Philip Cunningham, portrayed by Christopher Strand, is a minor character in Stranger Things, being introduced in the fourth season. He is the husband of Laura Cunningham and father of Chrissy Cunningham, a young cheerleader who attended Hawkins High School.
History[]
Background[]
At some point, Philip met and married a woman named Laura. Together, they had a daughter, Chrissy, born in June of 1968, and a younger unnamed son. Chrissy grew to be quite popular among her peers, becoming head cheerleader and the most popular girl in school. However, below her happiness lied sorrow and depression; Chrissy suffered from bulimia nervosa as a result of Laura's pressure to be pretty and her mother constantly having to loosen her already-tight cheerleading outfit. Chrissy began seeing her school counselor, Ms. Kelley, after beginning to suffer from headaches, nightmares, and nosebleeds.
1986[]
On March 21, 1986, Chrissy was brutally murdered in the Munson trailer in Forrest Hills Trailer Park. Her limbs were broken backward and her eyes were gouged out of her skull. A funeral for Chrissy was held on March 25. Philip stood silently and watched as Laura spoke a eulogy near Chrissy's casket, saying that her "angel" is in Heaven but is frustrated that the monster that killed Chrissy is still loose and "feels" the devil in Hawkins.
Personality[]
Despite being the man of his family, Phillip was very meek in nature and presumably controlled by his dominant wife. He was presumably to be more kinder than his wife, a trait that would be shared by his daughter, Chrissy. And though he never spoke up against his wife's abuse over Chrissy, Phillip did love his daughter and was devastated over her death, looking solemn during her funeral.
Relationships[]
Familial[]
Not much was known about Phillip’s relationship to his daughter. His wife Laura appeared to be the more active parent, being the one to speak at their daughter’s funeral why he silently stood by her side. His meek nature was further implied by Chrissy’s vision where her father’s eyes were gouged out and his lips sewn shut - implying he turned a blind eye to his wife’s abuse of their daughter, and never spoke up against it.
His wife Laura appeared to have the more dominant personality between them, being the one to speak at their daughter’s funeral why he silently stood by her side. His meek nature was further implied by Chrissy’s vision where her father’s eyes were gouged out and his lips sewn shut - implying he turned a blind eye to his wife’s abuse of their daughter, and never spoke up against it.
Appearances[]
| Season Four appearances | |||
| The Hellfire Club* | |||
| The Nina Project | |||
*Can be seen via vision in "The Hellfire Club"
Family tree[]
note: family trees are only visible on desktop.
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Gallery[]
