Stranger Things star reveals HUGE career news
No you’re crying! ðŸ˜
Last updated 20th Dec 2021
Iconic Netflix series Stranger Things has shared the most adorable news about one of its beloved show stars Noah Schnapp (aka Will Byers).
Netflix has shared a TikTok of the moment when he opened up his laptop and learned of his acceptance to the University of Pennsylvania and it’s the cutest thing ever!
Alongside the TikTok, Netflix wrote: ‘This video of Noah Schnapp learning he got accepted to college is the purest thing in the world. Congrats Noah.’
The video shows Noah, who plays character Will in the show, surrounded by his family as he finds out he’s been accepted to the University of Pennsylvania in America.
The prestigious university is ranked joint 13th in Times Higher Education's World University Rankings.
Noah’s TikTok was a huge hit with fans and racked up over 9 million views at the time of writing.
Alongside heading to college, we’ll be seeing Noah in the much-anticipated fourth season of Stranger Things, which is heading our way in 2022.
A teaser trailer for the fourth season was released in September 2021, showing us some footage of what to expect in the upcoming fourth series.
CHECK OUT: Who stars in Stranger Things?
Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers (Season 1 - 5)
Joyce is the mum of Will and Jonathan Byers, she is divorced and in the second season starts to date her old high school classmate Bob, played by Sean Astin. Following Bob's tragic death, she develops a more romantic relationship with Sheriff Jim Hopper.
Winona Ryder needs little introduction, famed for her range of diverse roles over the years, in huge titles such as Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, Heathers, and Girl, Interrupted. She won Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes in 1994 for her role in The Age of Innocence, and has won or been nominated for many more awards in the years since, including a nomination at the Golden Globes in 2017 for Best Actress in Stranger Things.
David Harbour as Jim Hopper (Season 1 - 5)
Jim is the chief at the local police station, he is divorced and had a young daughter who died of cancer. He has a connection with Joyce, and adopted Eleven at the end of season two, serving from there on as a father figure for her.
David Harbour has led an incredibly successful acting career over the decades, known for his roles in titles such as Q-Force, Pan Am, Quantum of Solace, Revolutionary Road and End of Watch.
Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler (Season 1 - 5)
Mike is one of Will's friends, the brother to Nancy and Holly, and son of Karen and Ted. He later develops feelings for Eleven and they become boyfriend and girlfriend.
Despite starring in the show from such a young age, Finn had featured in many titles before Stranger Things, however it's fair to say the show shot him to stardom. He has since featured in the huge film franchise Ghostbusters, as well as the revamped supernatural horror film IT, and its sequel. He's also a talented musician, currently playing in a band named The Aubreys.
Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven (Season 1 - 5)
When Eleven first appears in the series she has just escaped from Hawkins Laboratory, she has a shaven head and is very scared, however it's clear she has some sort of unusual powers. It is later revealed that her real name is Jane and she meets her mother, who was left catatonic by the scientists at the lab. She is adopted by Hopper, with her powers and battles with the Upside Down being the centre of Stranger Things' plot.
Millie Bobby Brown has achieved huge success in her years, starring in the Enola Holmes films, and even having producer credits on a number of titles. More recent projects include her roles in Damsel, The Electric State and two Godzilla movies. On top of that, Millie also launched her own beauty brand, called florence by mills.
Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson (Season 1 - 5)
Dustin is another of Will's friends, who causes havoc in season two after adopting one of the Demogorgon creatures as a pet, however thanks to teaming up with Steve Harrington in a heart-warming friendship, becomes invaluable in the gang's fighting force. Dustin has leidocranial dysplasia like the actor Gaten himself, who has used his platform to raise awareness of the rare condition.
Gaten has a musical background, starring on Broadway in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Les Misérables. Following his starring role in Stranger Things, he landed his own show called Prank Encounters - a hidden-camera prank show. He has also appeared in films such as Honor Society and Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain - as well as, who could forget, appearing in Katy Perry's iconic music video for her 2017 single 'Swish Swish'.
Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair (Season 1 - 5)
Lucas is also a friend of Will's. When he first meets Eleven he is very skeptical, but later starts to trust her. He develops a relationship with season two newbie Max, before things take a sour turn. Lucas also has a younger sister, Erica, who quickly became a fan-favourite after her introduction in season two.
Prior to Stranger Things, Caleb featured in TV series such as Shades of Blue and The New Edition Story, and has since appeared in films such as Shooting Stars and The Book of Clarence.
Noah Schnapp as Will Byers (Season 1 - 5)
Will Byers is Jonathan's younger brother and Joyce's other son. At the beginning of the first season he is captured and ends up disappearing into the Upside Down. Thankfully, he's rescued, but he has to face even worse problems in the second season as he becomes possessed by the creatures. Despite the gang seemingly getting things back on track, Will's connection to the Upside Down continues to trouble him in following seasons.
Noah Schnapp was widely praised for his outstanding performance in the series, picking up plenty of awards along the way. He has appeared in other titles such as Waiting for Anya, Abe and Bridge of Spies, as well as continuing with his studies as the actor headed off to the University of Pennsylvania in 2021.
Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler (Season 1 - 5)
Nancy is Mike and Holly's older sister. In the first season she becomes Steve Harrington's girlfriend, but by the second season they have split up and she starts going out with Jonathan Byers, and the pair work together to try and expose Hawkins Laboratory. Nancy is a rather fiery character, becoming a valuable player as she helps the gang in their ongoing fight against Vecna.
Natalia Dyer has featured in numerous TV shows and films throughout her career - starting off with a small role in the huge 2009 hit Hannah Montana: The Movie. Other titles you may recognise her from include Based on a True Story, Things Heard & Seen, Summer of '72 and Yes, God, Yes. In 2023, she appeared alongside Asa Butterfield in the horror film All Fun and Games.
Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers (Season 1 - 5)
Jonthan is Will's older brother and Joyce's son. He is a quiet teenager and not part of the popular group, often picked on by Steve Harrington and his gang. But he's instrumental in helping his mum find Will. He's also a keen photographer, which causes a rift when Steve spots him photographing his girlfriend, Nancy. In season two, however, we see him come out of his shell more as Steve and Nancy split and Jonathan starts to date her.
Having appeared in British drama series such as DCI Banks, Vera and Casualty, English actor Charlie Heaton also appeared in films such as Rise of the Footsoldier Part II, Shut In and As You Are. Since his huge role in Stranger Things, he has appeared in films such as The New Mutants, No Future and The Souvenir: Part II.
Matthew Modine as Dr Martin Brenner (Season 1 - 5)
Martin is the lead scientist at Hawkins Laboratory who is searching for Eleven, with her referring to her as 'Papa'. Dr Martin resurfaces throughout the seasons, pinned as the baddie of the show.
Matthew has led a fruitful career, playing a range of versatile roles. Gaining widespread recognition for his role in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, his career boasts a diverse range of films, such as Birdy, The Dark Knight Rises, Short Cuts, Married to the Mob, Cutthroat Island and Pacific Heights. In the world of TV, he has appeared in titles such as And the Band Played On, Weeds, Proof and Sanctuary. Away from his career on the screen, in a sweet turn, Matthew also officiated his co-star Millie Bobby Brown's marriage to Jake Bongiovi - the son of the world-famous Jon Bon Jovi.
Joe Keery as Steve Harrington (Season 1 - 5)
Steve started off as something of a baddie in the first season, after he took Nancy's rejection quite hard. However, he was the hero of the second season, looking after the younger group and being a mentor to Dustin. This continued in further seasons, with him becoming a close friend - if not member - of the gang, and a true fan-favourite.
Joe Keery appeared in a few titles prior to Stranger Things, however his portrayal as Steve is widely considered his breakout role. His quirky and charismatic performances landed him numerous roles on the big screen, including Death to 2020 and Death to 2021, Spree and Free Guy. He is also a talented musician, releasing music under the alias Djo - in 2024, his track 'End of Beginning' benefited from the 'TikTok effect', going viral and topping UK charts.
Sadie Sink as Maxine 'Max' Mayfield (Season 2 - 5)
Max was a new character for season two, initially joining the friendship group at the invitation of Lucas and Dustin, but Mike rejects her as he's missing Eleven, who has disappeared. She's also bullied relentlessly by her cruel step-brother, Billy. By the end of the season, they're all friends and Max begins a relationship with Lucas. Throughout the seasons, we see Max's character develop, as she suffers the horrifying loss of her brother Billy, before falling victim to Vecna and being left in a coma.
Sadie Sink featured in a number of TV shows and films, before her breakout role in Stranger Things. Previous titles include shows such as Odyssey, and films such as The Bleeder and The Glass Castle. Since appearing in the show, Sadie landed a lead role in the horror film franchise Fear Street, as well as other films such as The Whale, with Brendan Fraser, and A Sacrifice. Sadie also appeared in the short-film music video for Taylor Swift's 'All Too Well (10 Minute Version)', alongside Dylan O'Brien, Shawn Levy and Taylor herself.
Dacre Montgomery as Billy Hargrove (Season 2 - 5)
Billy joined the cast in season 2 with his step-sister Max. Billy is something of a villain on the show as he is constantly bullying Max, and even comes to blows with Nancy, Jonathan and Steve. By the end of the series, we realise that he's the way he is because he's bullied by his father. Billy becomes possessed by the Mind Flayer in season three, and at the end of the season we see him try and fight back, fighting the monster and refusing to kill Eleven, however this results in the Spider Monster killing him.
Dacre is an Australian actor, who trained in theatre and appeared in various short films before his breakthrough projects in 2017 - superhero film Power Rangers, and his role as Billy in Stranger Things. Introduced in season two of the show, his performance as Billy garnered critical acclaim, later seeing the actor land roles in films such as The Broken Hearts Gallery and Elvis.
Brett Gelman as Murray Bauman (Season 2 - 5)
Brett Gelman joined the cast in season two, playing journalist Murray Bauman, who is called in to investigate the disappearance of Barb Holland. As the show progresses through seasons three and four, Murray becomes a more important character, first helping Joyce and Hopper to translate Russian when they capture scientist Dr Alexei, and later joining Joyce on her mission to rescue Hopper from a prison camp.
Actor Brett Gelman has an impressive CV, having appeared in Fleabag, The Office (US) and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile as well as voicing Family Guy and American Dad.
Paul Reiser as Dr. Sam Owens (Season 2 - 5)
A complex character, Hawkins Lab Director, Dr Sam Owens (played by Paul Reiser) is introduced in season two, where he tries to investigate the after-effects Will Byers is suffering after his return from the upside down. Will's mum, Joyce, is unsure whether to trust him, and later removes Will from his care. But we're reassured of his good intentions, when he refuses to let Will die, along with the Mind Flayer. Despite some questionable behaviour — including tricking Eleven into returning to the hands of Dr Brenner in season four — Sam Owens seems to be determined to protect Hawkins from growing danger.
Actor Paul Reiser has previously appeared in Beverley Hills Cop, Aliens and Mad About You. He also had his own American sitcom called The Paul Reiser show, which ran for seven episodes in 2011.
Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair (Season 2 - 5)
Introduced in the second season as Lucas' nine-year-old sister, Erica Sinclair is played by Priah Ferguson. As the show progresses, her character becomes more central to the storyline and she plays a huge part in series three, when she crawls through the air ducts to infiltrate the secret Russian base under Starcourt Mall. Erica's aptitude for maths, confident nature and quick-wit make her a popular member of the group and a key figure when it comes to tackling Vecna and the Upside Down.
Despite her youth, actress Priah has appeared in many TV shows and movies, including 2016's Atlanta, 2022's The Curse of Bridge Hollow and in 2023, My Dad The Bounty Hunter. Stranger Things co-creator Matt Duffer, told Yahoo! in an interview: "I love Erica. She was just a local hire we made in Atlanta. Erica wasn't even supposed to be in season two as much as she was. We fell in love with this girl. I thought she's very GIF-able, if that's a word."
Maya Hawke as Robin (Season 3 - 5)
Joining Stranger Things in season three, Robin works with Steve at his summer job at the ice cream shop, in the Hawkins shopping mall. Despite Steve feeling a romantic connection with her, the pair quickly become best friends when she tells him she likes girls. Fans soon fell in love with Robin, as she continued to help the gang with the twists and turns they experienced from the Upside Down.
Maya is the talented daughter of actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman. Although it wasn't her first acting job, Stranger Things was her largest role to date when she joined the cast in 2019, going on to feature in films such as Do Revenge, alongside Camila Mendes, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood and Fear Street: Part One - 1994. In 2024, Maya voiced the character Anxiety in Disney's Inside Out 2, which went on to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time globally.
Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna/Subject 001/Henry Creel (Season 4 - 5)
In season four, we were introduced to the seemingly innocent Peter Ballard, who works in Hawkins Lab and is kind to Eleven, before his character takes a sinister turn. After then being introduced to the Creel family, who used to occupy an eery home the gang are visiting, it is revealed that Peter is actually Henry Creel - the young boy with extraordinary, dark powers who became the subject of Dr. Brenner's experiments - dubbed Subject 001. Consumed by hatred, Henry goes mad and later becomes the villainous Vecna - who goes on to terrorise Hawkins. A complex character, indeed.
The talented Jamie Campbell Bower portrays the character, who you may recognise from his 2007 feature film debut in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Other high profile titles Jamie has featured in include The Twilight Saga, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. A talented musician, Jamie has also released his own music - with his track 'I Am' dropping shortly after the release of Stranger Things season four.
Joseph Quinn as Eddie Munson (Season 4 - 5)
We were introduced to the quirky Eddie Munson in season four, and it didn't take long for him to become a show favourite. A rather complex, and largely misunderstood character, Eddie is a metalhead outcast, who is also the leader of the school's Dungeons & Dragons club, Hellfire. With Chrissy being killed by Vecna in Eddie's trailer, the town turns on him and begins to hunt him down, thinking he was involved in her death. It becomes clear that beneath his rebellious exterior, Eddie is actually a loyal and protective character, who joins the gang in their mission to battle the supernatural threats that face Hawkins. Sadly, Eddie faces a cruel fate in the Upside Down while protecting his friends.
Joseph Quinn's portrayal of Eddie Munson gained him worldwide recognition, however that's not to say he didn't lead a fruitful career in acting beforehand. Joseph built a solid foundation in the industry with his roles in TV series such as Dickensian, Howards End, and Les Misérables. Since appearing in the show as Eddie, he has bagged huge roles in films such as A Quiet Place: Day One, Hoard, Gladiator II and The Fantastic Four. He's also set to star as George Harrison in a series of movie biopics about The Beatles, set for release in 2028.
Grace Van Dien as Chrissy (Season 4 )
Introduced in season four, Chrissy is the head cheerleader at Hawkins' High, which non-surprisingly makes her the most popular, picture-perfect girl in school. Despite this, we quickly see that beneath the surface she has a dark secret. In an attempt to suppress her disturbing visions, she befriends Eddie Munson, however we quickly see Chrissy fall victim to Vecna.
On top of her role in Stranger Things, Chrissy is recognised for her lead/recurring roles in films and TV shows such as The Binge and The Village. She also landed roles in Charlie Says, alongside Matt Smith, Chace Crawford and Suki Waterhouse, as well as Netflix's Greenhouse Academy.
Linda Hamilton as Dr Kay (Season 5)
In season 5, we'll meet Dr Kay, who is played by Terminator actress Linda Hamilton. Not much has been revealed about this character yet, but it's widely reported she's linked to the Government in some way.
Best-known for her role as Sarah Connor in The Terminator films, Linda has also appeared in Frasier, Dante's Peak and Murder, She Wrote, among many other TV shows and movies. The actress is joining Stranger Things for its final season. At a Tudum fan event, chief action officer Arnold Schwarzenegger, said: "I'm excited that I can announce that my old friend, a fantastic actress, a badass, is joining the Netflix family, in one of my favourite shows, and I know you will love this show too."
In September, a clip shared to a Stranger Things updates Twitter account, Stranger Things Spoilers, saw Noah confirming: "We just finished, like last week. So, yeah, we're done!"
He then continued: "We've been filming forever, and they're finally done.
"They're putting together another teaser, and then... Yeah."
Now read:
Stranger Things: Facts about the Netflix series
Stranger Things tease eery Creel House in new season four trailer
The latest Stranger Things' fan theory pins Eleven as the chief villain in season 4 😱