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Charles Sinclair, portrayed by Bradford Haynes in the first season and by Arnell Powell in the second and fourth seasons, is a recurring character in Stranger Things. He is the husband of Sue Sinclair, and the father of Lucas and Erica Sinclair.

History[]

Background[]

Charles was raised in Hawkins, Indiana; he attended Hawkins High School, where he first met his future wife Sue Anderson.[1] During his younger years, he was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War.[2]

At some point prior to 1971, Charles and Sue married and bought a house on Hawkins's Maple Street. They had two children, Lucas and Erica.

1983[]

Charles, along with Sue and Lucas, attended the funeral of Will Byers, a boy who had been a close friend of Lucas.[3]

1984[]

Charles, along with his family, were having breakfast one morning in November 1984. While reading the newspaper, Lucas asked his father what he would do if his mother was angry with him. Charles told his son that he would apologize for whatever it was that he had done, and then he would buy her anything that she wanted. When Lucas asked what he would do if his mother was wrong, Charles joked that his wife was never wrong.

Lucas was in fact, without his father realizing it, stealthily asking him for advice on how to apologize to a girl, as he wished to make up with his crush, Max Mayfield.

1986[]

On March 26, 1986, Charles attended the community meeting held at the Hawkins Town Hall alongside his wife and daughter Erica. The meeting was held in response to three murders that had occurred in Hawkins in the past week. When Jason Carver encouraged townspeople to hunt down members of the Hellfire Club, his wife expressed concern that their son Lucas, along with his friends Mike Wheeler and Dustin Henderson, were among the individuals being targeted.

Later that night, Charles was present at the Wheeler house as Lucas, Dustin, and Max were being interrogated by the police regarding Eddie Munson's whereabouts. Charles also watched as the three of them, along with Erica, defied police orders to go the Munson trailer.

Appearances[]

Stranger Things appearances
Season 1 The Vanishing of Will Byers The Weirdo on Maple Street Holly, Jolly The Body
The Flea and the Acrobat The Monster The Bathtub The Upside Down
Season 2 MADMAX Trick or Treat, Freak The Pollywog
Will the Wise Dig Dug The Spy
The Lost Sister The Mind Flayer The Gate
Did not appear in Season 3
Season 4 The Hellfire Club Vecna's Curse The Monster and the Superhero
Dear Billy The Nina Project The Dive
The Massacre at Hawkins Lab Papa The Piggyback

Family tree[]

note: family trees are only visible on desktop.

Charles Sinclair
 
Sue Sinclair
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lucas Sinclair
 
Erica Sinclair

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • Charles, along with two other parents of Party members (Sue Sinclair and Claudia Henderson), had their Season 1 actors recast for Season 2. Lucas's father, who was initially unnamed in the first season, was originally portrayed by Bradford Haynes in a non-speaking role, before being recast and replaced with Arnell Powell in later seasons.
  • The novel Stranger Things: Lucas on the Line confirmed that Charles is a veteran of the Vietnam War.
    • This was previously suggested within the show itself by how his son Lucas often wears and uses old military equipment, which Lucas specifically mentions as being from "'Nam".
  • Charles's first name was given to Lucas as his middle name.
  • He along with his wife don't appear at all in season 3.

References