How Old Are the Main Characters in Each Season of Stranger Things?

Stranger Things is Netflix’s most iconic TV series to date. The show skyrocketed the careers of its entire cast, especially its younger members. The audience has seen these characters — and the actors and actresses who portray them — grow up together with the series. However, the delay between the fourth and fifth seasons has created an awkward scenario where some members of the cast are beginning to grow out of their high school and young adult roles.

The characters in Stranger Things are roughly divided into three main groups: the teenagers, the preteens, and the adults. Most of the adults are unaware of the weird things happening in town, except Jim Hopper and Joyce Byers. While many characters might seem young, especially Eleven, they have powerful abilities that help them bring balance to the world. With one more season to go, it’s worthwhile to see where each character is and just how far they’ve come in a few short years.

Updated on April 14, 2025, by Ajay Aravind: Season 5 of Stranger Things will bring the popular Netflix series to an end. Taking place around 18 months after Season 4’s conclusion, Season 5 will have many of the younger characters played by even older versions of the actors than before. In that context, we have updated this article with more information about each Stranger Things main character and their respective ages.

Erica Sinclair Is a Hilarious Breath of Fresh Air

Actor's Current Age: 18 (October 1, 2006)

Stranger Things would have been too male-centric without the delightfully sarcastic Erica Sinclair, whose sassy personality was first introduced in Season 2. There’s nothing she loves more than teasing and mocking her brother Lucas, much to his chagrin. At the same time, Erica proves to be surprisingly courageous for her young age, being 9 and 10 years old during Seasons 2 and 3. Fans knew they would love Erica after her campy reappearance in Season 3, which was also when she became involved with the main storyline.

Although she could be rather brusque toward the other members of the Party, Dustin helped Erica realize the nerd within her. This catalytic moment helped fuel her inner strength throughout the various dangers posed by the Mind Flayer. Considering that she’s the youngest main character of Stranger Things, Erica’s repeated success is a testament to her fearless self-esteem. She will be around 12 years old when Season 5 opens in 1987, and fans can’t wait to hear Erica roast her brother and his friends again.

Martin Brenner Was Eleven's Villainous "Papa"

Actor's Current Age: 66 (March 22, 1959)

While the demogorgon was technically the main villain of Stranger Things Season 1, Dr. Martin Brenner is arguably responsible for multiple atrocities. Before he turned 30, Brenner used his fancy contacts to run Hawkins National Laboratory for the next 20+ years. He was the reason for Eleven’s innate superpowers, having previously dosed her pregnant mother with LSD. Brenner’s weirdly parental relationship with Eleven soon became the central focus of his character arc.

Season 1 left the 51-year-old Brenner seemingly mauled to death by the demogorgon, but he returned again with even more access to technology than before. Brenner convinced Eleven to use the Nina Project in order to restore her lost powers in Season 4, which also revealed that Brenner was actually behind Henry Creel’s transformation into Vecna. Before his death at the age of 57, Brenner begged Eleven to understand that he had never meant to hurt her. Unfortunately for both of them, the damage was done.

Eddie Munson Never Graduated from High School

Actor's Current Age: 31 (January 26, 1994)

Eddie Munson only appeared in the fourth season of Stranger Things and quickly became a fan-favorite character. The archetypical rebellious teenager, Eddie had a terrible reputation. When Chrissy Cunningham went missing, everyone assumed Eddie was behind the girl’s murder thanks to the moral panic surrounding Dungeons & Dragons and the name of his high school club being called «The Hellfire Club.» His love of heavy metal didn’t help his image either, although that becomes pivotal at the end of Season 4.

Stranger Things never states Eddie’s age, but some of his friends comment that he was supposed to graduate from high school in 1984. This could mean Eddie is around 19 years old. However, since Eddie went to middle school with Chrissy, and it’s unlikely perfect cheerleader Chrissy missed a year, it might just be a rumor. At the very least, this means there’s at most a two-year age gap between Eddie and Chrissy. Sadly, Eddie sacrificed himself in the Upside Down to draw the attention of the Demobats by playing Metallica on his electric guitar. Eddie’s time in Stranger Things was brief, but he leaves a lasting legacy within the fanbase.

Billy Hargrove Started as a Villain but Died a Hero

Actor's Current Age: 30 (November 22, 1994)

Max’s older step-brother, Billy, entered the series as one of the main antagonists. He was a bully and extremely mean to Max thanks to the pain he had suffered from his abusive father. Not to mention he was forced to move with his new stepmother and step-sister to boring ol’ Hawkins after enjoying life in California. So Billy holds that against Max, leading to their frequent conflicts. In the third season, Billy becomes a vessel for the Mind Slayer and obeys its orders.

However, in his final moments, Max reminds Billy of who he used to be before enduring his father’s violence. This affects Billy, who decides to change his behavior. He faces the Mind Flayer and dies in the process, protecting Max and her friends. Before dying, Billy apologizes to Max. Sadly, Billy was only 18 years old. While fans have heralded Billy as a hero, Max struggled to process his loss, their history, and the lost opportunity to grow close.

Robin Buckley Charmed Fans with Her Presence

Actor's Current Age: 26 (July 8, 1998)

Robin is introduced in Season 3 of Stranger Things as Steve’s coworker at the ice cream parlor Scoops Ahoy. In the beginning, the two have a rocky relationship, but they become friends throughout the season. Robin initially disliked Steve due to his behavior and his getting in the way of her crush at the time. Throughout the third season, Steve develops a crush on Robin before learning that Robin is instead interested in women.

Despite the hostility against queerness during the 1980s, Steve accepts Robin wholeheartedly and forms a much closer bond with her. Robin quickly became a member of the gang and one of the best LGBTQ+ characters on TV. According to the podcast series Rebel Robin: Surviving Hawkings, Robin’s birthday is on March 10, 1968, which would make her 17 years old in the third season and 18 in the fourth one. Robin will be a 19-year-old high school graduate in the fifth season of Stranger Things, if only there’s a high school to graduate from.

Jonathan Byers Is the Big Brother Will Deserves

Actor's Current Age: 31 (February 6, 1994)

Will’s older brother, Jonathan, becomes involved in all the mysteries surrounding Hawkins from the first season. He’s initially a loner seen by many at school as a creep. However, his search for his brother Will led him to form a relationship with his crush, Nancy, who was the popular girl in school. It’s also worth noting that Jonathan’s actor, Charlie Heaton, is also dating Nancy’s actress, Natalia Dyer, in real life.

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Jonathan is in high school throughout Stranger Things. Together with Nancy, he becomes an intern at The Hawkins Post. The two teenagers have a love for journalism and photography, which turns out to be handy in uncovering the secrets of the government and the mysteries in their town. However, Jonathan moves with his family to California where he befriends Argyle. Jonathan and Nancy begin to grow apart, and while that strain has mended, Jonathan is still concerned Nancy may be growing affectionate toward her ex, Steve. Because of Stranger Things‘ timeline, Jonathan would have finished high school by Season 5.

Joyce Byers Is a Maternal Force of Nature

Actor's Current Age: 53 (October 29, 1971)

Joyce Byers is the compassionate mother of Will and Jonathan and relentlessly tries to protect them, even at the cost of her image. Joyce forms a relationship with police chief Jim Hopper, eventually culminating in a relationship. There isn’t any direct information about Joyce’s age in Stranger Things. However, she’s the mother of a 16-year-old in the first season of the show, so she’s initially estimated to be in her late 30s or early 40s, but there’s little information about her life when she had Jonathan and Will.

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What’s more, she and Jim Hopper discuss that they were in school together, so they are more or less the same age, and he was born between 1941 and 1942. This adds up since Winona Ryder herself was born in 1971, making her 45 years old in the first season of Stranger Things. That’s only around 4 years older than her character, which is nowhere near as big of an age gap as other characters with their respective actors. This means that 45 is a good estimate for Joyce’s age for Season 5 of Stranger Things.

Nancy Wheeler's Arc Expands Significantly Over Time

Actor's Current Age: 30 (January 13, 1995)

Nancy was a model student at school. She always did well in classes and was dating the most popular guy in school, Steve. Nancy becomes involved in Hawkins’ mysteries because of the disappearance of her best friend, Barb. Investigating the incident, she encounters Jonathan, who has also lost his little brother, Will. Will also happens to be the best friend of Nancy’s younger brother, Mike. The two bond over this and find the source of these tragedies, finally finding Will in the Upside Down.

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Nancy goes through high school throughout Stranger Things. The show began in 1983, while Nancy started high school in 1982. By the fourth season, which is set in 1986, Nancy is already around 18 years old and about to graduate from high school. In fact, she was already accepted into Emerson College in Massachusetts. Nancy hopes Jonathan will join her at Emerson, while he plans to attend elsewhere. That said, 20-year-old Nancy will probably still be fighting the monsters in Season 5.

Jim Hopper Plays the Serious but Loving Adult

Actor's Current Age: 50 (April 10, 1975)

Jim Hopper is the lackadaisical police chief in the relatively boring town of Hawkins. Given the emerging mysteries, Hopper fulfills his duties by investigating Will’s disappearance. Over time, Hopper becomes Eleven’s dad, Joyce’s partner, and one of the greatest fighters in Stranger Things. Hopper puts everything on the line to protect Eleven and stop the monsters from the Upside Down. Hopper even goes as far as to sacrifice himself to save those he loves, which results in his eventual imprisonment in Russia.

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The series doesn’t state Hopper’s age, but just like Joyce, he’s likely in his forties. The book Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town, which explores Hopper’s past, states that Hopper was 35 in 1977, which would mean he was born between 1941 and 1942. This would mean Hopper is 44 years old in the fourth season of Stranger Things. Turning 45 before Season 5, Jim Hopper is one of the oldest heroic characters.

Steve Harrington Is the Party's Favorite Baby-Sitter

Actor's Current Age: 32 (April 24, 1992)

Steve might spend most of his time with children but he is a young adult. He is one year older than Nancy, Jonathan, and Robin. In fact, Steve graduated from high school in the third season of Stranger Things. However, Steve is a little bit lost in life, and he didn’t get accepted into any colleges, so he’s still hanging around town. Steve often finds himself hanging out with people younger than him, particularly Dustin and Robin.

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While Steve was a terrible boyfriend to Nancy in the first season, he grew a lot as a character. After his break up with Nancy, and being thrust into the bizarre occurrences throughout Hawkins, Steve grows to become a much better person. So much so that Nancy’s boyfriend, Jonathan, fears Nancy may return to him – something many fans hope to see as well. Despite still being immature, Steve is often looked upon as the adult in the room, whether or not he wants to be.

Lucas Sinclair Pursues Popularity as a Freshman

Actor's Current Age: 23 (October 13, 2001)

Lucas Sinclair is a part of the original quartet at the center of Stranger Things. Stranger Things begins with each member of the group in middle school. By Season 4 of Stranger Things, the group enters high school at Hawkins High School. Each member of the group was born in 1971 and is in the same grade. Apart from slight differences in months, the core of the cast is the same age. While Lucas’ birthdate isn’t explicitly mentioned, he’s one of the oldest in the group at age 15.

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Unlike the rest of the group, Lucas makes a push for high school popularity. He joined the basketball team and began spending more and more time with his fellow athletes. This creates a conflict during the moral panic surrounding D&D and the death of Chrissy as many of his teammates, including Chrissy’s boyfriend Jason Carver, pursue Eddie for her death. Lucas will begin Stranger Things Season 5 as a 16-year-old.

Dustin Henderson Is the Brains of the Young Outfit

Actor's Current Age: 22 (September 8, 2002)

Dustin is a freshman at Hawkins High School. Unlike Lucas, Dustin doesn’t care for popularity. He’s happy with where he’s at, being a member of the Eddie-led D&D «The Hellfire Club.» Dustin idolizes Eddie, and his determination to prove Eddie innocent helped lead to the discovery of Vecna, who serves as the primary antagonist henceforth in the series. Dustin also shares a close bond with Steve as the two appear inseparable, much to the chagrin at times of Steve.

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Dustin has a strong scientific mind and is one of the overall smartest members of the group. He’s often level-headed and quick to theorize the strange happenings around him. That penchant for science led him to Camp Know Where where he met his first girlfriend, Suzie Bingham. The two have kept a long-distance relationship where Suzie uses her computer skills to change Dustin’s grades from afar, despite feeling guilty about doing so. Their relationship has proven pivotal on multiple occasions. It’s tough to imagine the group coming close to success without Dustin or Suzie. Like his friend Lucas, Dustin will also be 16 in Season 5.

Max Mayfield Has Yet to Wake Up from Her Coma

Actor's Current Age: 22 (April 16, 2002)

In Stranger Things Season 2, Max Mayfield becomes the sixth member of the now high school-aged group and is in the same grade as her new friends. As a transfer student from San Diego, she quickly caught the attention of the non-Mike and Eleven members thanks to her impressive gaming skills. By the end of the second season, Max was fully entrenched in the group. She began dating Lucas in a relationship that ended in Season 4.

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Behind those gaming skills is a girl who has suffered abuse at the hands of her step-brother, Billy. Max and Billy hated each other, and after his heroic death, she struggled to mourn him and process his death. She began experiencing frequent nightmares over his death, which was the result of Vecna’s powers in the Upside Down. However, she was able to defy Vecna and subvert her fate thanks in large part to her favorite song «Running Up That Hill» by Kate Bush. This came at a great cost as her brief death led to the final Curse gate opening and leaving Max heavily injured and comatose entering the final season. Whether Max awakens and what her current ties are to the Upside Down remain one of many mysterious Stranger Things 5 has to solve.

Will Byers Has Suffered for Longer Than Most

Actor's Current Age: 20 (October 3, 2004)

Will Byers is the first name fans learn when beginning their run-through of Stranger Things. After all, his name is in the name of the first episode. Will’s disappearance is the driving force of the first season and the catalyst for the discovery of the Upside Down. Despite being freed from the Upside Down, Will’s unintended connection with the mysterious dimension persisted into later seasons. Thankfully, by Season 4, Will is no longer being put through the wringer, giving him a much-needed break from his frequent trauma and a possible chance to become Stranger Things‘ hero.

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At the end of Season 3, Will and Eleven move to California for their protection where the two begin high school apart from their companions. Season 4 is a pivotal season for Will’s character development as his feelings for Mike have come to the forefront, while Mike remains oblivious and happily in a relationship with Eleven. It’ll be interesting to see where the final season goes from there, but it’s an emerging emotional conflict that is sure to play a role before the finale. Also 16 in Season 5, Mike’s queer representation is a huge win for older LGBTQ+ fans who never got to see themselves reflected in 1980s media.

Mike Wheeler Is the Presumed Leader of the Party

Actor's Current Age: 22 (December 23, 2002)

Mike Wheeler serves as a main character of Stranger Things and the leader of the Party. Mike is the younger brother of Nancy. The two rarely saw eye-to-eye, but have grown much closer throughout the trials and tribulations the two have endured. After Will goes missing, Mike is committed to leading the Party on a mission to find him. During their desperate attempts to find Will, Mike discovers Eleven, who had just escaped from the Hawkins National Laboratory. Mike brings Eleven home, cares for her, and later discovers her mind-bending powers.

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At the end of the second season of Stranger Things, Mike and Eleven are in a relationship, which continues through Season 4. Eleven has played a huge role in Mike’s life whether it’s the rifts their relationships formed in The Party, which were later mended, or Mike’s determination to protect her – even if he did become overprotective. Mike struggled to handle his long-distance relationship with Eleven, which led to the partial dissolution of The Party as he wasn’t motivated to be the glue to hold them together. However, a heart-to-heart with Will about being the «heart» of The Party reinvigorated Mike to being the leader he had been and finally telling Eleven that he loves her.

Eleven Is Way Too Young to Carry So Many Burdens

Actor's Current Age: 21 (February 19, 2004)

Eleven, born Jane Ives and called El by her friends, is the main character of Stranger Things along with Mike. As a child, Eleven was kidnapped as a baby and grew up in Hawkins National Laboratory, trained by Dr. Brenner. There, Eleven was forced to undergo countless experiments and tests to develop and hone her psychokinetic abilities, which continued to traumatize her long after escaping.

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When Eleven was only 8 years old, she demonstrated extraordinary power. This led to the key moment of restoring the eventual Vecna’s, Henry Creel’s, abilities and later sending him to another dimension. When Eleven was only 12 years old, she accidentally created a door to the Upside Down and managed to escape the laboratory, encountering Mike, Lucas, and Dustin. Eleven still struggles to socially adapt to a relatively normal life, leading to both hilarious and heartbreaking interactions, but her relationship with Mike and love for her friends have allowed her to truly become more than just an experiment.

Vecna Is the Malevolent Author of Everyone's Pain

Actor's Current Age: 36 (November 22, 1988)

Season 4 dug into the well of answers by firmly establishing the existence of the Dungeons & Dragons-inspired Vecna. Vecna, originally named Henry Creel, was a troubled child who eventually discovered psychokinetic abilities. Afterward, The Mind Flayer – an alternate-dimensional entity that controls the inhabitants of the Upside Down – formed a connection with Vecna after he accidentally found himself in Dimension X as a child. Sometime after returning, Vecna tortured and killed his mother and sister while his father was convicted for their murder. While Vecna’s birth year is undefined, with plenty of contradictory information, it’s estimated to be between 1945 and 1950, which would put his age as of Season 4 between 35 and 41.

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After the murders, Dr. Martin Brenner took an interest in Vecna and became the Hawkins National Laboratory’s first test subject. That research led to other children unlocking psychokinetic powers, including Eleven. Vecna was initially bound by a Soteria implant, which suppressed his powers, but he convinced a young Eleven to use her powers to remove it. Afterward, Vecna embarked on a murderous rampage before Eleven sent him back to Dimension X. The former Creel completed his grotesque transformation into Vecna. Since then, Vecna’s been committed to bringing the Upside Down to the world and eradicating humanity.

New Cast Members Are Joining Stranger Things 5

A Few Pre-Existing Characters Will Also Be Highlighted

Season 5 of Stranger Things has been in the works for the last three years, the biggest time gap between any season. This time difference is twice that of the 18-month skip-forward between the narrative timelines of Seasons 4 and 5, leaving fans to wonder how the aging child stars will adapt. Given their generally youthful appearances and access to excellent makeup artists, however, this shouldn’t be a serious issue. Fans won’t care that the actors playing their favorite characters are already in their twenties, as long the suspension of disbelief is maintained. Although the exact dates aren’t out yet, it’s certain that Stranger Things 5 will be released in 2025, presumably in the fall or later.

In fact, fans are just as interested in new characters being introduced in Season 5, including Linda Hamilton’s still-mysterious role. As the legendary Sarah Connor from the Terminator franchise, Hamilton’s inclusion is yet another homage to ’80s nostalgia that many viewers will appreciate. A child actor named Jake Connelly is also set to appear in the inevitable final season of Stranger Things, perhaps to balance the series’ age dynamic in favor of younger characters. Further, Sarah Hopper and Holly Wheeler have also been recast. Most importantly, however, Robin Buckley’s crush Vickie will have a major role in Season 5, with both of them being around the same age. As for more information, the Stranger Things cast and crew have been pretty tight-lipped since production ended on December 20, 2024.