Caleb McLaughlin

Caleb Reginald McLaughlin was born on October 13, 2001 in Carmel, New York, the son of April and Corey McLaughlin. From a young age he showed a passion for performance, appearing in the opera Lost in the Stars at Glimmerglass Opera House and studying dance at Happy Feet Dance School before enrolling at the Seven Star School of Performing Arts. His dedication led him to the Harlem School of the Arts, where he trained under former Lion King producer Aubrey Lynch. In 2012, at just eleven years old, McLaughlin landed his first major starring role on Broadway as young Simba in the celebrated musical The Lion King, a part he reprised until 2014. After leaving the stage, he accumulated guest‑spot appearances on television series such as Law & Order: SVU, Unforgettable, Forever, What Would You Do? and Shades of Blue, steadily building a versatile résumé while still attending school in the New York suburbs.

McLaughlin's career took a decisive turn in 2016 when he was cast as Lucas Sinclair in Netflix's cultural phenomenon Stranger Things, a role that has earned him international recognition and a devoted fan base. The performance garnered a BET YoungStars Award nomination in 2017 and won him the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance by a Youth in 2018. Expanding into film, he appeared in the drama High Flying Bird (2019) before securing his first leading role in Concrete Cowboy (2020) opposite Idris Elba and Jharrel Jerome. Outside of acting, he has championed body‑positive campaigns #EmbraceYourFace and #BeYourBiggestFan, and he publicly urged young voters to participate in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. In December 2020, Forbes named him to its 30 Under 30 Class of 2021, and in early 2024 rumors surfaced—later revealed as a parody—about his involvement in a biopic of rapper 21 Savage. Through his activism, award‑winning performances, and continued presence on screen, McLaughlin exemplifies a new generation of socially conscious artists.