{{short description|English actor (born 1994)}} {{pp-sock|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Charlie Heaton | image = CharlieHeaton2017 (cropped).jpg | caption = Heaton in September 2017 | birth_name = Charles Ross Heaton | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|2|6|df=yes}} | birth_place = Leeds, England | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|musician}} | years_active = 2010–present | partner = Natalia Dyer<br />(2016–present) | children = 1 | awards = Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2017) }}
'''Charles Ross Heaton''' (born 6 February 1994) is an English actor and musician. He is best known for his role as Jonathan Byers in the science fiction series ''Stranger Things'' (2016–2025). He has also starred in films such as ''As You Are'' (2016), ''Marrowbone'' (2017), ''The New Mutants'' (2020), ''No Future'' (2021), and ''The Souvenir Part II'' (2021). Prior to his acting career, he was the drummer in a number of rock bands.
==Early life== Charles Ross Heaton was born in Leeds on 6 February 1994,<ref name="son1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.popbuzz.com/tv-film/features/charlie-heaton/|title=Charlie Heaton: 12 facts about the Stranger Things actor you need to know|magazine=PopBuzz|access-date=26 July 2020}}</ref> and was raised by his mother on a council estate in Bridlington.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Weinstock |first1=Tish |title=stranger things have happened: charlie heaton on finding fame |url=https://i-d.co/article/stranger-things-have-happened-charlie-heaton-on-finding-fame/ |work=I-D Vice |date=2 November 2016}}</ref> His older sister, Levi, is an actress<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Ralph |date=2022-05-30 |title=Charlie Heaton on Stranger Things and the final fling for Jancy |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/charlie-heaton-interview-2022 |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=British GQ |language=en-GB}}</ref> and a member of Self Esteem's live backing band.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Empire |first=Kitty |date=2021-11-13 |title=Self Esteem review – rallying cries from a woman reborn |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/nov/13/self-esteem-rebecca-lucy-taylor-gorilla-manchester-review-prioritise-pleasure |access-date=2023-03-27 |issn=0029-7712}}</ref>
==Career== In 2010, at the age of 16, Heaton moved to London.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Aubrey |first=Elizabeth |title=Charlie Heaton {{!}} Every Quest Needs Its Hooded Deacons |url=https://www.flaunt.com/blog/people-charlie-heaton-new-fantasy-cover-story |access-date=2025-12-09 |website=Flaunt}}</ref> He played the drums in a number of bands before joining the noise rock band Comanechi.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Eckhardt |first=Stephanie |title=With a Little Help from Winona Ryder, "Stranger Things" Star Charlie Heaton Is Taking Off |url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/stranger-things-star-charlie-heaton-interview |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=W Magazine |date=15 August 2016 |language=en}}</ref> During his tenure as their drummer, the band supported The Gossip, released an album in 2013, and toured for 18 months.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="interviewmag">{{Cite journal |last=Dziautaite |first=Modesta |date=18 July 2016 |editor-last=Bailey |editor-first=David |title=Charlie Heaton |url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/charlie-heaton#_ |journal=Interview |access-date=31 July 2016}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow/charlie-heaton-stars-of-tomorrow-2015/5094630.article|title=Charlie Heaton, Stars of Tomorrow 2015|last=Grater|first=Tom|date=5 October 2015|work=Screen Daily|publisher=Media Business Insight Limited|access-date=31 July 2016}}</ref> Heaton then joined psychedelic rock band Half Loon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BNPqOHABrHY/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/charlie.r.heaton/1391516497423544792 |archive-date=2021-12-23 |url-access=subscription|title=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..."|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=22 January 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
With no formal acting training, Heaton first considered an acting career while working as an extra and taking on other commercial work to supplement his income as a musician.<ref name=":1" /> He also worked as a bartender during this time.<ref name=":0" /> In 2015, he had guest roles on a string of British television dramas: he first appeared in the ITV crime drama series ''DCI Banks'' and ''Vera'', then guest-starred in BBC One's medical drama series ''Casualty''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=Jennifer |date=23 April 2015 |title=DCI BANKS: Season 4 |url=http://www.kpbs.org/news/2015/apr/23/dci-banks-season-4/ |access-date=3 September 2015 |work=KPBS.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Vera Cast List 2015: ITV Series 5 Air Date and Character Details |url=http://tellychat.co.uk/vera-series-5-itv-2015-starts-filming-vera-stanhope-new-episodes-0445 |access-date=3 September 2015 |website=TellyChat.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Department of Secrets – Series 29 Episode 31 of 46|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05tqxbb|publisher=BBC|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> That same year, he was cast in his breakthrough role as Jonathan Byers in the Netflix science fiction series ''Stranger Things'' (2016–2025).<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |date=20 August 2015 |title=Duffer Bros. Netflix Supernatural Drama Series Sets Young Cast, Gets Title |url=https://deadline.com/2015/08/duffer-bros-netflix-series-stranger-things-young-cast-1201502552 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821084352/http://deadline.com/2015/08/duffer-bros-netflix-series-stranger-things-young-cast-1201502552/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 August 2015 |magazine=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |date=20 August 2015 |title=Netflix Casts 7 Young Actors in Stranger Things Supernatural Drama from Duffer Brothers |url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/netflix-stranger-things-duffer-brothers-winona-ryder-1201574835 |access-date=28 August 2016 |website=Variety}}</ref> In his first feature film role, he appeared in the thriller film ''Shut In'' (2016),<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Hipes |first1=Patrick |date=18 March 2015 |title=Oliver Platt Joins Naomi Watts In 'Shut In' For EuropaCorp & Lava Bear |url=https://deadline.com/2015/03/oliver-platt-shut-in-movie-naomi-watts-1201394566 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320174600/http://deadline.com/2015/03/oliver-platt-shut-in-movie-naomi-watts-1201394566/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 March 2015 |magazine=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=McNary |first1=Dave |date=6 March 2015 |title=Naomi Watts' ''Shut In'' Set 2016 Release Date |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/naomi-watts-shut-in-sullivan-stapletons-the-lake-set-2016-release-dates-1201448033 |access-date=3 September 2015 |website=Variety}}</ref> which was filmed just prior to Heaton being cast in ''Stranger Things'' but was not released until after the show premiered.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |date=2015-03-18 |title=Oliver Platt Joins Naomi Watts In 'Shut In' For EuropaCorp & Lava Bear |url=https://deadline.com/2015/03/oliver-platt-shut-in-movie-naomi-watts-1201394566/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2015-08-20 |title=Duffer Bros. Netflix Supernatural Drama Series Sets Young Cast, Gets Title |url=https://deadline.com/2015/08/duffer-bros-netflix-series-stranger-things-young-cast-1201502552/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> He also filmed the coming-of-age film ''As You Are'', which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Biancolli |first=Amy |date=2015-12-03 |title=Locally shot movie 'As You Are' selected for Sundance festival |url=https://www.timesunion.com/tuplus-features/article/Locally-shot-movie-As-You-Are-selected-for-6671770.php |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=Times Union |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2017, Heaton had a main role in the psychological horror film ''Marrowbone''. In August 2018, the BBC announced that he would be playing Joseph Merrick, commonly known as the Elephant Man, in a new two-part drama.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2018/the-elephant-man|title=Charlie Heaton is The Elephant Man|publisher=BBC|date=22 August 2019|access-date=22 January 2019}}</ref> The casting drew criticism from a disability charity group, who said that not using a disabled actor was a missed opportunity,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/anger-over-casting-of-stranger-things-star-charlie-heaton-as-elephant-man-11485440|title=Anger over casting of Stranger Things star Charlie Heaton as Elephant Mann|publisher=Sky News|access-date=22 January 2019}}</ref> though the series was ultimately cancelled for other reasons. Heaton co-starred as Samuel "Sam" Guthrie / Cannonball in the superhero film ''The New Mutants'' (2020),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/new-mutants-movie-cannonball-charlie-heaton/|title='New Mutants' Finds Its Cannonball with 'Stranger Things' Star Charlie Heaton|last=Goldberg|first=Matt|work=Collider|date=31 May 2017|access-date=31 May 2017}}</ref> which was poorly received critically and at the box office. He starred in the independent film ''No Future'' (2021) and had a supporting role in the film ''The Souvenir Part II'' (2021). In 2024, punk rock band Luxury Apartments released their self-titled album, featuring Heaton drumming on the song "Room Next Door".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C8SPBNRtUXN/?img_index=5 |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref> In his first role post-''Stranger Things'', he starred in the drama film ''Billy Knight'' (2025).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balaga |first=Marta |date=2025-11-24 |title=‘Stranger Things’ Star Charlie Heaton Has ‘Global Appeal,’ ‘Learned How to Be a Better Actor from Al Pacino,’ Says ‘Billy Knight’ Director Alec Griffen Roth |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/global/stranger-things-charlie-heaton-al-pacino-billy-knight-1236590675/ |access-date= |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
In April 2026, it was announced that Heaton will take over the role of Charles Shelby, the son of Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) in the unnamed ''Peaky Blinders'' sequel series that takes place 10 years after ''Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=April 2, 2026|title=''Peaky Blinders'': Jamie Bell Takes Over As Duke Shelby; ''Stranger Things'' Charlie Heaton, 3 Others Also Cast In Netflix/BBC Sequel Series – First Look|url=https://deadline.com/2026/04/peaky-blinders-series-jamie-bell-duke-shelby-charlie-heaton-1236772251/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=April 2, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Goldbart|first=Max|date=May 22, 2026|title='Peaky Blinders': Charlie Heaton Revealed As Tommy Shelby Son Charles|url=https://deadline.com/2026/05/peaky-blinders-charlie-heaton-tommy-shelby-son-stranger-things-1236918907/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=May 22, 2026}}</ref>
==Personal life== thumb|upright|Heaton in 2025 Heaton has a son (born 2014) with Japanese musician Akiko Matsuura, who was then his bandmate,<ref name="son1"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zestvine.com/who-is-archie-heaton/|title=Who is Archie Heaton? And His Relation with Charlie Heaton from Stranger Things |work=Zestvine|date=27 December 2022|access-date=4 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/stranger-things-charlie-heaton-son|title=Stranger Things's Charlie Heaton Reportedly Has a Son |website=Teen Vogue|date=October 30, 2017|first=Allie|last=Gemmill|access-date=26 July 2020}}</ref> when Heaton was 20 and Matsuura was 34.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/stranger-things-charlie-heaton-has-a-son-with-akiko-matsuura/|title=Stranger Things |work=US Weekly|date=30 October 2017|access-date=26 July 2020}}</ref> He later said of being a young parent, "You have to grow up very fast. You have to also learn ethical priorities, too, and you've got to look after somebody. That's a big thing. You want to give them good experiences and a lot of love and the hard part obviously is distance. But that's part of the sacrifice."<ref name="WonderlandInterview25">[https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2025/11/25/charlie-heaton-interview/ CHARLIE HEATON NOVEMBER 2025 WONDERLAND MAGAZINE INTERVIEW]</ref>
Since 2016, Heaton has been in a relationship with American actress Natalia Dyer, whom he had met when she played his character's girlfriend Nancy Wheeler in ''Stranger Things''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.capitalfm.com/news/tv-film/stranger-things/natalia-dyer-charlie-heaton-relationship-timeline/|title=Stranger Things stars Natalia Dyer & Charlie Heaton's relationship|website=Capital}}</ref> He said of their relationship, "It's been a gift to work with my best friend. To be able to have a shared experience with your partner about the anxiety when you don't get a job{{emdash}}I know what that feels like, she knows what that feels like. You can be there to talk about it, or when you have a shit day at work, or come away from a scene and you didn't think it worked. To be able to both understand each other on that level is great."<ref name="WonderlandInterview25"/>
Heaton became an avid supporter of Arsenal FC after moving to London at the age of 16.<ref>{{Cite news|title=10 Things Charlie Heaton Can't Live Without |url=https://www.gq.com/video/watch/10-essentials-10-things-charlie-heaton-can-t-live-without |website=GQ |date=24 February 2020 |access-date=3 January 2021}}</ref>
In October 2017, Heaton flew from England to Los Angeles International Airport, where he was detained for possession of small amounts of cocaine. He was not charged with a crime and was instead sent back to England. He was later allowed to return to the U.S. to film the third season of ''Stranger Things''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-11 |title=Stranger Things' Charlie Heaton Opens Up About Cocaine Possession Reports |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/919917/stranger-things-charlie-heaton-opens-up-about-cocaine-possession-reports |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=E! Online}}</ref>
Punk rock band Skinny Lister wrote their 2016 song "Charlie" about Heaton,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Rhian |date=2016-09-27 |title=Skinny Lister Pay Tribute To 'Stranger Things' Actor On New Album 'The Devil, The Heart & The Fight' - Listen To It In Full Here |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/skinny-lister-album-stream-760456 |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref> who is a long-time friend of several band members.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cedergren |first=Thomas |date=2016-10-03 |title=Skinny Lister låter bättre än någonsin |url=https://rockfarbror.se/2016/10/skinny-lister-later-battre-nagonsin/ |website=rockfarbror.se |language=Swedish}}</ref> He is a close friend of his ''Stranger Things'' co-star Joe Keery, who as a musician uses the stage name Djo. Keery's 2025 album ''The Crux'' features the songs "Charlie's Garden" and "Delete Ya". Heaton provided additional instrumentation and a pair of voicemails by a crew member on "Charlie's Garden", which was written about their friendship and former status as neighbors whilst filming ''Stranger Things'' in Atlanta, while "Delete Ya" directly namedrops Heaton in the lines "Blue and gold, Friday night / Team up with Charlie, take these kids for a ride".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Travis |first=Emlyn |date=2025-04-04 |title=Why Joe Keery wrote an 'homage' to his Stranger Things costar Charlie Heaton for his new Djo album|url=https://ew.com/why-joe-keery-wrote-djo-song-about-stranger-things-costar-charlie-heaton-for-new-album-11695613 |access-date=2025-12-28 |website=Entertainment Weekly |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" |+Key |{{Dagger}} |Denotes productions that have not yet been released |}
===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Extra Information |- | 2014 | ''Life Needs Courage'' | Charlie |Short film |- | rowspan="3"|2015 | ''The Schoolboy'' | Michael Stevens |Short film |- | ''Rise of the Footsoldier Part II'' | Dealer | |- | ''Urban & the Shed Crew'' | Frank | |- | rowspan="2"|2016 | ''As You Are'' | Mark | |- | ''Shut In'' | Stephen Portman | |- | rowspan="2"|2017 | ''The Performers: Act III'' | Bowie Character |Short film |- | ''Marrowbone'' | Billy Marrowbone | |- |2020 | ''The New Mutants'' | Samuel Guthrie / Cannonball | |- | rowspan="2" |2021 | ''No Future'' | Will | |- | ''The Souvenir Part II'' | Jim Dagger | |- |2025 |''Billy Knight'' {{Dagger}} |Alex Hubbs |Released at film festival. Not yet in theatres. |- |{{TableTBA}} |''Twice Over'' {{Dagger}} <ref>{{Cite web |last=Barraclough |first=Leo |date=2025-10-22 |title=Charlie Heaton and Mia Wasikowska to Lead Romantic Comedy ‘Twice Over,’ Heretic Boards International Sales (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/global/charlie-heaton-mia-wasikowska-twice-over-heretic-1236558550/ |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> |{{TableTBA}} | |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | rowspan="3" |2015 | ''DCI Banks'' | Gary McCready | 2 episodes |- | ''Vera'' | Riley | Episode: "Changing Tides" |- | ''Casualty'' | Luke Dickinson / Jason Waycott | 2 episodes |- | 2016–2025 | ''Stranger Things'' | Jonathan Byers | Main role; 34 episodes |- | 2020 | ''Soulmates'' | Kurt | Episode: "Break On Through" |- |2026 | ''Industry'' |Jim Dycker | 3 episodes |- |{{TableTBA}} |''Untitled Newfoundland Project {{Dagger}}''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dilillo |first=John |date=August 1, 2025 |title=Josh Hartnett Starts Production on Jesse McKeown’s Sea Creature Limited Series |url=https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/jesse-mckeown-newfoundland-thriller-series |url-status=live |access-date=November 12, 2025 |website=Tudum}}</ref> |{{TableTBA}} | |- |{{TableTBA}} | ''Peaky Blinders'' | Charles Shelby | Main role<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/articles/2026/peaky-blinders-guide|title=Peaky Blinders on the BBC|website=bbc.com/mediacentre|date=22 May 2026|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref> |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |- |2017 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | rowspan="4" |''Stranger Things'' | {{won}} | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/12/14/2017-sag-awards-nominations |title=SAG Awards nominations 2017: See the full list |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |first=Joely |last=Nolfi |date=14 December 2016 |access-date=31 July 2018 |publisher=Meredith Corporation}}</ref> |- | rowspan=2|2018 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | {{nom}} |style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/01/sag-awards-stunt-nominees-2018-john-bernecker-walking-dead-1202239125/ |title=SAG Awards' Stunt Ensemble Nominees Include Fallen 'Walking Dead' Stuntman |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=21 January 2018 |access-date=24 July 2020 |publisher=Penske Business Media, LLC.}}</ref> |- | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Scene Stealer | {{nom}} |style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/2018/06/22/teen-choice-awards-2018-nominees-full-list-tv-nominations/ |title=Teen Choice Awards 2018: Riverdale Leads Final Wave of TV Nominations |last=Swift |first=Andy |work=TVLine |date=22 June 2018 |access-date=22 June 2018}}</ref> |- |2020 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | {{nom}} |style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/sag-awards-nominations-list-film-tv-nominees-screen-actors-guild-1202806390/ |title=SAG Awards Nominations: 'Bombshell', 'The Irishman', 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood' Top Film List, 'Maisel,' 'Fleabag' Score In TV – Complete List Of Noms |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |date=11 December 2019 |work=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=24 July 2020}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|6390427}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Heaton, Charlie}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century English male actors Category:Actors from Bridlington Category:English male film actors Category:English male television actors Category:English rock drummers Category:Male actors from Leeds Category:Musicians from Leeds