David Harbour reveals if he thinks Eleven died on "Stranger Things'
David Harbour reveals if he thinks Eleven died on "Stranger Things'
Brendan Morrow, USA TODAYTue, June 2, 2026 at 2:36 PM UTC
0
David Harbour doesn't believe.
The "Stranger Things" star has weighed in on the biggest lingering question coming off the Netflix show's series finale: Is Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) alive?
"I think she's dead," Harbour told USA TODAY at the Gotham TV Awards, where he won best supporting performance in a limited or anthology series for "DTF St. Louis," on Monday, June 1.
The "Stranger Things" finale ended the hit show on an ambiguous note, with Eleven sacrificing herself to save her friends and seemingly dying. But in the final scene, Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) tells a story about how Eleven secretly faked her death and is living peacefully somewhere. Because she can't come out of hiding, Mike says no one will know the truth, but he and his friends choose to believe the story.
More Gotham TV Awards: Kerry Washington reflects on 'delightful insanity' of awards season
David Harbour attends the Gotham Television Awards on June 1, 2026, in New York City.
The ending left fans to debate whether Eleven really is alive. Speaking on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast in January, creators Matt and Ross Duffer confirmed they have a definitive answer, but won't share it, noting they "left it ambiguous for a reason" because "we want the audience to be in the shoes that Mike and the whole group are in, which is, it's up to you to choose whether to believe or not."
The Duffers also revealed Brown knows whether Eleven survived, but she has been sworn to secrecy and won't even tell her costars.
While the show's other actors don't know the truth, many of them have shared their interpretations since the finale aired. Noah Schnapp, who played Will, told The Los Angeles Times, "I personally believe that she [Eleven] is still alive. I am hopeful about it."
Advertisement
But he may be in the minority among the cast, as several of his costars have backed the less hopeful interpretation. Sadie Sink, who played Max, said on "The Tonight Show," "I think she's dead."
David Harbour attends the "Stranger Things" Emmys event at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on May 21, 2026, in Los Angeles.
"I think Mike's story is just one last story, and then they say goodbye to childhood," she added. "But that's just one final tale, and that's it. I think it's just like a coping thing. I think it's stronger, right?"
Millie Bobby Brown is sworn to secrecy about Eleven's 'Stranger Things' fate
Caleb McLaughlin, who played Lucas, agreed, saying on "The View," "I think she's gone. I think, rest in peace Eleven." Gaten Matarazzo, who played Dustin, also told The Hollywood Reporter he leans toward thinking Eleven's dead, but isn't completely sure.
"I think she would be [dead], but I also see a world where Matt and Ross would flip it around at some point," Matarazzo told the outlet. "I think that's kind of their intention. So 'I don't know' is what I will say right now."
In a more recent appearance on "Happy Sad Confused" in May, Matt Duffer said he was surprised to see so many of the show's stars be in agreement that Eleven didn't survive.
"So many of the actors are going out and saying they don't believe," he said. "I'm like, 'What are you talking about?' ... I'm not saying they're wrong. It's just interesting that they all concluded that, without talking to us."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Stranger Things' – David Harbour shares theory on if Eleven died
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
