Drew Starkey Shares He Cried the Most on His Final Day of ‘Outer Banks’

Drew Starkey has dedicated seven years to portraying Rafe Cameron, the most complex antagonist-turned-antihero of the Netflix teen drama, witnessing the character’s transformation from villain to a more nuanced figure over five seasons. As ‘Outer Banks’ nears its final season, Starkey has opened up about the emotional experience of concluding the show.

His candidness first emerged during a late-July appearance on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,’ where Starkey described the last months of filming as surprisingly calm. He initially thought he was managing the show’s conclusion well until the moment he wrapped his final scene.

Once that scene was complete, he experienced an overwhelming wave of emotion, stating he cried continuously for two hours afterward, with crew members checking in on him.

In a recent interview with GQ, Starkey elaborated on that final day, revealing how profoundly it impacted him compared to his fellow cast and crew. He reflected on his time on the show, saying, “I’ve loved, loved, loved my experience on that show,” and admitted he was a mess on his last day, feeling guilty for not expressing more emotion leading up to it.

Starkey initially reassured himself that he was glad the show was concluding, but that composure shattered the moment they yelled cut. He described the sudden shift as overwhelming, noting that he believes he cried more than anyone else involved in the production.

Starkey’s journey with ‘Outer Banks’ began with the show’s premiere in April 2020, when he was just 25 years old, playing a character who started as one of the series’ most straightforward villains. Over five seasons, Rafe underwent significant evolution, and Starkey has previously credited this evolving relationship with the character and the genuine friendships with his castmates for why the ending affected him more than he expected.

This emotional depth aligns with Starkey’s view of the cast and crew, whom he considers his best friends, framing the entire experience as one of the most meaningful periods of his career. Now at 32, he reflects on how strange it is to realize how much time has passed since he first joined the series as a younger actor.

‘Outer Banks’ Season 5 is set to premiere on Netflix on August 20, marking the conclusion of the saga surrounding the Pogues and the treasure-hunting mysteries that have defined the series since its inception. For fans who have followed Rafe’s intricate journey throughout the series, Starkey’s heartfelt reflections provide a poignant conclusion to a character that has evolved far beyond his initial villainous portrayal.

With the final season just around the corner, Starkey’s insights add a layer of emotional resonance to how viewers might experience Rafe’s story as it reaches its conclusion. Knowing the actor’s deep investment in saying goodbye suggests that the finale will carry significant weight behind the scenes, beyond the show’s fictional stakes.

For a series that has centered its identity around treasure, mystery, and a tightly-knit group of friends, it seems fitting that its conclusion left a strong impression on those who created it, just as it is likely to resonate with the fans who have followed it for seven years.

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