- 9 hours ago
From Hawkins middle schoolers to global superstars, see how the beloved ensemble has grown up and glowed up. Join us as we revisit where these actors started and where they’ve landed—onstage, on set, and in the spotlight. We’re talking breakout roles, music careers, fashion moments, and franchise juggernauts, plus a few real-life milestones along the way. Which journey surprised you most? Tell us in the comments!
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00:00This is the first time you came on.
00:01You were 12 years old the first time you came on.
00:03Look at me.
00:04Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:06And today, we're taking a look at how the Stranger Things cast
00:09has evolved since the show began.
00:11My life is my own.
00:15And the future is up to us.
00:19David Harbour.
00:20Although a Tony Award nominee and with prominent roles
00:23in films like Brokeback Mountain and Revolutionary Road,
00:26it was Stranger Things that turned
00:28Harbour into a household name worldwide.
00:30I go and I never leave.
00:34Nothing ever happens.
00:36Yeah, nothing happens and you stay safe.
00:39After multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations as Jim Hopper,
00:43Harbour's career has only risen further.
00:45The actor has led features like Hellboy and Violent Night,
00:48also joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe to unanimous acclaim.
00:52You're stuck, you're alone.
00:53You look only at the bed.
00:56When I look at you, I don't see your mistakes.
01:01That's why we need each other.
01:03Off screen, Harbour made headlines marrying English singer Lily Allen in 2020,
01:09although they have since divorced.
01:10With projects lined up beyond Stranger Things' final season,
01:14we'll be watching Harbour on our screens for a long time to come.
01:17It's okay. It's okay.
01:20It's okay.
01:21It's okay.
01:22I'm here.
01:23I'm here.
01:25Winona Ryder.
01:26As the it girl of the 80s and 90s,
01:28Winona Ryder became Hollywood royalty with classics like Heathers,
01:32Beetlejuice, and Edward Scissorhands.
01:34Where is everybody?
01:35We're out looking for you.
01:37With me.
01:38However, a steep decline followed in the aughts, leaving her more of a cult favorite by 2016.
01:51That all changed with Stranger Things, instantly launching her back into the A-list.
01:55With a Golden Globe nomination right out of the gate,
01:58Ryder fans and critics were quickly reminded of her star power.
02:01Will wanted me to give him some space, so I'm giving him a few feet.
02:08Stepping back into film with projects like Destination Wedding and Gone in the Night,
02:11the actress now curates her career at her own pace.
02:14And by reprising her role as Lydia Dietz in Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice,
02:18Ryder kickstarted another surge in popularity, reintroducing herself to a brand new generation.
02:24Every now and then, I feel his presence, like he's lurking somewhere, just out of reach.
02:29But lately, I'm seeing him again.
02:32And I was really hoping this was all in my head, but now this.
02:36Charlie Heaton.
02:37Initially a drummer for the noise rock band Komenechi,
02:40Heaton hit the big leagues by landing the role of Jonathan Byers,
02:43sharing incredible chemistry with Natalia Dyer.
02:46The Jonathan-Nancy romance won Heaton millions of fans.
02:49He does this for a couple of hours, these guys all figured out.
02:52Exactly. God, okay, I feel... I'm glad you feel the same way.
02:57Yeah, that's fine.
02:59Fiction turned into reality when he and Dyer began dating,
03:02and the two have reportedly remained strong ever since.
03:05The actor hasn't quite landed as big a splash outside of Hawkins, though,
03:09with films like Marrowbone and The New Mutants failing to make a dent at the box office.
03:14I'm sorry.
03:16Don't we?
03:20I belong here, so...
03:21I'm not sure any of us belong here.
03:24I think I do.
03:25With little social media presence and no roles outside of Stranger Things since 2021,
03:31Heaton remains something of a mystery.
03:32But considering Stranger Things' enduring legacy,
03:35Heaton's already secured his place in TV history, no matter where his career takes him.
03:39How was the pullout?
03:42I'm sorry.
03:44The sofa.
03:46Oh, yeah.
03:48Yeah, it was good.
03:49Natalia Dyer.
03:51Dyer already had a background in film before Stranger Things.
03:54You might remember her from her debut in Hannah Montana the movie,
03:57even if it's a credit she'd rather forget.
03:59I played with this British girl and I'm sure my accent couldn't have been anything good,
04:03but it was, I guess.
04:04It got me on my first red carpet premiere situation.
04:08It was like, I can't, I can't hate on it.
04:10However, Hawkins' success afforded Dyer a great deal more room to shine,
04:15with the actress testing out a wide range of roles.
04:17I found both bodies, and I'm sleeping with my lights on,
04:23on top of which, if I don't land a study job soon, I'm gonna have to go back to Michigan.
04:27From a supporting part in the satirical supernatural horror,
04:30Velvet Buzzsaw, to leading the outrageous comedy Yes, God, Yes,
04:34Dyer's proven to be far more than just Nancy Wheeler.
04:37Although her screen appearances have slowed down in recent years,
04:40she leaves a lasting impression whenever she shows up.
04:43And I did it, even though I knew it was a sin.
04:50Will God still forgive me?
04:52Much like partner Charlie Heaton, Dyer maintains a limited social media presence,
04:56although fans can catch her looking all kinds of chic whenever she posts.
05:00Mya Hawk.
05:10Although a late arrival in the town of Hawkins, Mya Hawk made an immediate impact as the feisty
05:15Robin Buckley. Once known mainly as the daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke,
05:20Mya is firmly an A-lister in her own right. Along with owning the screen, she's showcased her talents in the
05:25musical arena with three studio albums as a singer-songwriter. Turns in prestige projects like
05:30Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Asteroid City, and Maestro complement her voice role as Anxiety in
05:36Inside Out 2, which earned her unanimous critical acclaim.
05:38Riley's life is more complex now. It requires more sophisticated emotions than all of you.
05:44You just aren't what she needs anymore, Joy.
05:46With music, acting, and regular features in powerhouse brands like Vogue, Elle,
05:51and Calvin Klein campaigns, the sky seems to be the limit for this breakout talent.
06:02Joe Keery. Once seen as Stranger Things' most hated character,
06:06Steve is arguably now its most beloved. And Joe Keery hasn't looked back since.
06:11After a few TV guest spots, Keery's breakthrough role turned him into one of Hollywood's hottest names.
06:16Please let me out of the car.
06:17Do you know what I mean? And it's like,
06:19imagine the audience that you and me could get if we just plussed our audiences together. Oh my god.
06:25But rather than playing it safe, Keery diversified with offbeat roles in films like Spree and Marmalade,
06:30along with the sci-fi blockbuster Free Guy. The actors ventured into complex roles on the
06:35small screen as well, with a standout role in Fargo's highly acclaimed fifth season.
06:40Protect and serve.
06:43Yeah, I'm down with protect, but I ain't in the service industry.
06:48I'm in the kicking ass and taking names business.
06:50He's equally thrived on the musical front under the stage name Joe,
06:54with the viral hit End of Beginning peaking at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
06:58I wait to fight to the end of beginning.
07:05Caleb McLaughlin.
07:06Sweeter, bolder, better.
07:1014 years old when the show began, Caleb McLaughlin was the oldest of the Stranger
07:15Things younger cast, though he blended right in with his co-stars. Like his character,
07:19the actor has grown before our eyes, starting with the coming-of-age drama Concrete Cowboy.
07:24Mama, open the door!
07:29As he's matured, so too has the material he's been involved with,
07:32in dramas like Shooting Stars and The Book of Clarence,
07:36along with the horror movie The Deliverance.
07:38He sends me money, orders, and I cash them.
07:42Why?
07:44Because I'm saving up to get away from this.
07:46I told him I want to get away from you.
07:48Vocal about the prejudice he's faced, McLaughlin has channeled that struggle
07:52into a tale of empowerment, spearheading social media campaigns for self-care and
07:57body positivity. His reach hasn't gone unnoticed either, with Forbes naming him in their 30 under
08:0330 class of 2021 list.
08:05I don't need a letter. I don't want a letter. Just talk to me. To your friends. We're right here.
08:14I'm right here.
08:15Gaten Matarazzo. He may have burst onto the scene as Dustin Henderson at just 13,
08:20but Matarazzo's career goes back to 2011, when he debuted on Broadway at just nine years old.
08:25Since then, he's balanced dramatic stage performances with lighter,
08:29crowd-pleasing appearances on screen.
08:38Known for his down-to-earth charm, Matarazzo has leaned into his fun persona with appearances in shows
08:44like Lip Sync Battle, Drop the Mic, and hosting the hidden camera series Prank Encounters.
08:49Everyone they're about to meet are actors, and everything that happens to them
08:52we'll be capturing on hidden camera.
08:55All right, everyone ready?
08:58Let's go.
08:58Just like Dustin, he's been steady with his lady love, having been in a long-term relationship
09:03with actress Elizabeth Yu since 2018. No matter the screen or the stage, fans can count on Matarazzo
09:09to bring that high-energy, feel-good attitude they adore every time.
09:14You're a vet, but nobody cares. You covered Teenage Dream, it was an adult nightmare.
09:19You had no chance tonight against me on the stage, because I'm twice the superstar you are,
09:23and half of your age!
09:25Sadie Sink. Like Gaten Matarazzo, Sadie got her start on stage, appearing as the titular
09:31character in Annie years before Stranger Things springboarded her into the stratosphere.
09:35After continuing with the horror genre with the Fear Street series,
09:39Sink branched out into drama with The Whale, Dear Zoe, and Odessa.
09:43I ain't nothing more powerful in this life than love.
09:50Lending her voice to various causes, she's used her platform to advocate for issues she's
09:54most passionate about, landing her on Forbes' 30 Under 30 and Time's 100 Next lists in 2022.
10:01Sling every time she hits the red carpet, Sink's signature style has officially turned her into
10:19a fashion icon, and with the Marvel Cinematic Universe calling, it looks like Stranger Things
10:24was just the beginning of a career that seems destined to soar.
10:27If you can even hear this, I really hope that you can.
10:34Noah Schnapp.
10:35It was a seven. Huh?
10:37The roll. It was a seven. The Demogorgon. It got me.
10:44See you tomorrow.
10:45Will's disappearance reeled fans into the Stranger Things universe,
10:49and Noah Schnapp has remained in the cultural spotlight ever since. By 2023,
10:53his life paralleled his character, with the actor coming out as a member of the LGBTQ plus community
10:59to widespread support and understanding. Known for weighing in on hot button issues in the social
11:04climate, his outspoken nature has courted significant discourse, both positive and negative.
11:09I only want peace and safety and security for all innocent people affected by this conflict.
11:17While not as frequently on screen as some of his Stranger Things castmates, Schnapp has taken bold
11:22swings with daring roles in films like Abe, Waiting for Anya, and The Tudor.
11:27He's never liked me, my dad. And it's only gotten worse as I've gotten older.
11:35I'm not living up to his expectations.
11:38As a prominent Gen Z figure, Schnapp's time in the spotlight is set to be even more influential
11:43over the next decade. Finn Wolfhard.
11:45As far as film careers go, no younger Stranger Things star has been nearly as prolific as Finn Wolfhard.
11:51The actor has had a release every year since 2017, starting from Stephen King's It,
11:57whose blockbuster success coincided with Stranger Things' equally unstoppable momentum.
12:02It doesn't smell like caca to me, senor.
12:04Okay, I can smell that from here. It's probably just your breath wafting back into your face.
12:09Horror essentially became his calling card, with roles in The Turning and The Ghostbusters franchise.
12:14His expertise in the genre led to Wolfhard co-directing 2023's Hell of a Summer,
12:19stepping behind the camera at just 21.
12:22But you do like me though, right?
12:30Yes, it is.
12:31Acting is far from his only talent. He fronted the rock bands Calpurnia and The Aubrey's before
12:37venturing into solo music with 2025's Happy Birthday.
12:40It's all the time, it's all the places, and the place is the one for me.
12:47When it comes to sheer dedication and work ethic,
12:50Wolfhard arguably has the entire Stranger Things cast beat.
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13:10Millie Bobby Brown
13:20Easily the biggest star to emerge from the show, Millie Bobby Brown's incredible evolution is awe-inspiring, to say the least.
13:27Eleven may have introduced her to the world, but Brown has achieved superstardom all on her own.
13:32By 14, she was in Time's list of 100 most influential people,
13:36and became the youngest ever UNICEF Goodwill ambassador the same year.
13:40By 16, she'd already turned producer, starring as the titular character in Enola Holmes.
13:46To be at Holmes, you must find your own path.
13:49My brothers have, my mother has, and I must too.
13:54As Netflix's greatest homegrown talent, Brown has also led massive productions like Damsel and The Electric
14:01State. Married to Jake Bon Jovi in 2024, they welcomed their first child through adoption the
14:06following year. Now, at only 21, Brown has achieved more than most people do in entire lifetimes.
14:12Such a joy being able to be married for a year already. It felt, it's felt like two seconds.
14:17I feel like it's blinked, and it's all, you know, so I think just cherish and hold on to all
14:22the amazing moments you get to experience with your loved ones.
14:24Which Stranger Things cast do you most identify with? Let us know in the comments.
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