Charles Ross Heaton (born 6 February 1994) is an English actor and musician. He is known for starring as Jonathan Byers in the Netflix science fiction horror series Stranger Things (2016–present) and for his roles in feature films like As You Are (2016), Marrowbone (2017), The New Mutants (2020), No Future (2021), and The Souvenir Part II (2021). Prior to his acting career, Heaton played in a number of London-based bands.
Charlie Heaton | |
|---|---|
 Heaton in September 2017 | |
| Born | Charles Ross Heaton 6 February 1994 Leeds, West Yorkshire, England |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Partner | Natalia Dyer (2016–present) |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
editHeaton was born on 6 February 1994[1] in Leeds, West Yorkshire. He was raised by his mother on a council estate in Bridlington, a small coastal town in Yorkshire.[2] Heaton has an older sister, Levi Heaton, also an actor[3] and a member of Self Esteem's live band.[4]
Career
edit2010–2014: Music
editHeaton moved to London at age 16. He played in a number of bands before joining the noise-rock band Comanechi as the drummer.[5] During his tenure, the band released an album in 2013 and toured for a year and a half.[6][7] Heaton then joined London-based psychedelic band Half Loon.[8]
2014–present: Acting and Stranger Things
editHeaton has no formal acting training, first considering an acting career while working for extras and commercial agencies to supplement his income as a musician and bartender.[7][5]
The year 2015 proved to be a pivotal time for Heaton; he had guest roles on a string of British television dramas and was cast in three major projects, including Stranger Things. He first appeared in the ITV crime drama series DCI Banks and Vera and then guest-starred in BBC One's medical drama series Casualty.[9][10][11] In his first feature film role, he appeared in the 2016 thriller film Shut In, co-starring Naomi Watts and Oliver Platt, and directed by Farren Blackburn.[12][13] The film was produced in early 2015, prior to being cast in Stranger Things, but was released following the show's premiere.[14][15] Concurrently, he filmed the coming-of-age film As You Are in late 2015. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2016.[16]
Heaton's breakthrough role was as Jonathan Byers in the Netflix supernatural drama series Stranger Things.[17][18] The first season premiered in July 2016 to critical acclaim; the most recent season, its fourth, was released in 2022.
In 2017, Heaton had a main role in the psychological horror film Marrowbone. In May of that year, Heaton was cast to star as Samuel "Sam" Guthrie / Cannonball in the film The New Mutants based on the Marvel Comics comic book of the same name.[19] Filmed in 2017, the film was released in 2020. In August 2018, the BBC announced that Heaton would be playing Joseph Merrick, commonly known as the "Elephant Man", in a new two-part drama.[20] The casting drew criticism from a disability charity group, the group's head saying that not using a disabled actor was a missed opportunity.[21] Ultimately, it was not produced.
In 2021, he starred opposite Catherine Keener in the independent film No Future and was part of the cast of the critically acclaimed drama The Souvenir Part II.
Personal life
editHeaton has a son with former band mate Akiko Matsuura, Archie, who was born in 2014.[1][22][23][24] Since 2016, he has been in a relationship with his Stranger Things co-star Natalia Dyer, who plays his character's girlfriend Nancy Wheeler in the series.[25]
In October 2017, Heaton was detained at LAX Airport in Los Angeles for possession of small amounts of cocaine. He was not charged with a crime and was instead sent back to London. He was later allowed to return to the US to shoot the third season of Stranger Things.[26]
Since first moving to London, he became a keen football fan and an avid supporter of Arsenal F.C.[27]
Folk-punk band Skinny Lister wrote the song "Charlie" on their 2016 album The Devil, the Heart, and the Fight about Heaton.[28] Heaton was a childhood friend of several band members.
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Life Needs Courage | Charlie | Short film |
| 2015 | The Schoolboy | Michael Stevens | Short film |
| Rise of the Footsoldier Part II | Dealer | ||
| Urban & the Shed Crew | Frank | ||
| 2016 | As You Are | Mark | |
| Shut In | Stephen Portman | ||
| 2017 | The Performers: Act III | Bowie Character | Short film |
| Marrowbone | Billy Marrowbone | ||
| 2020 | The New Mutants | Samuel Guthrie / Cannonball | |
| 2021 | No Future | Will | |
| The Souvenir Part II | Jim Dagger |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | DCI Banks | Gary McCready | 2 episodes |
| Vera | Riley | Episode: "Changing Tides" | |
| Casualty | Luke Dickinson / Jason Waycott | 2 episodes | |
| 2016–present | Stranger Things | Jonathan Byers | Main role; 34 episodes |
| 2020 | Soulmates | Kurt | Episode: "Break On Through" |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Stranger Things | Won | [29] |
| 2018 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | [30] | |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Scene Stealer | Nominated | [31] | ||
| 2020 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | [32] |
References
edit- ^ a b "Charlie Heaton: 12 facts about the Stranger Things actor you need to know". PopBuzz. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ Weinstock, Tish (2 November 2016). "stranger things have happened: charlie heaton on finding fame". I-D Vice.
- ^ "Charlie Heaton on Stranger Things and the final fling for Jancy". British GQ. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ Empire, Kitty (13 November 2021). "Self Esteem review – rallying cries from a woman reborn". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ a b Eckhardt, Stephanie (15 August 2016). "With a Little Help from Winona Ryder, "Stranger Things" Star Charlie Heaton Is Taking Off". W Magazine. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ Dziautaite, Modesta (18 July 2016). Bailey, David (ed.). "Charlie Heaton". Interview. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
- ^ a b Grater, Tom (5 October 2015). "Charlie Heaton, Stars of Tomorrow 2015". Screen Daily. Media Business Insight Limited. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
- ^ "Charlie Heaton on Instagram: "Hey guys! 'Half loon' the band I used to play in debuted their first single 'Ruth' from their upcoming album. Go to there page to check it…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 23 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ Robinson, Jennifer (23 April 2015). "DCI BANKS: Season 4". KPBS.org. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ^ "Vera Cast List 2015: ITV Series 5 Air Date and Character Details". TellyChat.co.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ^ "The Department of Secrets – Series 29 Episode 31 of 46". BBC. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (18 March 2015). "Oliver Platt Joins Naomi Watts In 'Shut In' For EuropaCorp & Lava Bear". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ^ McNary, Dave (6 March 2015). "Naomi Watts' Shut In Set 2016 Release Date". Variety. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (18 March 2015). "Oliver Platt Joins Naomi Watts In 'Shut In' For EuropaCorp & Lava Bear". Deadline. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (20 August 2015). "Duffer Bros. Netflix Supernatural Drama Series Sets Young Cast, Gets Title". Deadline. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ Biancolli, Amy (3 December 2015). "Locally shot movie 'As You Are' selected for Sundance festival". Times Union. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (20 August 2015). "Duffer Bros. Netflix Supernatural Drama Series Sets Young Cast, Gets Title". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 21 August 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (20 August 2015). "Netflix Casts 7 Young Actors in Stranger Things Supernatural Drama from Duffer Brothers". Variety. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
- ^ Goldberg, Matt (31 May 2017). "'New Mutants' Finds Its Cannonball with 'Stranger Things' Star Charlie Heaton". Collider. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ "Charlie Heaton is The Elephant Man". BBC. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ "Anger over casting of Stranger Things star Charlie Heaton as Elephant Mann". Sky News. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ "Who is Archie Heaton? And His Relation with Charlie Heaton from Stranger Things". Zestvine. 27 December 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ Gemmill, Allie (30 October 2017). "Stranger Things's Charlie Heaton Reportedly Has a Son". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ "Stranger Things". US Weekly. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ "Stranger Things stars Natalia Dyer & Charlie Heaton's relationship". Capital.
- ^ "Stranger Things' Charlie Heaton Opens Up About Cocaine Possession Reports". E! Online. 11 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ "10 Things Charlie Heaton Can't Live Without". GQ. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ Daly, Rhian (27 September 2016). "Skinny Lister Pay Tribute To 'Stranger Things' Actor On New Album 'The Devil, The Heart & The Fight' - Listen To It In Full Here". NME. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ Nolfi, Joely (14 December 2016). "SAG Awards nominations 2017: See the full list". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (21 January 2018). "SAG Awards' Stunt Ensemble Nominees Include Fallen 'Walking Dead' Stuntman". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ Swift, Andy (22 June 2018). "Teen Choice Awards 2018: Riverdale Leads Final Wave of TV Nominations". TVLine. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (11 December 2019). "SAG Awards Nominations: 'Bombshell', 'The Irishman', 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood' Top Film List, 'Maisel,' 'Fleabag' Score In TV – Complete List Of Noms". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 24 July 2020.