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Noah Schnapp
American actor (born 2004) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Noah Cameron Schnapp[3] (born October 3, 2004)[1] is an American actor. He is known for his role as Will Byers in the Netflix science fiction horror series Stranger Things.[4] In addition to his work in television, Schnapp had a supporting role in Steven Spielberg's historical drama Bridge of Spies (2015)[5] and voiced Charlie Brown in the animated film The Peanuts Movie (2015).[6]
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Early life
Schnapp was born Noah Cameron Schnapp in New York City to Mitchell and Karine Schnapp (née Perez). He was raised in Scarsdale, New York,[7][8] along with his twin sister.[9][10] He holds both U.S. and Canadian citizenship.[7][11] Schnapp is Jewish and held his bar mitzvah in Israel.[12][13] His mother is of Moroccan Jewish descent.[14][15]
Schnapp was inspired to pursue acting at age 5 after seeing the Broadway production of Annie.[16] He performed acting roles in school and community plays.[8] When he was 8, his acting teacher suggested he attempt a professional career.[16] Schnapp's parents registered him for an acting program at Star Kidz in Westchester, where he was guided by coach Alyson Isbrandtsen. It was under her guidance that he was subsequently introduced to MKS&D Talent Management, which opened up avenues for his career.[8]
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Acting career
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Early career and breakthrough
Schnapp's professional acting career began when he voiced the lead character, Charlie Brown, in the animated film The Peanuts Movie in 2015.[16][17] That same year, he made his film debut in the historical drama Bridge of Spies, directed by Steven Spielberg.[18] He played Roger Donovan, the son of character James B. Donovan.[5]
His breakthrough came in July 2016, when he began starring as Will Byers in the Netflix science fiction horror television series Stranger Things.[19] Schnapp initially auditioned for the role of Mike, another key character in the series.[20] However, during his time at a sleepaway camp, he was ultimately selected to play Will Byers.[20] The news of his successful casting reached him via one of his limited phone calls home.[20] Schnapp was promoted to series regular for the second season of the series, which premiered on October 27, 2017.[21][22] In 2022, prior to his own coming out, Schnapp revealed that his character identified as gay.[23] Schnapp's portrayal of Will has earned him critical acclaim.[24][25][26]
Other roles
In 2016, Schnapp was featured in the Panic! at the Disco's music video for their song "LA Devotee".[27][28] In March 2017, he appeared on stage at Madison Square Garden to perform the song with the band.[29]
In 2018, Schnapp played the son of a street artist in a short film called The Circle, set during the Great Depression.[30] Schnapp also participated in We Only Know So Much (2018), a film that follows a multigenerational family.[31] His voice acting continued in the animated film The Legend of Hallowaiian as the voice of Kai.[31][32]
Schnapp also starred in independent films like Abe (2019) and Waiting for Anya (2020).
Schnapp appeared in the 2020 Halloween comedy Hubie Halloween, a Netflix film where he played a character named Tommy.[33] In April 2022, Schnapp joined the cast of The Tutor.[34] The psychological thriller was released in 2023 and featured Schnapp as Jackson, a troubled teenager.[35]
Schnapp also voiced the character of Charlie Brown for the video game The Peanuts Movie: Snoopy's Grand Adventure.[36]
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Other ventures
In 2019, Schnapp launched a YouTube channel under his own name.[37] Active for a year and a half, he primarily created vlogs and lifestyle videos. As of June 2022, the channel has 4.2 million subscribers and has gained 110 million views.[38]
In November 2021, he launched To Be Honest (TBH), a sustainability-focused snacking company he co-founded with Elena Guberman and Ba Minuzzi.[39][40][41] In November 2022, Schnapp announced a crowdfunding campaign for this venture on the Republic platform that aimed to raise a maximum amount of $1.235 million at a $15 million valuation cap.[42][43] In 2023, he launched TenderFix, a delivery-only virtual restaurant brand operated by IHOP with a menu of chicken tenders.[44][45]
Schnapp also worked as a lifeguard, a job he took on during his summer break before college.[46]
Personal life
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As of 2022[update], Schnapp attends the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in entrepreneurship and innovation. He is scheduled to graduate in 2026.[46][47]
Schnapp publicly came out as gay in a video posted to his TikTok account on January 5, 2023.[48][49] The video saw him express relief that family and friends had accepted his coming out, and he quipped in the video's caption, "I guess I'm more similar to Will [Byers] than I thought", a reference to his statement about his Stranger Things character also being gay.[50]
Schnapp has publicly supported Israel in the Gaza war following the October 7 attacks.[51][52] A month after the attacks, a video circulated on social media showing him handing out "Zionism is sexy" and "Hamas is ISIS" stickers, leading some fans to demand his removal from the cast of Stranger Things and to threaten to boycott the show's fifth and final season.[53][54] In January 2024, he posted a TikTok video advocating for peace for both sides and asking for understanding and compassion, stating that his thoughts and beliefs on the war had been misconstrued.[55]
Beyond his professional endeavors, Schnapp has shown a commitment to philanthropy and social causes.[56] He has been involved in initiatives related to anti-bullying and environmental sustainability.[57][58]
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Filmography
Film
Television
Music videos
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Awards and nominations
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References
External links
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