Caleb McLaughlin

Caleb Reginald McLaughlin is an American actor born on October 13, 2001. An African-American performer, he achieved worldwide fame for his portrayal of Lucas Sinclair in the Netflix series Stranger Things, a role he played from 2016 to 2025. Before gaining global success on television, he launched his performing career on stage as a child actor.

McLaughlin was raised in Carmel, New York, alongside his younger sister Caitlyn, who is also an actress. His early schooling included Kent Primary School and one year at George Fischer Middle School. He pursued performing arts education through several institutions, spending a year studying dance at Happy Feet Dance School and another year at Seven Star School of Performing Arts in Brewster, New York. He subsequently trained at the Harlem School of the Arts in Harlem, New York, under former Lion King producer Aubrey Lynch.

His professional acting debut came as a child in the opera Lost in the Stars at the Glimmerglass Opera House in Cooperstown, New York. Between 2012 and 2014, McLaughlin secured his first lead role, starring on Broadway as young Simba in the musical The Lion King. Following his theater tenure, he appeared as a guest actor on television shows including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Unforgettable, Forever, What Would You Do?, and Shades of Blue.

In 2016, McLaughlin attained his breakthrough role when he was cast in Stranger Things. His television credits also include the 2017 miniseries The New Edition Story and multiple voice acting roles. Moving into cinema, he appeared in the 2019 drama High Flying Bird and starred in his first feature film lead role in the 2020 drama Concrete Cowboy alongside Idris Elba and Jharrel Jerome, which received positive critical reviews.

Over the course of his career, McLaughlin has earned various honors. He was nominated for the BET YoungStars Award in 2017 and won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance by a Youth in 2018. In December 2020, he was selected for the Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2021. In January 2024, he was announced to appear alongside Donald Glover and 21 Savage in a biographical project about 21 Savage playing a younger version of the rapper, which Savage later clarified was a promotional parody that might eventually become a full feature.

McLaughlin has publicly discussed facing racism as the sole Black main cast member during early promotional appearances for Stranger Things. He has also promoted self-esteem and positive body image by starting the social media initiatives #EmbraceYourFace and #BeYourBiggestFan. During the 2020 United States presidential election, he utilized his Instagram platform and links to Vote.org to encourage public voting participation.