A large image with dozens of characters of varying sizes and doing different things, a few monsters, and the words Stranger Things Netflix.

Meet the Characters of Hawkins

Eleven (Jane Hopper)

Also known as "El" thanks to the number 011 that she was assigned as a child subject in the Hawkins Laboratory. She escaped from the lab and is being pursued by the people she calls "the bad men". She has mysterious and powerful supernatural abilities, and has a mysterious past that hints at conspiracy. Four young boys from Hawkins find her in the woods and decide to help her evade her pursuers.

Played by Millie Bobby Brown

A young girl stand outside, a drop of blood falling from her nose. Her head is shaved and she is wearing a pink dress and blue jacket.
A teenage girl with shoulder length hair smiles up at something.
A young black-haired boy sits on a bicycle.
A black-haired teenage boy in a sweater looks across a room.

Mike Wheeler

A young boy from Hawkins. He and his best friends Will, Dustin, and Lucas enjoy playing Dungeons and Dragons. When he and his friends find Eleven in the woods, he brings her back to his house to hide, determined to help her. Mike is full of heart and loyalty when it comes to the friends he cares so much about, and often takes on the role as leader in their little group.

Played by Finn Wolfhard

A scared looking boy stands in a shed, looking up at something in front of him.

Will Byers

Late one night, on his way home after playing Dungeous and Dragons with his friends Mike, Dustin, and Lucas, Will comes across something terrifying and monstrous and crashes his bike. Unable to escape the monster that his friends later name the "demogorgon", Will vanishes, leaving his friends and family desperate to find and save him.

Played by Noah Schnapp

A teenage boy stands outside, looking up in fear.

Dustin Henderson

An intelligent and clever young boy from Hawkins. His best friends are Mike, Will, and Lucas. He is always eager to learn to things and is particularly interested in Eleven's powers and the strange things that begin happening around Hawkins. Like his friends, he has been bullied as a child. He is brave and adventurous, often coming up with ideas and solutions for the group.

Played by Gaten Matarazzo

A young boy with curly hair, wide eyes, and a baseball cap.
A teenage boy with curly hair and a baseball cap looks sadly at a tombstone.
A young boy with short black hair looks warily at someone.
A teenage boy with flat top black hair looks worriedly on.

Lucas Sinclair

Incredibly loyal and fearless, he brings an amount of reason to the group. He is best friends with Mike, Will, and Dustin, and knows them all really well. Always determined to do the right thing for those he cares about, Lucas isn't afraid to do the harder thing if it means helping and protecting them.

Played by Caleb McLaughlin

A young red-haired girl holds a skateboard in front of a school.

Max Mayfield

A new girl in the second season that quickly draws the attention of Lucas, Dustin, Mike, and Will thanks to her impressive skills at the arcade. Max is often seen with her skateboard and her Walkman and headphones. She moved to Hawkins from California with her mom, step-dad, and scary step-brother Billy.

Played by Sadie Sink

A red-haired teenage girl with headphones around her neck and a blue jacket.

Jim Hopper

Chief of police in Hawkins. Friends with Joyce, he is one of the earliest adults to realize and accept that something strange is happening in Hawkins. He works to investigate the mystery behind Will's disappearance. Though he often comes off as intimidating and has a temper, he deeply cares about the kids around Hawkins and does everything he can to keep them safe.

Played by David Harbour

A man in a blue flannel shirt, brown jacket, and wide-brimmed hat.
A man in a winter hat and coat in a snowy climate.
An anxious looking woman holds a yellow phone to her ear, standing next to where it is mounted on the wall.
A woman with brown hair smiles encouragingly at someone.

Joyce Byers

Mother of Will and Jonathan. She is desperate to find and save her son. Though many around her give up hope and doubt the signs she sees, she holds to the belief that Will is out there and that she'll see him again. She works with Hopper to investigate what happened and will do absolutely anything to find her little boy.

Played by Winona Ryder

A teenage boy with nice hair carries a bat with nails pounded into the end in a backpack while he looks off to the side.

Steve Harrington

One of the older teenagers in Hawkins. Initially a bit of a jerk, Steve quickly begins realizing that isn't who he wants to be. Full of heart and surprisingly skilled at fighting monsters, he falls into the role of protecting the younger kids as well as looking out for Nancy, the girl he cares about. He becomes a mentor, a good friend, and arguably the best babysitter ever.

Played by Joe Keery

A good-looking young man wears a nautical themed work outfit with a nametag that says Steve. He crosses his arms while leaning against a counter.

Nancy Wheeler

Older sister of Mike and one of the older teenagers in Hawkins. Extremely smart and has a skill for investigating and putting clues together. When one of her best friends disappears in a similar way to Will, Nancy leaves behind many of the aspects of her once normal life to become a determined investigator and couragous fighter.

Played by Natalia Dyer

A teenage girl with a worried and innocent expression stands outside near some trees, looking off to the side.
A young woman with shoulder-length hair stares forward in fear and shock. Behind her is a harsh light fixture on a plain white bricked wall.
A teenage boy in a blue jacket and brown shirt stands outside in the woods calling for someone.
A young man with shaggy hair and a colorful unbuttoned shirt talks to someone with a kind and understanding expression.

Jonathan Byers

Older brother to Will and one of the older teenagers in Hawkins. Jonathan has fought to hold their family together and blames himself for not being there the night his little brother disappeared. A bit of a social outcast, he is surprised when Nancy approaches him for help finding answers. As soon as he realizes something strange is going on in Hawkins, he bravely steps forward to help investigate.

Played by Charlie Heaton

A teenage girl in a nautical themed work outfit and a nametag that says Robin leans against a counter.

Robin Buckley

She joins the group of older teenagers in the third season when she becomes Steve's coworker. Energetic and full of personality, Robin is intelligent, funny, and talks very fast once she gets going. When she gets pulled into the strangeness of Hawkins, she is more than up for the challenge.

Played by Maya Hawke

A young woman with shoulder-length hair and a dark jacket looks up at the sky with a worried or confused expression. She is outside at night.

Erica Sinclair

The younger sister of Lucas. Being a little younger, she plays a smaller role until the third season, when she gives away just how brilliant she is. Feisty and hilarious, she can take care of herself and is up to doing dangerous and adventurous things for the sake of the those in the town.

Played by Priah Ferguson

A young girl with curly black hair eats an ice cream cone inside a bright mall.
A teenage girl with curly black hair holds her arm up, checking the time on her watch. She is in a school hallway.
A man in a suit and tinted glasses waits to speak to a police chief.
A man with a beard, glasses, and a baseball cap leans out the window of the truck he is driving with a grin on his face.

Murray Bauman

A strong believer in conspiracies and government secrets, Murray becomes a valuable ally when it comes to navigating that sort of thing. Initially resistant and a bit hard to be around, he becomes a valuable member of the Hawkins team.

Played by Brett Gelman

Additional Characters

Dr. Martin Brenner played by Matthew Modine
Karen Wheeler played by Cara Buono
Eddie Munson played by Joseph Quinn
Billy Hargrove played by Dacre Montgomery
Bob Newby played by Sean Astin
Holly Wheeler played by Nell Fisher
Lab Orderly played by Jamie Campbell Bower
Dr. Sam Owens played by Paul Reiser
and many other talented actors.