Stranger Things star David Harbour did not see himself being part of the show for so long

Stranger Things reigns as one of the shows to reckon with in contemporary times. However, back when it first aired on Netflix in 2016, there was little expectation that Stranger Things would assume such an important place in pop-culture. This is evident from David Harbour's recently in an interview with GQ magazine on April 24, 2025, admitted that he envisioned his character of Jim Hopper to take his own life by the end of the debut season. Harbour commented that this belief stemmed from the apprehension that the show wouldn't last any longer than it's first season.

Here's everything that we know.

David Harbour opens up about his role on Stranger Things

Despite being a commendable actor, David Harbour was going through a rough patch in his acting career when the role of Police Chief Jim Hopper first came to him. From his initial reading of the screenplay, Harbour developed the notion that the only plausible way for his character's arc to end was with him committing suicide at the end of the first season. Harbout mentioned to GQ:

"I think (viewers) were just committed to the beauty of that moment of his death. It was so moving that I think they almost didn't want him to be alive.”

Harbour back then had no idea that the show would go on to become a colossal hit, spanning a five season long journey. His character of Hopper endeared itself to the audience in a massive way after becoming a sort of father figure to Eleven and risking his life numerous times to save the children from the evils of the Upside Down and other foes.

Harbour further revealed to GQ about the way in which he approached his character:

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"I was always kind of like all actors – kind of bullsh**ty, working out, and trying to… whatever, and then on (Stranger Things), I just stopped working out. I just ate doughnuts, like a cop would in the Midwest. And I didn’t shave. And I was just like: f**k it. He’s a mess. Let him be a mess. And let me be a mess while we’re shooting."

In retrospect, it seems like Hopper's death by suicide at the end of the show's debut season would have made the rest of the show completely different and it's good that the character survived.

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