Stranger Things is finally over. And while many were expecting a secret finale episode from Netflix, that didn’t happen. That said, the show, its characters and the actors have all shared huge surprises. One of the latest comes from Caleb McLaughlin, the 24-year-old actor who plays Lucas Sinclair, who has openly confessed his faith and inspired many by talking about his connection with God.
“I’ve always felt a connection with God,” McLaughlin said on the Podcrushed podcast. “I can’t even remember the day it started. It’s just always been a part of me.”
McLaughlin also revealed that he recently stepped back from social media (deleting Instagram), went to church often with his family, and spent more time talking and praying to God. “It’s been really replenishing,” he said in the interview.
But as much as he’s involved with Hollywood, McLaughlin has always chosen his roles carefully. In The Book of Clarence, Sony’s Biblical epic, McLaughlin plays Dirty Zeke, a loyal friend who rides the lead character (played by LaKeith Stanfield) around Jerusalem in a chariot. In Shooting Stars, McLaughlin plays Dru Joyce III. “In this film, we talk about basketball, but I feel like this movie represents life,” he told The Christian Post. “Basketball is more than a game. It’s about friendship. It’s about a bond. It’s about community.”
McLaughlin was cast in Stranger Things when he was just 13 years old. And while it’s been tough to deal with fame and all that comes with it, he remains grounded. “Sometimes you live your life, get into the world a little bit, and then you kind of stop praying,” he admitted. But that’s all changed over the years as the actor revealed that he takes his prayer time very seriously these days. “It’s just always been a part of me, but it’s always a different level to me [now]. Because I feel like sometimes you live your life, and you kind of like, get into the world a little bit, and then you kind of stop praying sometimes, and you’re like, ‘Alright, I’m praying before I go to sleep. All right, great.’ But then you have those moments like, wait, I need to pray and talk to God and ground [myself].”
And for those who believe he should be preaching instead of acting in “secular” movies, McLaughlin has an answer too. “I feel like it’s my calling,” he told Essence in 2022. Becoming famous wasn’t always the plan. Nor was acting. But he prayed through it and has started using his gift. “God has called me to do this thing called acting and the performing arts. I never wanted to do it — it just happened. I love it more than anything now.”
Next up, McLaughlin will voice a character in GOAT, an animated feature film produced by Steph Curry.
Speaking about Lucas, Caleb himself reflected on how the character has helped me let things out. He recently read a letter from a fan who expressed how his Stranger Things impacted their life, “Lucas has become a part of me And how I believe in life, loyalty, love, and friendship.” And that’s probably never going away.
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