Who Is Noah Schnapp? The Stranger Things Star Everyone Is Talking About
Noah Schnapp is a 21-year-old American actor best known for playing Will Byers in Netflix’s hit sci-fi series Stranger Things. Here’s a quick snapshot:
- Born: October 3, 2004, in New York City (raised in Scarsdale, NY)
- Breakthrough role: Will Byers in Stranger Things (2016–present)
- Other notable work: Voiced Charlie Brown in The Peanuts Movie (2015); appeared in Bridge of Spies (2015)
- Education: Attending Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (graduating 2026)
- Business: Co-founded snack brand TBH and virtual restaurant TenderFix
- Personal: Came out as gay in January 2023
- Salary: Grew from $10,000 per episode in Season 1 to $7,000,000 total for Season 5
Beyond the screen, Noah has become a young entrepreneur, a college student, and a cultural figure with a loyal — and sometimes passionate — global fanbase.
Stranger Things may be wrapping up, but Noah Schnapp’s story is just getting started. As a New York native with deep roots in the kind of hustle and creativity this city is known for, he’s someone worth knowing more about.
Explore more about noah schnapp:
The Rise of Noah Schnapp: From Scarsdale to Hawkins
We often see child stars who seem to appear out of nowhere, but for noah schnapp, the journey began right here in the New York area. Born in Manhattan and raised in the suburbs of Scarsdale, Noah grew up in a family with deep international roots. His parents, Mitchell and Karine Schnapp, are originally from Montreal, Quebec, which granted Noah dual citizenship in the United States and Canada.
Family is a huge part of Noah’s life, and he isn’t the only one in the spotlight. He has a twin sister Chloe who is four minutes younger than him. While Noah was busy filming in the Upside Down, Chloe was carving out her own path, though the two remain incredibly close. Their Jewish heritage is also a significant part of their identity; Noah even held his Bar Mitzvah in Israel, a trip that would later become a point of public discussion during his more recent social involvements.
Noah’s passion for acting wasn’t a passing phase. It started at the tender age of five after he saw a Broadway production of Annie. Like many of us who grew up in the city, the magic of the theater was infectious. He began acting in school and community plays, eventually joining an acting program at Westchester’s Star Kidz. It was there that his teacher, Alyson Isbrandtsen, realized he had the “it” factor and referred him to professional management.
Despite his meteoric rise, Noah has always tried to keep one foot in the “real world.” Before he headed off to college, he actually spent a summer working as a lifeguard. It’s hard to imagine the kid who survived the Mind Flayer watching over a community pool, but he noted in interviews that it was a way to stay grounded and experience a bit of a “normal” teenage life before his career reached its next level.
Career Milestones: From Charlie Brown to Global Stardom
Noah’s professional debut was anything but small. In 2015, he landed a role in Steven Spielberg’s historical drama Bridge of Spies, playing Roger Donovan alongside Tom Hanks. Working with a legendary director like Spielberg at such a young age is the kind of experience most actors dream of for decades.
That same year, he became the voice of one of the most iconic characters in American animation: Charlie Brown. In The Peanuts Movie, Noah brought a modern yet classic vulnerability to the role. He even voiced the character for the tie-in video game, The Peanuts Movie: Snoopy’s Grand Adventure. This early success saw him climbing the IMDbPro Starmeter, where he has consistently ranked among the top 5,000 most popular actors globally, peaking at impressive spots like rank 154.
However, everything changed in 2016 with the release of Stranger Things. Originally, Noah auditioned for the role of Mike Wheeler (which eventually went to Finn Wolfhard), but the casting directors saw something special in his portrayal of Will Byers. In Season 1, Will was mostly a mystery—a boy trapped in another dimension. By Season 2, Noah was promoted to a series regular, and his performance as a boy possessed by the Mind Flayer was hailed as the “MVP” of the season.
His work on the show has earned him several accolades, including:
- A Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
- An MTV Movie & TV Award for “Best Frightened Performance.”
- A People’s Choice Award for “The Male TV Star.”
To give you an idea of how much his life changed, let’s look at the numbers. The financial trajectory of a Stranger Things star is nothing short of incredible.
| Season | Estimated Salary per Episode | Total Season Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | $10,000 | ~$80,000 |
| Season 2 | $20,000 | ~$180,000 |
| Season 3 | $250,000 | ~$2,000,000 |
| Season 5 | N/A | $7,000,000 (Contract) |
The Evolution of Will Byers and Noah Schnapp in Season 5
As we look toward the final chapter of Stranger Things, the Duffer Brothers have teased that Will Byers will once again take center stage. The story began with his disappearance, and it seems fitting that it will end with his resolution. For noah schnapp, this final season represents a creative peak. He has mentioned in interviews that Season 5 pushed him further than any other, requiring a massive range of emotions as Will finally confronts his trauma and finds inner peace.
We’ve watched Will grow from a quiet, sensitive kid into a young man grappling with his identity and his connection to the Upside Down. Noah has shared that he feels a deep sense of satisfaction with how the character’s arc concludes, promising fans that Will finally gains the agency and identity he has been searching for since that first night in Mirkwood.
Business Ventures and Academic Pursuits
While many actors his age are content with red carpets and film sets, Noah has always had an eye for business. This drive led him to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He isn’t just a celebrity student; he’s a dedicated entrepreneurship and innovation major, scheduled to graduate in 2026.
Noah has often spoken about how he didn’t want to just “be an actor.” He wanted to understand the mechanics of building a brand. This academic journey has been happening in tandem with his massive social media presence. As of June 2022, his YouTube channel boasted over 4.2 million subscribers and 110 million views, where he shares everything from “Actually Me” Q&As to collaborations with other influencers.
TBH and the Entrepreneurial Spirit of Noah Schnapp
Noah’s first major foray into the food world—a topic we at Edible Brooklyn are particularly fond of—was the launch of TBH (To Be Honest) in 2021. Inspired by his own love for hazelnut spreads and a growing awareness of the environmental impact of palm oil, Noah set out to create a sustainable, vegan alternative to Nutella.
TBH stands out for several reasons:
- No Palm Oil: Unlike many major brands, TBH avoids palm oil to help prevent deforestation.
- High Protein: It contains more protein and less sugar than traditional spreads.
- Vegan and Gluten-Free: It caters to a wide range of dietary needs, fitting perfectly into the health-conscious Brooklyn and Manhattan food scenes.
Noah didn’t just put his name on the jar; he was deeply involved in the crowdfunding campaign on the Republic platform, which valued the company at $15 million.
But he didn’t stop at snacks. In 2023, Noah partnered with IHOP to launch TenderFix, a delivery-only “virtual restaurant” brand. Specializing in chicken tenders and sandwiches, TenderFix was made available through major delivery apps, operating out of IHOP kitchens. While we usually prefer the sit-down experience of a local Brooklyn bistro, Noah’s move into the “ghost kitchen” space shows his keen understanding of modern food trends and digital-first business models.
Personal Life, Advocacy, and Public Perception
The last few years have been a period of immense personal growth for Noah. In January 2023, he posted a video on TikTok that quickly went viral. In it, he came out as gay, humorously captioning the post, “I guess I’m more similar to Will Byers than I thought.” The coming out story was met with an outpouring of support from fans and his Stranger Things castmates alike.
However, being in the public eye also means facing intense scrutiny. Noah has found himself at the center of social and political controversies, particularly regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. After the events of October 7, 2023, Noah was vocal about his support for Israel, which led to a significant backlash on social media. A video showing him with stickers that read “Zionism is Sexy” sparked calls for boycotts of Stranger Things.
In January 2024, Noah addressed the situation in a TikTok video, stating that his views had been “misconstrued.” He expressed a desire for peace and safety for both Israelis and Palestinians, emphasizing that he had been learning and having conversations with people from various backgrounds. Despite his efforts to clarify his stance, the incident highlighted the complexities of being a young celebrity navigating global political issues in the digital age.
Within the Stranger Things fandom, Noah’s relationships with his co-stars remain a highlight. He is particularly close with Millie Bobby Brown, and in a touching revelation, Millie shared that Noah is the godfather to her child. This “found family” dynamic has helped the cast navigate the pressures of fame together.
Frequently Asked Questions about Noah Schnapp
We know you have questions, so we’ve gathered some of the most common ones we hear about Noah.
Is Noah Schnapp related to his co-star Millie Bobby Brown?
No, they are not biologically related, but they are incredibly close. They have often referred to each other as “best friends” and even “partners in crime.” Their bond is so strong that they made a pact to get married if they were both single at 40 (though Millie is now happily married!). As mentioned, Noah is the godfather to Millie’s daughter, solidifying their lifelong connection.
What is Noah Schnapp studying at the University of Pennsylvania?
Noah is a student at the Wharton School, which is one of the most prestigious business schools in the world. He is majoring in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He chose this path specifically because he wanted to branch out beyond acting and learn how to build and manage his own companies, like TBH. He is part of the Class of 2026 and has been living in the dorms, trying to have as much of a “normal” college experience as possible.
How much does Noah Schnapp make per episode of Stranger Things?
Noah’s salary has seen a massive increase as the show’s popularity exploded. In Season 1, he made roughly $10,000 per episode. By Season 3, that number jumped to $250,000 per episode. For the fifth and final season, it has been reported that Noah—along with the other main “kids” in the cast—signed a deal worth $7,000,000 for the entire season.
Conclusion
From the quiet streets of Scarsdale to the terrifying corridors of the Upside Down, noah schnapp has navigated a career that is as diverse as it is successful. He is a quintessential New Yorker in spirit—ambitious, creative, and unafraid to pivot from acting to entrepreneurship.
Whether he’s studying at Wharton, developing new sustainable food products, or preparing for the emotional finale of Stranger Things, Noah is a talent who refuses to be put in a box. We at Edible Brooklyn love a good success story, especially one that involves a local kid making waves in the food industry. As Noah looks toward the future—perhaps even eyeing a role as Spider-Man or a stint on a Broadway stage—we’ll be watching to see what he cooks up next.
If you’re looking to channel some of that entrepreneurial spirit yourself, why not explore the vibrant food scene right here in Brooklyn? From vegan treats that would rival TBH to the best local tenders in the borough, there’s always something new to discover.
