Riley Stearns Biography: Movies, TV Shows, Wikipedia, Age, Net Worth, Wife, Instagram, Height, Parents

Riley Stearns is an American filmmaker and Director known for directing three feature films: Faults (2014), The Art of Self-Defense (2019), and Dual (2022).

Initially drawn to music, Stearns transitioned to filmmaking after visiting film sets and receiving guidance from director James Wong.

He began his career writing for television series such as Tower Prep, My Own Worst Enemy, and Bionic Woman. His short film The Cub, which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, marked his breakthrough in the industry.

Profile

• Full Name: Riley Stearns
• Stage Name: Riley Stearns
• Born: 29 June 1986
• Age: 38 years old
• Birthplace: Austin, Texas, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: American filmmaker and Director
• Height: 5’9″
• Parent: Mr. and Mrs. Stearns
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Mary Elizabeth Winstead (m. 2010–2017)
• Children: Unknown
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $7 million

Early Life And Education

Riley Stearns was born on June 29, 1986, in Austin, Texas, USA. While the names of his parents remain private, they are referred to as Mr. and Mrs. Stearns, and there is no public information available about any siblings.

He briefly attended the University of Texas at Austin but left after not gaining admission to the film program. Stearns is of European descent and is known to practice Christianity.

Career

Riley Stearns began his career in television, starting as a production assistant on NBC’s Bionic Woman in 2007. He later became a writers’ assistant on My Own Worst Enemy and went on to write for Cartoon Network’s Tower Prep in 2010.

These early roles provided him with valuable insight into the storytelling process and laid the groundwork for his transition into filmmaking.

Venturing into short films, Stearns directed Magnificat (2011), Casque (2012), and The Cub (2013). The Cub was selected for the Sundance Film Festival and featured by Vice Media, earning him recognition for his distinct, offbeat narrative style.

These projects demonstrated his ability to craft darkly comic and thought-provoking stories, setting the stage for his feature-length debut.

In 2014, Stearns wrote and directed Faults, a psychological thriller starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead. The film was well-received and appeared on the 2013 Black List of best unproduced scripts.

He followed this with The Art of Self-Defense (2019), starring Jesse Eisenberg, and Dual (2022), a sci-fi satire that premiered at Sundance. Alongside his film work, Stearns has also directed episodes for television series such as Seton’s Case and The Vince Staples Show, continuing to build a diverse and compelling body of work.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @rileystearns

Personal Life

Riley Stearns‘ current relationship status is not publicly known, and he appears to be single. He was previously married to actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead; the couple wed on October 9, 2010, in Austin, Texas, after meeting in 2002 during a cruise when Winstead was 18.

They separated in May 2017 and finalized their divorce later that year. There is no public information suggesting that Stearns has any children.

Filmography

Feature Films

• Faults (2014) – Director, Writer
• The Art of Self-Defense (2019) – Director, Writer
• Dual (2022) – Director, Writer, Producer

Short Films

• Magnificat (2011) – Director, Writer
• Casque (2012) – Director, Writer, Producer
• The Cub (2013) – Director, Writer, Producer

Television

• Seton’s Case (2022, TV Series) – Director
• The Vince Staples Show (2025, TV Series)

Net Worth

Riley Stearns has an estimated net worth of approximately $7 million, primarily earned through his work as a filmmaker. His income comes from writing, directing, and producing feature films such as Faults (2014), The Art of Self-Defense (2019), and Dual (2022), along with his contributions to television series and short films.

With over a decade of experience in the independent film industry, Stearns has built a successful and diverse career.