Caleb McLaughlin

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Summary

 From the roaring stages of Broadway to the electrifying glow of Netflix, meet Caleb Reginald McLaughlin. Born October 13th, 2001, this American actor first captured hearts as the unforgettable young Simba in Disney's The Lion King on Broadway. But it was his electrifying portrayal of Lucas Sinclair in the global phenomenon, Stranger Things, that catapulted him to international stardom. Beyond the Upside Down, Caleb has showcased his dramatic chops in films like High Flying Bird and Concrete Cowboy, marking his powerful debut in a lead feature role. He's also lent his voice to memorable television projects, proving his versatility knows no bounds. Born in Carmel, New York, to April and Corey McLaughlin, Caleb's passion for the performing arts ignited early. He honed his skills at various institutions, including the Seven Star School of Performing Arts and the prestigious Harlem School of the Arts, even studying under Aubrey Lynch, a former Lion King producer. Caleb's journey began with an opera, Lost in the Stars, before his show-stopping performance as young Simba. Guest spots on hit series like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Shades of Blue paved the way for his career-defining role. In 2017, he was recognized with a BET YoungStars Award nomination, and in 2018, he clinched the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance by a Youth. His 2020 feature film debut in Concrete Cowboy, alongside Idris Elba and Jharrel Jerome, earned critical acclaim. In December 2020, Forbes recognized his talent, naming him to their 30 Under 30 Class of 2021. More recently, a buzz surrounded news of his potential involvement in a biopic about 21 Savage, though this was later revealed to be a parody. Beyond the spotlight, Caleb is a powerful advocate for positive change. He champions the #EmbraceYourFace and #BeYourBiggestFan campaigns, promoting healthy body image and self-love, reminding us all that confidence begins from within. He's also been a vocal supporter of civic engagement, encouraging young people to vote. Caleb has bravely spoken out about his experiences with racism, sharing the profound impact it had on him as the only Black actor in the main cast of Stranger Things, highlighting the importance of understanding and empathy.
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Full Wikipedia Article

 Caleb Reginald McLaughlin (born October 13, 2001) is an American actor. He gained international recognition playing Lucas Sinclair in the Netflix series Stranger Things (2016–present). He began his career playing young Simba in the Broadway musical The Lion King, and then had small roles in television. After finding success in Stranger Things, he appeared in the drama films High Flying Bird (2019) and Concrete Cowboy (2020), the latter his first lead role in a feature film. He also was in the miniseries The New Edition Story (2017) and has had several television voice acting roles. == Personal life == McLaughlin was born on October 13, 2001, in Carmel, New York to April and Corey McLaughlin. He attended Kent Primary School and later went to George Fischer Middle School for one year. He studied dance for a year at Happy Feet Dance School and then was a student at Seven Star School of Performing Arts in Brewster Hill, New York, for one year. He later studied at Harlem School of the Arts in Harlem, New York under Aubrey Lynch, a former Lion King producer. == Career == McLaughlin's first acting role was as a child in an opera, Lost in the Stars, in Cooperstown, New York, at the Glimmerglass Opera House. His first starring role was on Broadway as young Simba in The Lion King musical (2012–14). He had guest-starring roles in television series including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Unforgettable, Forever, What Would You Do?, and Shades of Blue. In 2016, McLaughlin's breakthrough role came with his portrayal of Lucas Sinclair in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things (2016–present). In 2017, he was a nominee for the BET YoungStars Award, and in 2018 he won Outstanding Performance by a Youth at the NAACP Image Awards. In 2020, McLaughlin made his feature film debut in Concrete Cowboy, co-starring with Idris Elba and Jharrel Jerome. The movie received positive reviews. In December 2020, McLaughlin was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2021 list. On January 8, 2024, it was announced that McLaughlin was set to feature in a biopic about British-American rap artist 21 Savage, alongside Donald Glover and Savage himself; McLaughlin was expected to play a younger version of 21 Savage. On January 24, Savage revealed that the biopic's announcement was actually a "parody", although he said that "it could be [a real movie] one day". == Advocacy == McLaughlin has spearheaded the social media campaigns #EmbraceYourFace and #BeYourBiggestFan which promote healthy body image, positivity, and self-esteem. He said, "Feeling good about yourself is healthy. It always starts with you first, before it goes to anyone else... You have to learn to love and appreciate yourself." In 2020, he encouraged people to vote in the 2020 US presidential election, posting a video on his Instagram account with links to Vote.org. McLaughlin has talked about the racism he says that he felt he experienced being the only black actor in the main cast of Stranger Things, saying, "My very first Comic-Con some people didn't stand in my line because I was black... Sometimes overseas you feel the racism, you feel the bigotry. Sometimes it's hard to talk about and for people to understand, but when I was younger it definitely affected me a lot." == Filmography == === Film === === Television === == Theater == == Music videos == == Awards and nominations == == References == == External links == Caleb McLaughlin at IMDb Caleb McLaughlin at the Internet Broadway Database Home Languages