Who is Josh Heuston? Inside the rise of 'Off Campus' breakout star Justin Kohl
Josh Heuston has become one of the most searched names online since 'Off Campus' premiered on May 13, 2026. The 29-year-old Australian actor portrays Justin Kohl, the magnetic musician at the center of the show's addictive love triangle, and fans are eager to learn everything about him. The story behind his rise is as compelling as his on-screen presence.
Background and Early Life
According to the South China Morning Post, Heuston is an Australian actor of Anglo-Sri Lankan descent who grew up in the Baulkham Hills area of Western Sydney with his mother and two younger sisters, Charlie and Ashley. He was working as a waiter when he was first scouted, and it was only after collaborating on a music video with friends that something clicked. He then trained at some of Australia's most prestigious acting institutes. Before acting, he pursued a different path: WHO magazine reports he studied biomolecular science and commerce at university before dropping out. 'A bad one, because I didn't finish the degree,' he said. 'I mean, I gave it a go and did a bit of university, but I figured out it wasn't really for me, so I left.'
Career Highlights
Despite committing to acting around 2020, Heuston has built an impressive resume. He is known as Dusty Reid from 'Heartbreak High' and has appeared in 'Dune: Prophecy' and Marvel's 2022 film 'Thor: Love and Thunder' alongside Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman. The transition between 'Off Campus' and 'Dune: Prophecy' was so rapid that it gave him whiplash. 'I had to fly straight from Canada, where we shot 'Off Campus', to Budapest, where we shot 'Dune: Prophecy', so one day I was on a university set and the next in the Dune fantasy world,' he told the outlet. He also teased that season two of 'Dune: Prophecy' is 'just bigger and better,' with everything on a much grander scale, as reported by Collider.
Portraying Justin Kohl in 'Off Campus'
In the show, Justin fronts the band After Hours and is the long-time crush that motivates Hannah to fake date Garrett, only for real feelings to develop. The character was significantly changed from the source material: in Elle Kennedy's books, Justin is a football player, not a musician. The show reimagined him, and Heuston learned guitar and piano to make it convincing. He was deliberate about his portrayal, telling Deadline: 'I guess he's a little emo and angsty in a lot of ways, but I just wanted to give him a heart in it, where it's not the typical bad boy on campus sort of thing. I wanted people to feel for him and empathize with the fact that he's just trying to follow his heart.' He built a playlist for his character scene by scene, drawing from artists like Future, Kings of Leon, and Royel Otis, some of which made it into the final cut.
What's Next for Josh Heuston
Art Threat reports that showrunner Louisa Levy confirmed in May 2026 that Justin Kohl will not return for season two of 'Off Campus', though she teased the possibility of bringing him back in a future season when his book love interest Stella is introduced. This shocked fans, but with 'Dune: Prophecy' season two on the way and his profile growing, Heuston has plenty to keep him busy.
Where to Watch 'Off Campus'
All eight episodes of 'Off Campus' season one are available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. The show has been renewed for a second season, with production expected to begin later this year. A release date for season two has not yet been announced.
