Stranger Things has been one of Netflix's most popular programs for a while now, and while many of the characters who made this show iconic haven't aged much since the very beginning, their actors certainly have. Fortunately, the Duffer Brothers have stated any rapid growth spurts from aging doesn't really affect the show's narrative, and the story would simply be shifted if the kids started looking too different.
Even so, the actual ages of the Stranger Things' cast may surprise some viewers, as the actors are, more often than not, older than the middle school-aged characters they portray. They're also a bit different considering they're not actually children of the '80s, and have various interests outside of acting folks are almost certainly not in the know about. That said, here is a perfect compilation of the Stranger Things cast, complete with ages and some of the things they're interested in.
Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler)
Finn Wolfhard is 16 years old as of December 2018, and had some of his earliest television roles on The CW's The 100 and Supernatural. He's been increasingly involved in the film world as of late with appearances slated for Ghostbusters and IT: Chapter Two, which is fitting considering his great aunt on his mother's side was silent film actress Rita Jolivet. His older brother Nick Wolfhard is also a notable voice actor.
When he's not acting, Finn Wolfhard plays guitar and sings in the band Calpurnia, which has an EP and a cameo in the music video for Weezer's cover of "Take On Me." It's a shame Mike hasn't shown he's musically inclined, as it'd be great to see Wolfhard sing a song in Season 3, or maybe tackle a duet with someone else in the Stranger Things cast?
Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven)
The 15-year-old Millie Bobby Brown really had her career take off following Stranger Things, and audiences will see her in Godzilla: King of Monsters soon. Her filmography may not be as extensive as co-star Finn Wolfhard, but Brown can hang her hat on the fact she's the youngest person to have been named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people.
Millie Bobby Brown has used her platform as a celebrity to advocate for various causes, and while interviews and funny videos have shown her to be an outgoing individual, her father told W Magazine back in 2018 she can be shy and reserved when in the comfort of family. It's a side we're assuming few people get to see, but we're curious to see if perhaps that side comes out when she's hanging out with her pal Drake.
Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson)
The 16-year-old Gaten Matarazzo has already changed a lot between Stranger Things Season 1 and Season 2, as his voice shifted a few octaves below other co-stars in the latter season. While other members of the Stranger Things cast may have gotten their big starts in television, Matarazzo is one of the few who has featured onstage and was in Broadway productions of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Les Miserables.
As for the kind of person he is off-camera, Gaten Matarazzo told The New Potato in 2017 there aren't a ton of differences between his actual self and Dustin. He did add that while his character never actively seeks to be funny, he does and loves to make people laugh. Sounds like the type of person anybody would love to be around, especially those who think Dustin's sarcastic personality is on brand with their type of humor.
Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair)
The 17-year-old Caleb McLaughlin is slightly older than a bulk of the younger Stranger Things cast, but still plays the part of a middle-schooler (and does it rather well) despite being on the edge of graduating high school. Other than his notable age, he's also another actor who is known for doing Broadway, like Gaten Matarazzo. His work includes a run on Broadway playing Young Simba.
It was after that, and a small role on Law & Order, that Caleb McLaughlin decided acting was his true calling. McLaughlin has said he's less skeptical than his Stranger Things character, although they both value friendship. He also loves basketball, which may be why he's involved in Steven Soderbergh's upcoming Netflix drama on the game High Flying Bird.
Noah Schnapp (Will Byers)
Noah Schnapp is the youngest of the Stranger Things cast, and the closest to his character's age. He's 14 years old. His rise to stardom came quickly, as Schnapp was cast in Stranger Things only a year after his debut in the film Bridge of Spies, and his voice acting role as Charlie Brown in the Peanuts movie. Talk about a quick rise to fame!
That's no coincidence, apparently, as many in the Stranger Things cast have gone on the record to say Noah Schnapp can turn from a happy-go-lucky and charismatic boy to an emotionally-elevated actor in an instant. He's also a big fan of sneakers, which he can probably easily afford now that he's one of the major players in the series. Hopefully that continues in Season 3, as his Season 2 performance proved Noah Schnapp is worthy of extra screen time.
Related: Stranger Things Creators Heading To Trial Ahead Of Season 3 Premiere
Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield)
Sadie Sink is another actor from the Stranger Things cast to get her start on the stage and, after her mother enrolled her in acting classes, Sink scored the title role of Annie in the 2012 revival. From there it was on to small roles in shows like The Americans and Blue Bloods, until she entered Season 2 of Stranger Things as the new kid in the group. Now, 17, she's another older teen in the group of kids.
Sadie Sink is vegan, which she ended up committing to after encouragement from co-star Woody Harrelson on the set of The Glass Castle. Sink seems to have a kindred spirit in Millie Bobby Brown, who she's been on vacations and had sleepovers with while filming Stranger Things. She's also an advocate for body positivity for girls, and has been part of fashion campaigns for brands like Kate Spade.
Stranger Things Season 3 is on the way, and Netflix subscribers can expect to enjoy the sci-fi series Thursday, July 4 at 12:01 a.m. PT. Stick with CinemaBlend for more updates on the Stranger Things cast before and after the season, as well as the latest in entertainment news.
