On Saturday, January 27, Finn Wolfhard made an amusing appearance on the hit TV segment, Saturday Night Live (SNL). As SNL’s first host of 2026, Wolfhard approached the topic of his popular television show, Stranger Things, and how he practically grew up on the set of it. While sprinkling in various jokes, Wolfhard claimed that many fans continue to see him as the kid from Stranger Things.
Wolfhard spent over 10 years of his life on the set of Stranger Things, starting when he was just 12 years old. He balanced school, life, work, and stardom throughout his childhood. Now entering adulthood, Wolfhard opens up about society’s distorted view of him as fans continue to perceive him as a child.
While hosting SNL, Wolfhard was surprised by his fellow Stranger Things costars. Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo appeared beside Wolfhard to crack jokes regarding being a former child actor. The stars mentioned how viewers continuously commented on their changing bodies as the show progressed. All were in agreeance that it was an uncomfortable time for them to be filmed, nonetheless judged by an audience.
During the segment, McLaughlin announced, “We’re not child stars, we’re former child stars.” He continued to hint at the fact that although they portrayed child characters on screen, they were no longer children. This is a common issue that former child stars have to manage as they mature out of childlike roles.
It’s easy for audiences to associate an actor with a younger character when they portray the role very well. Former child actors like Dakota Fanning, Daniel Radcliffe, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen made their mark in Hollywood early on. However, their childhood roles sometimes continue to overshadow their adult performances.
Some actors find it difficult to transition to adult roles after portraying a child. Audiences have trouble viewing a famous child actor as an adult once they’ve solidified themselves as a popular child character. Actors may attempt to pursue child roles for as long as possible, and occasionally quit acting once they out-grow them.
Wolfhard and his co-stars teased about the drama that surrounds the title ‘former child star.’ Matarazzo said, “…and anytime you read ‘former child star’ in a headline it can only mean good things.” The sarcastic joke highlights the stigma that surrounds some of those who go by the title.
It’s common for child stardom to lead to stress, burnout, and a struggle to separate reality from one’s role. As actors get older, leaving behind the roles that made them famous isn’t always easy. Former child star Jennette McCurdy opened up about her experiences as a child who grew up in the spotlight. She eventually shared her behind-the-scenes story of her childhood and the path she took away from her acting career. After publishing her memoir, McCurdy was able to shed some light on the difficult situations that former child stars endure.
Wolfhard’s opening SNL skit did a wonderful job of exposing the various struggles that former child actors deal with. He was able to keep a light and humorous tone while discussing his recent battles. To this day, many viewers tend to group adult actors into a category of fictional child characters due to their astounding acting.
What's Your Reaction?
