Sara Hopper

Sara Hopper
Biographical information
Status	Deceased
Born	April 1971
Died	1978
Age	7
Family	Jim Hopper (father) Diane (mother) Unnamed half-sibling Eleven (adoptive sister)
Physical information
Eye color	Blue
Hair color	Blonde
Portrayal
Main actor	Elle Graham
Episodes	8

Sara Hopper was the daughter of Diane and Jim Hopper. She died of cancer at only 7 years old. Her death permanently changed her father and provided much of his motivation in the search for Will Byers, and later on in the adoption of Eleven.

Quick Answers

What was the cause of Sara Hopper's death?

Sara Hopper, the daughter of Jim Hopper in Stranger Things, tragically passed away due to cancer. However, it's suggested that her father's exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War might have been the probable cause of her illness. Actor David Harbour, who plays Jim Hopper, has hinted that there might be more to the story of Sara's death that could be explored in future seasons.

Provided by: Fandom

How did Jim Hopper's military service potentially impact his family?

Jim Hopper's military service had a profound impact on his family, particularly his daughter, Sara Hopper. During his time in the Vietnam War, Hopper was exposed to a toxic gas known as Agent Orange. Unfortunately, this exposure likely led to Sara developing cancer later in life, despite being born perfectly healthy. This tragic turn of events deeply affected Hopper and his family, leading to a great deal of sorrow and guilt on his part.

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What is the relationship between Sara Hopper and David Harbour?

Sara Hopper is a character from the Netflix original television series Stranger Things, and David Harbour is the actor who portrays her father, Chief Jim Hopper. So, in the context of the show, Sara Hopper is David Harbour's on-screen daughter.

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What happened to Jim Hopper's wife, Diane?

Diane, portrayed by Jerri Tubbs, is the ex-wife of Jim Hopper and the mother of their late daughter, Sara Hopper. Diane and Jim were together for seven years, but they divorced after the tragic death of their daughter. Following their divorce, Diane moved on and remarried, having another child. Despite the end of their marriage, it's hinted that Hopper has reached out to her in hopes of rekindling their relationship, but Diane has moved on.

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Does Jim Hopper return in season 4 of Stranger Things?

Yes, Jim Hopper does return in season 4 of Stranger Things. Despite being trapped in Russia when the season begins, he is revealed to be alive and part of the storyline.

Provided by: Fandom

History

When playing and having fun in the park, Sara was suddenly and inexplicably terrified by something and started to hyperventilate. Jim sat her down and guided her breathing to calm her down.

Sara was later put in the hospital and treated with chemotherapy, causing her to lose her hair. Her father stayed with her in bed and read her the children's novel Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. She later passed away in the hospital as her parents watched. The doctors tried to revive her with CPR to no avail.

Jim Hopper reading a book to Sara while her mother watches.

Appearances

Season One appearances
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*

^{*Sara appears in flashback scenes in "The Upside Down".}

Family tree

James Hopper Sr

Unknown

Bill

Diane

Jim Hopper

Diane's second child

Sara Hopper †

Jane Hopper Jim's Adopted Daughter

Sara Hopper's only known family is Diane and Jim Hopper, though there is said to be an unknown grandfather and great grandfather on Hopper's side, no information is really known about this man. Sara has a step-father named Bill and a half-sibling, neither of which she ever met.

Trivia

• Sara had a stuffed tiger toy in her bed at the hospital. Eleven and Will were also shown with stuffed toys, though they had lions. They used their lions for comfort after facing and when hiding from the monster.
• In Season 1, Hopper wears Sara's blue hair band on his wrist. By Season 2, Hopper has passed the hair band down to Eleven.
• Actor David Harbour (Jim Hopper) stated that the cause of Sara's death is a secret that might be explored, suggesting that cancer is not the full story.
• In both the credits of "The Upside Down" and the final script for "The Vanishing of Will Byers" her name is spelled "Sara". During season two, at the cabin where Eleven stays, a box is revealed with Sara written on it. However, the episode captions read "Sarah", whilst the official soundtrack release also includes a song titled 'After Sarah'.
• Sara originally died in a car accident, according to the Montauk script. She died at age 4 and her name wasn’t written in the script.