Jake Connelly | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2012 (age 12–13) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2024–present |
| Known for | Stranger Things |
Jake Connelly (born 2012) is an American actor. [1] He is known for his role as Derek Turnbow in the fifth and final season of the Netflix science fiction horror series Stranger Things . [2]
Connelly was born in 2012. [1] He was raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. [2] As of 2025, he attends middle school in the Chicago area. [2] Connelly plays American football on his school team as a right tackle on the offensive line and on the inside defense. [2] He is a fan of the Chicago Bears. [2]
Prior to being cast in Stranger Things, Connelly was a fan of the series. [3] He watched the show with his family when the fourth season was released. [4]
Connelly began acting several years before his television debut. [2] His first acting roles were in commercials for Microsoft Windows directed by a family friend. [2] His only credit prior to Stranger Things was a short film titled Between the Silence. [5] [6]
In July 2024, Connelly was cast in the fifth season of Stranger Things. [7] [8] He received the call confirming he had won the role while sheltering in his basement during a tornado warning. [2] To keep his casting a secret, he told his schoolmates that he was filming a documentary about mayonnaise. [2]
Connelly portrays Derek Turnbow. [9] The character is introduced as a bully who torments Holly Wheeler, but later becomes an ally to the protagonists. [5] [10] He appears in the first volume of the season, which was released in November 2025. [11]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Stranger Things | Derek Turnbow | Season 5 [11] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | Between the Silence | Unknown | [6] |