What You Need to Know About the Secretly Amazing Cast of 'Stranger Things'

Netflix ’s runaway hitStranger Things , about a occult government experiment that may have something to do with a boy ’s disappearance in a lowly Indiana town , has been the pop - culture pate jewel of summertime . You know it . We sleep with it . Aaron Pauldefinitelyknows it .

While the ' LXXX - set sci - fi saga does feature a few familiar human face , most notably Winona Ryder ( as the boy ’s desperate female parent ) and Matthew Modine ( as a creepy scientist ) , the cast mostly comprises up - and - coming actor . We have serial publication Almighty Matt and Ross Duffer to give thanks for these vastly watchable and meme - able new talents , whose body of work everyone should follow , whether in asecond seasonofStranger Thingsor not . Below , a run - through of where to catch the lesser - fuck form members now and in the time to come .

Millie Bobby Brown

On the show : Brown bet Eleven , a taciturn heroine with telekinetic world power who goes toe to toe with the series ' primary antagonist ( or herself?).In real animation : Born in Barcelona , this 12 - year - oldsinger - actress has also worked onGrey ’s AnatomyandModern Family , as well as onIntruders , a 2014 sci - fi series thatStranger Thingsand Brown fans should utterly break out . The part of Eleven , for which she got to channelise her innerImperator Furiosa , mark her openhanded role to engagement , but after auditioning forThe BossandThe BFGto no avail , her next goal , she has said , is to come out in a celluloid .

Finn Wolfhard

On the show : Wolfhard plays Mike Wheeler , a unrelenting midway - schooler who leads a quartet of D&D devotees . In substantial life : Despite his age , Wolfhard grew up watching ' 80s and ' 90s movies . He was prompt to enrol showbiz because of his dad , a screenwriter ; other credits include spots onSupernaturalandThe 100 . You ’ll next see the 13 - year - sometime Canadian co - starring in Andrés Muschietti ’s take on Stephen King’sIt , whichreportedlyputs him decent back in the ' 80s .

Gaten Matarazzo

On the show : Matarazzo play Dustin Henderson , the toothless , ever - repeatable voice of cause in Mike ’s bunch . In real life : Like Dustin , Matarazzo has cleidocranial dysplasia , a inherited disorderliness that affects bone and dentition growth . It ’s something he cover . The Duffer Bros. evidently do , too , insure as they write the condition – along with Matarazzo ’s love life for collation – into the show . ( Fun fact : he wasthe first kid they hurl . ) apart fromStranger thing , you might have see this 13 - class - quondam New Jerseyan onThe Blacklistor on Broadway’sLes Mis . Yep , you bethe has pipes .

Caleb McLaughlin

On the show : McLaughlin plays Lucas Sinclair , Mike ’s skeptical best friend and next - door neighbor . In real life history : Also a Broadway - school player , McLaughlin made his stage unveiling asThe Lion King ’s Young Simba . He has notched screentime inLaw & Order : SVUand the Jennifer Lopez - star NBC seriesShades of Blue . If you did n’t see him inThe Lion King , you’ll get to see more of McLaughlin ’s tattle and dancing acquisition in next year’sNew Edition : The Movie , a BET project for which he ’ll play a new Ricky Bell .

Noah Schnapp

On the show : Schnapp act Will Byers ; a member of Mike ’s work party , he ’s Ryder ’s onscreen Logos who seemingly vanishes into flimsy zephyr . In real life history : When he turned 10 , Schnapp blew out birthday cake taper alongside Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg while on prepare forBridge of Spies . That jewel comes fromVariety , which last yeardeclared hima rising gift to watch . Schnapp has a memorable terrified font ( above ) ; he also has a far-famed voice , lately add to Charlie Brown in the latestPeanutsmovie .

David Harbour

On the show : Harbour plays Jim Hopper , the surprisingly competent police chief of Hawkins . In real life : You might recognise Harbour asManhattan ’s Reed Akley orThe Newsroom ’s Elliot Hirsch . He also recently appear inSuicide SquadandBlack Mass –and , yes , boasts respectablefacial pilus experience . Find him next year in the action - thrillerSleepless , along with Michelle Monaghan and Jamie Foxx .

Natalia Dyer

On the show : Dyer plays Mike ’s baby , Nancy Wheeler , a brilliant high-pitched schooler who straddle the occupation between geeky and coolheaded . In real life : This Nashville native begin acting at the age of 8 , as Scout inTo Kill a Mockingbird . After playing Clarissa in theHannah Montanamovie , the current NYU student nail parts inAfter Darknessand Leah Meyerhoff ’s colorful coming - of - old age indie hitting , I think in Unicorns .

Charlie Heaton

On the show : Heaton plays Jonathan Byers , Will ’s self-examining shutterbug of an old brother . In real life : The 22 - year - old Brit has already spent time as a barkeep and globetrotting drummer – for multiple bands , but most notablyfor Comanechi . Now , thanks to aCannes Lion - win commercialand afew British idiot box piece , Heaton has made the leap to life as a player . See also : the ' 90s - setAs You Areand theNaomi Watts - star thrillerShut In . ( For the record : he ’s definitely not Team Steve . )

Joe Keery

On the show : Keery plays Steve Harrington , a well - set Hawkins high schooler who endure a draw of lid : monster warrior , likable douche , wooer of Nancy , andpotential congener of Jean - Ralphio . In real life sentence : The 24 - yr - sure-enough DePaul grad ’s telling hair beautify the human beings ofSirens , Chicago Fire , andEmpirebefore wind up in the hands of the Duffer Bros. Also a drummer , Keery ’s a member ofthe heavy psych pop rig Post Animal . The Chicago - ground band releasedGarden Seriesin July .

Shannon Purser

On the show : Purser plays Barb , Nancy ’s inspirational and lovable BFF.In real life : Stranger Thingsmarks the 19 - year - old ’s first TV character – and what a role ! Fan love for Barb has been so strong that Purser had to leave her summertime job –working at a movie theater– to lay low . The Atlanta indigene is currently taking on-line class at Kennesaw State University , because she hopes to stay acting full - time .

Mark Steger

On the show : The Monster isnotall CGI – a costumed Steger play the so - address " Demogorgon , " a android who snatches habitant from Hawkins and Holman Hunt in an alternate dimension call the Upside Down . In real liveliness : Steger has used his talents as an actor and choreographer to produce some of the spiritual character you see inParanormal Activity , The Last Witch Hunter , Indigenous , I Am Legend , American Horror Story , World War Z , andMen in Black II . A compilation of his workplace , which include appearances in Tool ’s " Schism " music video and " Until It Sleeps , " by Metallica , can befound here . The old-timer artist also tub - thumped an imaginative multimedia comic , titledGearbox .

Randy Havens

On the show : Havens plays Mr. Clarke , a science teacher at Hawkins Middle School who ’s very generous with his time ; he also serves as the A / V Club adviser for Mike and his admirer . In real life history : Havens ' moustache will ring a bell if you watchHalt and Catch Fire . If not , the Atlantaimprov alum ’s résumé also listsArcher , Sleepy Hollow , andHouse of Payne . Most importantly , it grow out Havens is really generous when it comes toreal - aliveness curiosity doors , too .

Cara Buono

On the show : Buono play Karen Wheeler , the protective mother of Mike and Nancy . In real life-time : This Bronx aborigine almost won an Emmy for her portrayal of Dr. Faye Miller inMad Men , where she was the anti - Betty Draper . Other notable recurring part : Martine onPerson of Interest , Sheriff Anna Turner onThe Dead Zone , and Kelli onThe Sopranos .

Ross Partridge

On the show : Bonasa umbellus trifle Lonnie Byers , Will ’s weaselly , divorced dad . In real living : Before he was making you turn over your heart onStranger matter , this New Yorker popped up in such projects asJurassic Park , Law & Order , NYPD Blue , and the Duplass brothers’Baghead . Last year he wrote , directed , and starred in the 97 - minutedramaLamb , an honour - deliver the goods adjustment of Bonnie Nadzam ’s novel of the same name .

Peyton Wich

On the show : Wich plays Troy , a middle schooltime bully at Hawkins who has shockingly good entree to sharp objects . In veridical life : Wich set about act at age 9 , his first big projects shortly coming in the form ofDawn of the Planet of the ApesandImpact Earth . The 13 - yr - old ’s flabby side will be on display in the Renee Zellweger - star dramaSame Kind of Different as Me , out next February – unclear if his character puddle his pants .

Stranger Things cast