By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
NEW YORK, N.Y. — After growing up in the spotlight, Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin found renewal by stepping away from social media and strengthening his relationship with God.
During an appearance on the Podcrushed podcast, the 24-year-old actor revealed that he deleted Instagram, attended church more often with his family and devoted additional time to prayer.
“I just started grounding myself a little bit more and talking to God more,” McLaughlin said. “It’s been really replenishing.”
McLaughlin began performing professionally as Young Simba in Broadway’s The Lion King before gaining worldwide recognition as Lucas Sinclair on Netflix’s Stranger Things. He joined the series as a teenager and portrayed Lucas throughout its five-season run, which concluded in 2025.
Growing up while playing the same character presented a unique challenge. McLaughlin admitted that he “learned Lucas first” before fully discovering his own identity.
His Christian faith, however, remained part of his foundation. McLaughlin’s father is a reverend, but the actor said religion was never forced upon him. Instead, he was given room to develop a personal relationship with God.
In a 2022 Essence interview, McLaughlin described acting as a divine assignment rather than simply a career choice.
“God has called me to do this thing called acting and the performing arts,” he said.
McLaughlin explained that worldly pressures and the desire for validation can sometimes distract people from prayer. His quieter summer gave him an opportunity to reconnect with the source of his strength.
“When you’re able to sit down, ground yourself and pray, and know that God is listening, that becomes the foundation,” he said.