For Season 4 of Stranger Things, David Harbour shed about 10 pounds (4.5kg), which is on the smaller side compared to some previous years. Of course, this doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have a big story to tell. In fact, his journey to the light will be one of the show’s highlights.
The 49-year-old actor plays Ben Sinclair, a cop whose teenage daughter Emily (Madeline McGlynn) goes missing during a trip to Chicago. It’s up to David to find her and uncover the truth behind her disappearance. Along the way, he’ll have to face his own demons, who won’t hesitate to put him in his place. It’s a challenge that will see him transform in more ways than one.
As for how much he weighed before the start of Season 4, we don’t know for sure. However, in a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, David revealed that he’s been steadily losing weight since the end of Season 3. It appears that his rigorous workouts and healthy eating routine are finally paying off.
“I’ve lost about 10 pounds since the end of season three, and that’s all coming from eating healthy and working out,” he said. “I felt like I could really play a role where I kind of lose weight. It wasn’t like I was trying to lose weight for a particular role; it was more like, ‘Here’s a character who’s going to need to lose weight.’”
This revelation makes sense. After all, David has been pretty open about his struggle with weight. In the past, he’s revealed that he’s dealt with anorexia and bulimia in the past. He also noted in a 2015 interview with E! Online that he’s maintained a healthy weight his whole life. For that reason, it wasn’t hard for him to shed the pounds for Season 4 of Stranger Things.
The Physical Transformation
To prepare for Season 4 of Stranger Things, David underwent a physical transformation. When the show’s producers came to him with the idea of playing a heavier character, he was open to the challenge. He also noted that he would’ve loved to have played a bigger role, but he was happy to take on the one the writers gave him.
“I’ve always wanted to be the guy who portrays the father figure in the family. The dad in the family is usually the stronger one, the guy who can protect the women and the young ones. So to be able to play that, I think it will be cathartic for a lot of people who’ve been through similar situations,” David said. “It’s something that I think a lot of us have wanted to do, to be that strong father figure.”
While he didn’t give certain details about what kind of training he underwent to get in shape for the role, it’s clear that he put in the work. David started by swimming everyday and then worked his way up to three sets of 10 push-ups, three sets of 10 sit-ups, and three sets of 10 lunges. He also attended body positivity class and started eating healthier. Now, he makes sure to drink lots of water daily and watches what he eats. He also takes care of his body with regular exercise.
Given how much weight David lost for this season, it will be interesting to see what kind of clothes he’s going to wear. In the past, he’s either been very simple or gone for more complex fashion choices, so it will be cool to see him experiment with different looks.
The Mental Transformation
As much as he wants to be the strong father figure on Stranger Things, David has also described himself as “a broken man.” After losing his daughter, everything he thought was important to him changed. Not to mention that he blames himself for what happened. This is why Season 4 was important to him; it was a chance to “start over.” He was determined to play Ben with a “whole different energy,” so he could bring a new meaning to the term “monster mash.”
During the making of Season 4, David worked with a personal trainer and therapist to get to the root of his problem. They worked on building his self-confidence and helping him to believe that he can be a good father, even though he’s never had a child of his own. While it was important to him to play a character who can be strong, it was more important to him to play a character who he feels he can relate to. He wants to show the world that anyone can become a father figure and be a good parent, even if they’ve gone through tragedy. This is why he wanted to play Ben; this is a character he can see himself in.
“I think this season is a great example of how you can pull on your past experiences and use that to inform this character,” David said. “I think that this character has really strong feelings about his personal experiences and what he’s been through. And I think that it’s cathartic for everyone involved to see those emotions come to the surface.”
Stranger Things: What’s Next For Ben Sinclair?
The end of Stranger Things not only saw the character of Ben Sinclair stepping out of the shadows, but it also saw him becoming the lead in his own TV show. Now, he has to navigate his way through his new life alone. And in the past, he’s shown that he’s not the kind of guy to hide away and hope for the best. He’s a man of action, and so far, it’s proven to be a good move for him.
With Season 4, David has proven to be a versatile actor who can play a wide range of characters. While he has previously worked with the likes of Emma Stone, Charlize Theron, and Nicole Kidman, it’s clear that he wants to continue working with famous faces. He wants to prove to the world that he’s more than just “that guy from Stranger Things.” While we eagerly await the premiere of Season 5, which will no doubt delve into more mysteries, it’s clear that David has much to keep us interested.