Jake Connelly talks about his dream-come-true role on Stranger Things as Delightful Derek and shares stories from filming the show before taking Jimmy’s spot at the Tonight Show desk (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon). YouTube Tips ⓘ
Here’s a successful story for a young student with homebase in Arlington Heights and a star power trajectory into acting and worldwide Netflix streaming video exposure, and more.
Jake Connelly plays Derek Turnbow in the fifth and final season of the Netflix science fiction horror series Stranger Things. Jake was born in 2012, and was only 4 years-old when Season 1 of Stranger Things premiered. He first watched Stranger Things during Season 4, when he became a fan of the show. Now he’s a star on the show.
He told Jimmy Fallon and the audience on the Tonight Show that he watched Season 4 with his family every night, and he said, “when the audition came in, I could not believe it … it was the thing of dreams for me.” Fallon replied, “And today it’s the biggest show in the world.” Jake got the call for the audition in the Spring of 2023 when he was coming up out of sheltering in his family’s basement after a Tornado Warning. Then, after the audition, he was told, “Jake, you’re going to Hawkins.” Hawkins, Georgia is the filming location for Stranger Things Season 5. Now he’s a well known favorite of the show.
Before winter break, Jake Connelly missed the last week of school at middle school in Arlington Heights to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. At school, he’s got people coming up to him for selfies and autographs, he told Fallon.
The Season Finale of the fifth and final season of Stranger Things is Wednesday, December 31, 2025 on Netflix.
Emmy-Winner Jake Hamilton talks with STRANGER THINGS star Jake Connelly on CHICAGO NOW’S Jake’s Takes (Jake Hamilton’s takes). YouTube Tips ⓘ
jakeconnellyofficial/instagram