Originally posted Tuesday, July 9, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Atlanta actors have never been cast for any of the primary roles on "Stranger Things," but the hit Netflix show propelled Shannon Purser (Barb!) to bigger and better things after her character died season one.
Credit: Netflix
Credit: Netflix
And Atlanta actress Priah Ferguson season two made the most of a small role as sassy younger sister to Lucas. She was rewarded with a much larger and pivotal role season three.
Credit: Netflix
Credit: Netflix
Randy Havens, who plays a science teacher Scott Clarke, got airtime both seasons one and two and again season three. This time, he gets visited by Winona Ryder's character Joyce and makes David Harbour's chief of police Jim Hopper comically jealous.
Then there's Mike Wheeler's clueless, frequently napping dad Ted, played by local actor Joe Chrest. His out-of-touch parenting was parodied by Vulture this season, which wrote a wickedly funny season 3 review through the eyes of Ted. [UPDATE 7/22: I was told he actually resides in New Orleans but often works in Atlanta as a "local," which means the production does not have to pay him a per diem for housing or travel.)
Local twins Tinsley and Anniston Price play Mike's younger sister.
I was also provided a list of other Georgia-based actors who appeared on the show with speaking roles, though I doubt this is totally complete.
Caroline Arapoglou plays Winnie Kline,Mayor Kline's wife, who warns the other ladies episode one that Billy is about to show up, in an homage to "Fast Times at Ridgemont High."
The other local moms eyeing Billy are Lauren Revard and Cara Mantella. Cara Buono plays Mike's mom and is not local.
Dylan Gage Moore plays the kid Billy mocks for running.
Olan Montgomery plays one of the sexist editors at the Hawkins Post.
Nita Hardy - Secretary #1
Greta Glenn - Secretary #2 She plays the hospital secretary gabbing on the phone while all mayhem is breaking loose.
Erika Coleman is the girl who is attending Perdue who flirts with Scoops Ahoy employee Steve Harrington (Joe Keery).
Georgui Kasaev is a Russian Comms Officer who battles Steve.
Susan Williams is a customer at Joyce's struggling general shop in downtown Hawkins.
Alyssa Brooke - Mayor Kline's secretary's Candice
Holly Morris plays Janet, Heather's mom.
David Marshall Silverman is an angry protestor hauled off to jail for protesting Mayor Kline.
Sydney Bullock is a snooty teen Stacey who Eleven plays a prank on at the mall.
A. Smith Harrison is the Zales salesman who tries to sell $300 jewelry to MIke.
Abby Glover is another girl Steve tries to pick up.
Lee Ellis plays a waiter at the fancy restaurant in Hawkins Enzo's serving Jim Hopper.
Dan Triandaflou plays the dude whose ridiculous sports car is commandeered by Jim Hopper at a gas station.
Alexander Chernyshev - Russian Scientist #1
Scott Deckert - Photographer Toby who took pictures of Max and Eleven at a mall photo studio.
And in a "Queer Eye" crossover: William Mahnken had two scenes. He plays an editor at the Hawkins Post and then at Enzo's, he sits with his real wife Shannen.
Also, the ill-fated New Coke gets a major plug in the series since it came out during that time period.
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