TikTok accounts (Instagram)
- Rumored Hollywood exit not confirmed (The Guardian)
- Often compared to Zac Efron (Regina Today 24)
- No family relationship confirmed (Wikipedia)
- Use this context to debunk confusion (UNI India)
The key facts table below captures Montgomery’s core biography at a glance.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Dacre Kayd Montgomery-Harvey |
| Born | 22 November 1994 |
| Birthplace | Perth, Western Australia |
| Known role | Billy Hargrove in Stranger Things |
| Major film | Power Rangers (2017) |
| Reported height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
Does Dacre Montgomery have a wife?
No mainstream or official source confirms a wife. A 2025 article from CivicPost (local entertainment outlet) claimed Montgomery had been married to Liv Pollock since 2022, but the same source later updated its reporting inconsistently. Another outlet, Regina Today 24 (regional news site), stated he has not publicly confirmed any relationship. The discrepancy means neither claim is reliable.
Montgomery keeps his private life guarded. The absence of a confirmed spouse is not proof of a secret marriage — but it also isn’t proof that he’s single. Readers should treat any 2025 claims about a wife as unverified.
Is Dacre Montgomery married?
- No marriage certificate, public announcement, or credible media report has surfaced.
- The only named partner linked to him is Liv Pollock, but multiple sources disagree on the nature of the relationship.
What is Dacre Montgomery’s relationship status?
Without a direct statement from Montgomery or a verified source, his relationship status remains private. The Wikipedia entry (community-curated biography) notes that he is “publicly linked to Liv Pollock” but does not confirm marriage.
What this means: The safest answer: no public confirmation of a wife exists. Any claim otherwise is based on low-confidence sources.
What happened with Dacre Montgomery?
Montgomery is an Australian actor born in Perth in 1994. He began acting in short films as a teenager. His recent social posts and trailers point to active projects, including Faces of Death. Avoid framing his absence from Stranger Things as a complete Hollywood exit.
Is Dacre Montgomery still acting?
Yes. In August 2025, Deadline (industry-leading trade publication) reported that Montgomery is making a return to the screen after a break. He has upcoming projects including Dead Man’s Wire with Bill Skarsgård, Al Pacino, Colman Domingo, and Myha’la, and is set to make his directorial debut with The Engagement Party.
What is Dacre Montgomery doing now?
In 2025, Montgomery told Popcorn Podcast (entertainment interview channel) that he stepped away from the industry for “quite some time” because he felt he needed to protect himself. Variety (leading entertainment news source) confirmed he spent the last six or seven years focusing on his craft with only a few projects.
Montgomery’s career is not over — it’s evolving. The narrative of “quitting Hollywood” ignores the deliberate, strategic break he took to protect his well-being and return on his own terms.
The pattern: Montgomery didn’t disappear; he recalibrated. His upcoming film slate proves the industry hasn’t moved on without him.
Is Zac Efron related to Dacre Montgomery?
No evidence shows a family relationship between Montgomery and Efron. Their facial similarity is the likely reason the question circulates. If the diagnosis question is addressed, state that no credible source links a diagnosis to Montgomery.
Are Dacre Montgomery and Zac Efron brothers?
- They are not brothers, half-brothers, or any known relation. Wikipedia (collective encyclopedia) lists no family ties to Efron.
- Both actors have similar blonde hair, blue eyes, and bone structure, fueling online confusion.
Why do people confuse Dacre Montgomery with Zac Efron?
Side-by-side images of the two actors often go viral. UNI India (news syndicate) noted that Montgomery’s lookalike status is a recurring topic in fan discussions. However, the resemblance is only visual.
What is Zac Efron diagnosed with?
This question is unrelated to Montgomery. No credible source links any medical diagnosis for Zac Efron to Dacre Montgomery. The topic is a common search red herring.
The trade-off: The lookalike rumor drives clicks but has no factual basis. For readers, the takeaway is straightforward: Montgomery and Efron are not related.
Why did Dacre Montgomery, aka Billy Hargrove, leave Hollywood after Stranger Things?
Billy Hargrove died in Stranger Things season 3. Montgomery’s character exit reflects a script decision, not a confirmed public rift. Montgomery continued working after Stranger Things, so the “left Hollywood” claim is not supported by his filmography.
Why did Dacre leave Stranger Things?
Show creators decided to kill off Billy Hargrove at the end of season 3. The Guardian (respected UK newspaper) reported that Montgomery “retreated from stardom” after the show, but that was a personal choice, not an expulsion from the industry.
Which Stranger Things actor quit?
No actor publicly “quit” in a dramatic sense. IMDb News (industry database) ran an item about Montgomery’s career break, but the headline “left Hollywood” is misleading. He continued taking roles, including The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020) and Faces of Death.
Did Dacre Montgomery quit acting?
No. He took a deliberate break, as he explained to E! News (entertainment channel) in 2025. His upcoming film Dead Man’s Wire and directorial debut confirm he is active.
The implication: The “quit” narrative confuses a character’s death with the actor’s personal career decisions. Montgomery’s break was a choice, not a consequence.
Are Dacre Montgomery and Millie Bobby Brown friends?
Montgomery and Brown co-starred in Stranger Things seasons 2 and 3. There is no verified public source proving a close off-screen friendship.
Do the Stranger Things cast members stay in touch?
Cast members have occasionally shared photos together on social media, but no public statement from either Montgomery or Brown describes a close friendship. Montgomery’s Instagram (official account) shows no dedicated posts about Brown.
Did Dacre Montgomery and Millie Bobby Brown work together in Stranger Things?
Yes, they shared screen time in seasons 2 and 3, most notably in the Hawkins pool confrontation. However, their on-screen dynamic was adversarial.
What this means: Professional co-stars, not necessarily close friends. The question likely stems from fans wanting to see a warm relationship, but the evidence doesn’t support it.
Comparison: Montgomery’s key roles
Three roles, one pattern: each character pushed Montgomery into a different spotlight, but the arc from Billy Hargrove to his current projects shows a deliberate shift in career strategy.
| Character | Production | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Jason Scott (Red Ranger) | Power Rangers | 2017 |
| Billy Hargrove | Stranger Things seasons 2–3 | 2017–2019 |
| Lead role | Faces of Death | Upcoming |
The trade-off: Blockbuster franchise fame gave him financial freedom to take a break; now he returns with more selective, high-profile projects.
Timeline: Dacre Montgomery’s career
- 1994: Dacre Kayd Montgomery-Harvey born in Perth, Western Australia (Wikipedia).
- Teen years: Started acting in short films (Wikipedia).
- 2017: Played Jason in Power Rangers (IMDb).
- 2017: Joined Stranger Things season 2 as Billy Hargrove (IMDb).
- 2019: Billy Hargrove’s arc ended in season 3 (The Guardian).
- 2020: Appeared in The Broken Hearts Gallery (IMDb).
- 2020s: Continued acting and promoted projects including Faces of Death and Dead Man’s Wire (Deadline).
Timeline signal: Montgomery’s career break runs from 2020 to 2025 — a six-year gap he used to protect his well-being, not a permanent exit.
What’s confirmed and what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Born 22 November 1994 in Perth, Western Australia (Wikipedia).
- Full name is Dacre Kayd Montgomery-Harvey (Wikipedia).
- Played Billy Hargrove in Stranger Things and Jason in Power Rangers (IMDb).
- Continued acting after Stranger Things; examples include The Broken Hearts Gallery and Faces of Death (Deadline).
What’s unclear
- Whether Montgomery is married.
- Whether he intentionally left Hollywood (he took a break, but didn’t quit).
- Whether he and Millie Bobby Brown are close friends.
- Any medical diagnosis involving Zac Efron (unrelated to Montgomery).
“You may know me from STRANGER THINGS or POWER RANGERS. My new movie, FACES OF DEATH…”
— Dacre Montgomery, via Reddit AMA (first-person account)
“I stepped away from the industry for quite some time because I felt I needed to protect myself.”
— Dacre Montgomery, to Popcorn Podcast (interview channel)
Why these quotes matter: Montgomery’s own words confirm he chose a break, not a retirement. The Reddit AMA is a direct, unfiltered statement to fans.
Montgomery’s story is not about a fallen star — it’s about an actor who used the leverage of early success to step back, protect his mental health, and return with projects that matter to him. For fans wondering “what happened to Billy Hargrove’s actor,” the answer is clear: he’s still working, but on his own terms. For the Australian actor, the implication is clear: choose your break deliberately, or the industry will choose it for you.
Related reading: **Charles Melton: From Riverdale to May December & Fatherhood**
Frequently asked questions
What is Dacre Montgomery’s full name?
Dacre Kayd Montgomery-Harvey.
Is Dacre Montgomery Australian?
Yes, born in Perth, Western Australia.
Was Dacre Montgomery in the Power Rangers movie?
Yes, he played Jason Scott, the Red Ranger, in the 2017 Power Rangers film.
What character did Dacre Montgomery play in Stranger Things?
Billy Hargrove, the antagonistic older brother of Max Mayfield.
Does Dacre Montgomery have an Instagram account?
Yes, his official Instagram is @dacre.
How did Dacre Montgomery start acting?
He began acting in short films as a teenager before breaking into larger productions.
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Current, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.