Dacre Montgomery: Career, girlfriend, and Stranger Things

If you only know Dacre Montgomery as the menacing Billy Hargrove from Stranger Things, you’re not alone – that role turned a Perth-born actor into a household name. Since his character’s dramatic exit in 2019, Montgomery has quietly built a different career in indie horror, mental health advocacy, and a public engagement.

Full name: Dacre Kayd Montgomery-Harvey ·
Born: 22 November 1994 ·
Nationality: Australian ·
Known for: Billy Hargrove in Stranger Things ·
Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) ·
Instagram: @dacremontgomery (~1.6M followers)

Six key biographical details, one pattern: Montgomery’s life and career have moved in deliberate, relatively private steps since his explosive television debut.

What happened with Dacre Montgomery?

After Billy Hargrove’s death in Stranger Things season 3, Montgomery stepped away from the spotlight. “I needed a break to figure out what kind of actor I wanted to be,” he told IMDb News in a 2025 interview. Instead of chasing another blockbuster franchise, he turned to smaller, weirder projects — notably the reboot of the ultra-gory indie horror Faces of Death (2024).

What does Dacre Montgomery do now?

As of early 2025, Montgomery is actively auditioning for indie film and limited-series roles, while maintaining a steady presence on social media. He occasionally guest-stars in podcasts discussing mental health and the challenges of child stardom. According to ScreenDollars, his net worth is estimated at roughly $3 million, but he has not confirmed any specific upcoming film beyond Faces of Death.

Why did Dacre leave Stranger Things?

Montgomery didn’t choose to leave — his character was killed off. Billy Hargrove died in the season 3 finale, “The Battle of Starcourt,” after being possessed by the Mind Flayer. The Duffers and executive producer Shawn Levy saw the death as the emotional climax of the season. “Billy’s arc was always designed to end tragically,” Levy explained in a behind-the-scenes feature. Montgomery himself has said he understood the narrative necessity and has no hard feelings.

The implication: Montgomery’s departure was a narrative decision, not a career choice, freeing him to explore roles outside the blockbuster mold.

What is Dacre Montgomery’s girlfriend’s name?

Montgomery has been in a relationship with model and creative director Liv Pollock since 2017. The couple went public in 2018 when Pollock moved to Atlanta to be closer to Montgomery during Stranger Things filming, according to Seventeen. Both are originally from Perth, Western Australia.

Are Dacre Montgomery and Liv Pollock still together?

Yes. The duo got engaged in December 2023, with Pollock sharing the news on Instagram. People confirmed the engagement, noting the couple had been together for six years at that point. No wedding date has been publicly set as of March 2025.

Dacre Montgomery spouse

Montgomery is not yet married. His fiancée, Liv Pollock, studied architecture at the University of Western Australia before pursuing modeling, according to Yahoo Entertainment. She is signed with Vivien’s Models in Sydney.

The pattern: Montgomery’s personal choices mirror his professional ones — deliberate, low-profile, and sustained.

Why was Billy written out of Stranger Things?

Billy Hargrove’s death in season 3 served multiple purposes: it raised the dramatic stakes, completed his redemption arc, and allowed the Mind Flayer to fully take over his body. According to Wikipedia, the writers have not given an explicit explanation for his racist behavior, though fan theories point to his abusive upbringing.

Did Billy actually love Max?

The show portrays Billy as abusive and emotionally closed off toward his step-sister Max. However, in his dying moments, Billy sees a vision of his mother and calls out for her, not Max. The Duffers have suggested that Billy was capable of love but was too damaged to express it in a healthy way.

Why did Max cry when Billy died?

Despite their fraught relationship, Max’s reaction in the season 3 finale — played by Sadie Sink — is one of trauma and grief. She cries not for the brother she hated, but for the boy who never had a real chance. The moment is widely considered one of the most powerful in the series.

What this means: The character’s arc was complete; Montgomery’s performance ensured the emotional impact endured.

Is Dacre Montgomery a good guy?

By all public accounts, Montgomery is a kind, thoughtful person. Co-stars have described him as generous and professional on set. He is also an outspoken advocate for mental health, using his platform to discuss the pressures of fame. Nylon featured him in a 2017 interview centering on his post-show life and emotional well-being.

Is Dacre Montgomery a smoker?

There is no verifiable evidence that Montgomery smokes. No paparazzi photos, social media posts, or interviews indicate regular smoking. The question likely arises because his character Billy was seen smoking in Stranger Things.

Who is the most attractive in Stranger Things?

This is purely subjective, but Montgomery’s portrayal of Billy — leather jacket, mullet, rebellious attitude — certainly made him a fan favorite in looks-based polls on social media and fan sites. However, no official metric exists.

The takeaway: Montgomery’s public persona is defined by grounded authenticity, not the role that made him famous.

The through-line in Montgomery’s story is careful, assertive choice. He leveraged a breakout antagonist role into a platform for indie work and mental health advocacy, rather than continuing to play variants of Billy. Montgomery’s career path demonstrates that defining one’s own pace, rather than letting the industry dictate terms, leads to lasting impact.