Caleb McLaughlin’s Untold Story: From Childhood Dreams to Hollywood Stardom

From a kid with big dreams to one of Hollywood’s most promising young stars, Caleb McLaughlin’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Before he was battling monsters in Stranger Things, he was just a playful, imaginative child growing up in New York—dancing, acting, and dreaming of wearing The Lion King‘s iconic costume. But behind his rise to fame is a story of relentless hard work, family support, and overcoming challenges that many never saw. So, how did Caleb go from a Broadway newcomer to a Netflix sensation? Let’s dive into the untold story of his childhood, teenage years, and the defining moments that shaped him.

Early Life and Family Influence

Caleb McLaughlin was born on October 13, 2001, in Carmel, New York. He grew up in a supportive family that balanced discipline with creativity. His father, Corey McLaughlin Sr., was a trained classical opera singer, while his mother, April McLaughlin, worked as a guidance counselor. Their careers exposed Caleb to both the arts and education, giving him a well-rounded upbringing.

Caleb spent his childhood alongside his three siblings—two sisters, Crystal and Caitlyn, and a brother, Corey Jr. Their strong bond fostered a playful and imaginative environment, which later influenced his passion for acting. Reflecting on his early years, he shared:

“Since I’ve been young, I got a lot of siblings, so we always just played around acting like we were a different person.”

Originally from the Bronx, Caleb and his family moved to upstate New York when he was about six years old. His parents wanted to give their children a quieter, more spacious environment. He has spoken about how this shift shaped his upbringing:

“I’m from the Bronx, but I moved upstate when I was like six years old. My parents wanted my sisters and me to have a different lifestyle up there… you know, the suburbs and the woods.”

Despite relocating, Caleb frequently traveled to New York City for auditions and training, with his mother managing much of his early career. He balanced school with acting, gaining experience while keeping a sense of normalcy in his life.

One of his most memorable childhood moments, often laughed about within his family, happened at a swimming pool:

“I was swimming with my family, and I was like six years old, about to jump off the diving board, but I was super nervous. So every time I was about to jump off… then when I finally jumped off, I went in the water, and everyone was excited. But when I came out, my pants were down… That was really embarrassing, and it’s on tape!”

As Caleb’s career grew, his family remained a grounding force in his life. He often credits them for keeping him humble and reminding him of his roots:

“I wouldn’t even say get back to it—my parents, my family reminds me of being grounded where my foundation is, and being around the people that knew me before all of this.”

Education and Training

Caleb attended Kent Primary School before moving to George Fischer Middle School for a year. However, as his acting career took off, he was homeschooled to balance his education with his growing commitments in the entertainment industry. His parents ensured that he maintained strong academic performance even as he pursued his passion for the arts.

From an early age, Caleb trained in dance and performance, attending Happy Feet Dance School in Carmel, NY, before enrolling at the Harlem School of the Arts, where he trained under Aubrey Lynch, a former Broadway producer. He trained in ballet, jazz, and tap dance.

Beyond dance, Caleb also gained experience in opera. At just ten years old, he performed in Lost in the Stars at the Glimmerglass Opera House in Cooperstown, New York. This was his first major stage performance, giving him valuable experience in live theater. Reflecting on that time, he said:

“That summer was amazing… it was an experience for sure.”

Before transitioning to Broadway, Caleb first explored acting through community theater. His first-ever audition was for Prince Charming in a Pied Piper Theater production, a role he successfully landed. This experience encouraged him to pursue acting more seriously.

How Caleb Got Into Acting

Although Caleb McLaughlin ultimately found his passion in acting, it was not his first career aspiration. As a child, he had a variety of dreams that had nothing to do with the stage.

“I wanted to play sports. I wanted to be a bodybuilder. I wanted to have my own garage band after watching Lemonade Mouth.”

His interest in performing arts initially began as a fun activity rather than a serious career path. It was The Lion King on Broadway that first caught his attention—not for the acting or singing, but for the costumes and production design.

“Watching The Lion King, I wasn’t like, ‘I want to act, I want to sing.’ I was like, ‘Nah, I want to dress up and wear the makeup and the wig that Simba was wearing.’ Oh, he looks like he’s having so much fun—I want to dance on stage.”

His enthusiasm for the production eventually led him to audition, and in 2012, he secured the role of Young Simba—a role that would push him far beyond his expectations. What started as excitement about wearing the costume quickly turned into one of the most demanding experiences of his career.

He rehearsed for one month, starting early each morning with physical workouts, vocal training, and memorization of the entire First Act, with only Mondays off. It was a strict environment, where discipline was non-negotiable—an experience he later shared in his interview with Paul Rivera.

Even after rehearsals and performances, Caleb found it difficult to switch off the energy of Simba. His tendency to bring characters home was something that started in his Broadway days.

“Oh I would come home from like an exciting night because Simba is very energetic, and I would go home bouncing off the walls at 2 o’clock.”

His parents, knowing he had school the next morning, often reminded him to wind down, but it was nearly impossible.

“My parents were like, ‘Go to sleep, you have school tomorrow!’ But I was like, I can’t! I can’t just eat all the junk food, watch TV, do all this stuff, and growl at them.”

At times, his playful attachment to the role even led to mischievous moments at home.

“I would sneak up on them… pounce like a little creep.”

Following his time on Broadway, Caleb transitioned to on-screen acting, debuting in independent short films like Noah’s Dream of an Origami,where he explored a more introspective character.

Landing Stranger Things Role

Caleb’s transition from Broadway to television was a turning point in his career. His first television appearance was a guest role in Law & Order: SVU, where he played a minor character of a boy and had one line.

Following this, he took on guest roles in Blue Bloods, Shades of Blue, and Forever. However, his big break came when he auditioned for a then-unknown Netflix project, initially titled Montauk. The casting process was rigorous, requiring multiple auditions and callbacks. Eventually, he was flown to Los Angeles for a final chemistry read with his future co-stars.

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Despite the uncertainty, Caleb remained hopeful. When the life-changing call finally came, he was just a kid riding bikes with his friends.

“They called me after I was riding bikes with my friends. They were like, ‘Hey Caleb, just wanted to let you know—you’re officially Lucas.’ And I was like, ‘WHOA.'”

Learning to Be Lucas: Evolving with the Character

At just 13 years old, Caleb McLaughlin secured one of the lead roles in Stranger Things. However, his connection with his character, Lucas Sinclair, didn’t come instantly. Over time, he had to grow into the role, gradually understanding Lucas’s personality and learning how to bring him to life on screen.

“I think me from before I would say I connected with the character, but I was still learning the character. Because as we filmed and we got scripts for different episodes, I had to figure out how Lucas would react.”

By the end of Season 1 and into Season 2, he truly embraced the character, making Lucas his own.

“Probably towards the end of Season 1, Season 2, I connected with the character… I became Lucas.”

As the series progressed, Lucas evolved from a skeptical, cautious friend into a courageous and intelligent leader within the group—an evolution that Caleb deeply related to. Each new season felt bigger, and even as a cast member, he sometimes had to take a step back to fully appreciate the phenomenon the show had become.

“Each season that comes out, it always just takes it to a different level… even this last season, I’m like, dang, this is actually a real show. Like, I’m like, we’re like The Beatles for real.”

Life on Set: Challenges and Growth Behind the Camera

Filming Stranger Things was both thrilling and demanding. The long hours on set, coupled with physically and emotionally challenging scenes, meant Caleb had to balance being a professional actor with simply being a teenager.

“We work about 10 hours a day sometimes or maybe even over that… and then when I leave, I still kind of have [Lucas] inside me.”

One of the most difficult aspects of growing up on-screen was experiencing puberty in front of millions of people. While most teenagers go through awkward phases privately, Caleb had to navigate this under constant public scrutiny.

“A lot of teenagers go through that weird awkward stage where they don’t want to be around people… I was on camera during that stage.”

Despite the challenges, Caleb enjoyed the physical demands of the role, often performing his own stunts.

“I had to learn how to properly hold and shoot a slingshot… It’s harder than it looks!”

Off-camera, the cast formed strong bonds, helping each other navigate the pressures of fame.

“Between takes, we’d joke around and play games… but when it was time to get serious, we locked in.”

Navigating Fame and Public Scrutiny

With fame came challenges—some more difficult than others. As one of the few Black cast members on Stranger Things, Caleb faced unique struggles. Unlike his white co-stars, he was frequently identified by his race rather than his character’s name.

“People refer to me as ‘the Black kid in Stranger Things’ while everyone else is called by their character’s name. It made me question things, but I’ve learned to embrace it and show that I’m more than just ‘the Black guy in Stranger Things.’”

This bias extended beyond how he was spoken about—it also affected his interactions with fans.

“At my first Comic-Con, some people didn’t stand in my line because I was Black.”

Beyond racial bias, Caleb also faced backlash from fans who struggled to separate him from his character. Lucas’s initial skepticism toward Eleven in Season 1 led to strong negative reactions, something Caleb hadn’t anticipated.

“People hated me because my character didn’t like Eleven in Season 1. That stuff really got to me when I was 14 or 15. I was like, ‘Dang, I’m a really nice guy!’”

As he matured, he learned to separate himself from his character and develop mental resilience.

“As I got older, I learned to be mentally strong and not let those things bother me.”

A Message of Self-Love and Confidence

Rather than letting these experiences define him, Caleb chose to use his platform for something positive. He started the Be Your Biggest Fan and Embrace Your Face campaign, encouraging young people to embrace self-love and confidence—something he personally struggled with during puberty.

“You have to learn to love yourself because, at the end of the day, when no one else is with you, you’re with yourself.”

Through it all, Caleb credits his parents and faith for keeping him grounded.

“God and my parents really helped me through everything.”

Friendship and Personal Relationships

One of the greatest takeaways from Stranger Things for Caleb has been the friendships he formed along the way. Many of his closest relationships began years before the show even started, including his friendship with Gaten Matarazzo. Both actors started in theater and met while performing on Broadway, long before they became Netflix stars.

“When I first met Caleb, I think we were both on Broadway… we’d always go to what we called the Broadway Park… all the kids on Broadway go there to hang out.”

The friendships he built on Stranger Things have remained strong over the years, despite the cast members taking on new projects and growing into their own careers.

“I’ve known Gaten for a long time now, and I feel like our friendship will always last.”

Music Influences and Personal Style

Caleb grew up in a musically rich household, heavily influenced by legendary artists such as Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind & Fire. His father, a trained classical opera singer, further nurtured his appreciation for diverse musical styles.

“Stevie Wonder is my favorite artist of all time… I grew up loving R&B, neo-soul, and old-school artists.”

His music spans multiple genres, including R&B, soul, pop, and reggae. He spent four years refining his sound and released his debut single Neighborhood, a song reflecting his personal style and storytelling.

Caleb’s creative process involves deep storytelling, as seen in Neighborhood, which explores the theme of introducing a romantic partner to his family.

His musical development was shaped by his early experiences in Broadway and opera, requiring him to transition from theatrical singing to a personal vocal style.

“It’s different from Broadway… now I’m training to sing like me… it took me a while to find my voice.” –

Expanding His Career

Beyond Stranger Things, Caleb has expanded his career into film and music. He starred in Concrete Cowboy (2020) alongside Idris Elba, playing a rebellious teen sent to live with his estranged father in Philadelphia. His performance was praised for its emotional depth and maturity.

In 2023, he took on the role of Lil Dru Joyce in Shooting Stars, a film about LeBron James’ high school basketball team. To prepare for the role, Caleb trained extensively:

“They didn’t want just an actor—they wanted someone who could hoop. I was playing against real athletes like Scoot Henderson and Mookie Cook.”

What’s Next for Caleb McLaughlin?

As Stranger Things approaches its final season, Caleb McLaughlin is just getting started. With upcoming film projects, a budding music career, and a dedication to inspiring young people, his future is brighter than ever.

From a playful childhood in New York to Hollywood’s spotlight, Caleb’s journey is a testament to hard work, resilience, and self-belief. And as he continues to evolve, one thing remains certain—this is only the beginning.

Sources and References:
Baller Alert | Teen Vogue | Teen Vogue | Spring Hill | Today with Jenna and Friends | Hot 97 | Additional Source | Additional Source | Additional Source | Additional Source