Jim Hopper (Stranger Things)

James "Jim" Hopper Jr. is a fictional character from the Netflix science fiction horror series Stranger Things, created by The Duffer Brothers and portrayed by David Harbour. Hopper is the police chief of the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, and a Vietnam War veteran whose grief over the death of his daughter shapes much of his characterization. Across the series, he becomes a central figure in the investigation of the supernatural events surrounding Hawkins, adopts Eleven as his daughter, and develops a romantic relationship with Joyce Byers. Netflix describes Hopper as a cynical police chief grieving his daughter’s death who gradually becomes part of Eleven’s chosen family. Harbour's performance as Hopper received critical acclaim and earned him two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, as well as a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Hopper's characterization in the third season was more divisive, with several critics arguing that his aggressive behavior represented a regression from the character's development in the first two seasons. A teenage version of Hopper also appears in the stage prequel Stranger Things: The First Shadow, portrayed by Oscar Lloyd in the original West End production and Burke Swanson on Broadway.