Noah Schnapp Bio
Noah Cameron Schnapp (born October 3, 2004) is an American actor best known for playing Will Byers in the Netflix science fiction horror series Stranger Things. He first appeared on screen in 2015, voicing Charlie Brown in the animated film The Peanuts Movie and playing a supporting role in Steven Spielberg’s historical drama Bridge of Spies. Schnapp has since built a career that spans television, film, voice acting, and entrepreneurial ventures, earning international recognition during his teenage years.
Born and raised in the New York area, Schnapp holds dual United States and Canadian citizenship and trained with a private acting coach before landing his earliest professional auditions. Outside of acting, he has pursued higher education at the University of Pennsylvania and launched business ventures in the food and sustainability sectors.
Early Life and Background
Noah Cameron Schnapp was born on October 3, 2004, in New York City to Mitchell and Karine Schnapp, both originally from Montreal, Canada. He was raised in Scarsdale, New York, alongside his twin sister, Chloe. Schnapp holds both American and Canadian citizenship, and he is Jewish, having held his bar mitzvah in Israel. His mother is of Moroccan Jewish descent.
Schnapp was inspired to pursue acting at the age of five after seeing a Broadway production of Annie. He went on to perform in school and community plays, and by the time he was eight, his acting teacher suggested he attempt a professional career. His parents then enrolled him in the Star Kidz acting program in Westchester, where he trained under coach Alyson Isbrandtsen, who later connected him with MKS&D Talent Management.
Path to Celebrity
Schnapp’s path to professional acting began in earnest through his work at the Star Kidz program in Westchester, New York. Under the guidance of Alyson Isbrandtsen, he developed the audition skills that eventually led to representation by MKS&D Talent Management. The agency helped open doors to auditions for both film and animation projects during his early teenage years.
His first significant audition success came when he was cast as the voice of Charlie Brown in the 2015 animated feature The Peanuts Movie. Around the same time, he auditioned for a small but memorable role in Bridge of Spies, the Steven Spielberg-directed historical drama starring Tom Hanks. The dual bookings launched his screen career in two very different formats: voice acting and live-action period drama.
Noah Schnapp Career
Early Career (2014–2015)
Schnapp’s professional acting career began in 2015, when he voiced the lead character Charlie Brown in the animated film The Peanuts Movie. The role introduced his voice to a wide audience and marked his first credit on a major studio production. The film was a global box office success and remains one of the most recognizable early entries in his filmography.
That same year, Schnapp made his live-action film debut in Bridge of Spies, directed by Steven Spielberg. He played Roger Donovan, the son of the central character portrayed by Tom Hanks. The historical drama, set during the Cold War era, gave Schnapp the chance to work alongside a major cast and one of the most respected directors in the film industry. Together, these two 2015 projects established him as a young performer capable of handling both animation and prestige drama.
Breakthrough (2016–Present)
Schnapp’s true breakthrough arrived in 2016, when he was cast as Will Byers in the Netflix science fiction horror series Stranger Things. The show premiered in July 2016 and quickly became a global phenomenon. Although he initially auditioned for the role of Mike Wheeler, Schnapp was ultimately selected to play Will Byers, a character whose disappearance drives the show’s central mystery. He was promoted to series regular for the second season, which premiered on October 27, 2017.
Across the show’s run from 2016 to 2025, Schnapp’s portrayal of Will Byers earned widespread critical praise. In 2022, he confirmed publicly that his character is gay, an arc that became a meaningful part of the series’ later seasons. Beyond Stranger Things, he expanded his career with roles in the short film The Circle (2018), the independent features Abe (2019) and Waiting for Anya (2020), the Netflix comedy Hubie Halloween (2020), and the psychological thriller The Tutor (2023).
He also continued voice work, voicing the character of Charlie Brown in the video game The Peanuts Movie: Snoopy’s Grand Adventure and playing Kai in the animated film The Legend of Hallowaiian (2018). In 2016, he appeared in the music video for Panic! at the Disco’s song “LA Devotee” and later performed on stage with the band at Madison Square Garden in March 2017.
Notable Works and Milestones
Schnapp’s signature work remains his portrayal of Will Byers in Stranger Things, a role that defined his early career and made him a recognizable face worldwide. His voice performance as Charlie Brown in The Peanuts Movie gave him a major credit before he was a teenager, and his appearance in Bridge of Spies connected him with legendary director Steven Spielberg. His decision to publicly confirm his character’s sexuality, and later to come out as gay himself in a 2023 TikTok video, marked a personal milestone that resonated with fans.
Noah Schnapp Award Nominations
Across his career, Noah Schnapp has earned recognition from critics and industry groups for his television and film performances, with the bulk of his attention tied to his long-running role in Stranger Things. He has been a frequent subject of youth-focused industry attention, and various outlets have highlighted his work as Will Byers as one of the most discussed performances in the series.
Noah Schnapp Awards Won
Noah Schnapp’s work on Stranger Things has brought him shared recognition as part of one of the most celebrated ensemble casts in modern streaming television. His performances in film and voice work have also been highlighted by young-audience and genre-specific outlets over the years.
Noah Schnapp Family
Schnapp was born to Mitchell Schnapp and Karine Schnapp, both originally from Montreal, Canada. He has a twin sister named Chloe, with whom he grew up in Scarsdale, New York. His family supported his early interest in acting, enrolling him in classes and helping him pursue auditions in New York. He is also the godparent of the adopted child of his Stranger Things co-star Millie Bobby Brown and her husband Jake Bongiovi.
Personal Life
Schnapp attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in entrepreneurship and innovation before going on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in cinema and media studies in 2026. During a summer break before college, he worked as a lifeguard. On January 5, 2023, he publicly came out as gay in a video posted to his TikTok account, expressing relief that his family and friends had accepted him.