Who played billy in stranger things

Billy Hargrove in Stranger Things season 2 on Netflix, played by actor Dacre Montgomery

Stranger Things season 2 introduced us to two new characters who each became integral to the Netflix hit. That was Max Mayfield and her troubled teen stepbrother, Billy Hargrove.

The character was a true bully, but in season 3 we get some more insight as to why he was the way he was. His mother left when Billy was a young, and he had to grow up with an abusive father. So the unfortunate result was the bad boy we meet in the Netflix Original‘s sophomore season.

However, the talented actor behind the character is the complete opposite! Dacre Montgomery was relatively unknown before his breakout performance on Stranger Things .We’re so glad we know him now! And we’ve got some fun facts about the lovely star you may have missed.

5 fun facts about Stranger Things star Dacre Montgomery

The star is from Australia

You really can’t tell when you hear him as Billy, but the actor actually isn’t American. He’s from Australia! He was born in Perth, Western Australia. Montgomery began acting onscreen and on stage at nine years old.

Growing up wasn’t easy for him at school and drama school. But now, look where he’s at!

The Red Ranger in Power Rangers reboot

Before his breakout role in Stranger Things season 2, Montgomery starred as Jason Scott, aka the Red Ranger, in the 2017 Power Rangers film reboot. And surprisingly, he’d never seen the original when he was a kid. The actor still nailed the role of course! He was also the leading man in the 2020 film The Broken Hearts Gallery, which was executive produced by Selena Gomez.

He auditioned for Stranger Things in a G-string

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor shared he was a “huge fan” of Stranger Things before he even auditioned. When he found out the series was looking for an 18-year-old bad boy, he told himself he had to “nail this.”

So he spent the day with two of his acting university friends making an audition tape. He was certainly excited for the opportunity! Here’s what he told THR:

I was so nervous [about] it and wanted it so badly I made like a short film. I had an opening score, opening titles and credits. And I got in a G-string and danced naked to ’80s music with this leather jacket and crazy glasses. That night, Thursday night, I sent it off.

The actor said the next day on Friday morning, he got a call that the Duffer Brothers (aka the creators of Stranger Things) wanted to meet him via Skype on Sunday, then fly him out to L.A. for the test deal. They certainly chose the right person! While Billy’s character is hard to like, there’s absolutely no doubt the lovely and uber talented actor nailed the role!

Dacre Montgomery’s podcast – DKMH

In July 2019, Montgomery released his own podcast called DKMH. There’s a total of six episodes that are only a few minutes long. But what’s special about it is that we get to witness a different aspect of his creativity as the podcast features Montgomery’s own poetry.

He’s appeared in music videos

The star also used his talent to appear in two music videos! The first was in 2015 for “Old Souls” by Australian deathcore band, Make Them Suffer. The second was in 2017 for Austrialian sibling duo Angus & Julia in their “Chateau” music video.

Check out both videos below!

Next: Is Dacre Montgomery in Stranger Things season 4 as Billy?

Warning: This story contains spoilers from season 4 of Stranger Things.

A twisted return. Stranger Things season 4 figured out a way to bring Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery) back — but the reunion between him and sister Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) was very short-lived.

During episode 4, Max goes to visit Billy’s grave thinking she doesn’t have much time left before Vecna’s curse kills her. The trip to the cemetery pushes her to reflect on her stepbrother’s death.

“Dear Billy, I don’t know if you can even hear this. Two years ago, I would have said, ‘That’s ridiculous, impossible.’ But that was before I found out about alternate dimensions and monsters, so I am just going to stop assuming that I know anything,” Max reads from a letter she wrote to Billy. “So much has happened since you left.”

In the scene, Max opens up about the ups and downs in her life since Billy’s passing. “Basically, ever since you left, everything’s been a total disaster. And the worst part is I can’t tell anyone why you’re gone. I can’t tell them that you saved El’s life. That you saved my life. I play that moment back in my head all the time,” she continues. “And sometimes I imagine myself running to you, pulling you away. I imagine that if I had, that you would still be here. And everything would be right again. I imagine that we could have become friends. Good friends. Like a real brother and sister.”

Max admits that thinking about the battle in Starcourt Mall makes her wonder if she did enough. “I thought maybe we could try again. But that is not what happened. I just stood there and I watched,” the high school student adds. “For a while I tried to be happy. But I think that maybe a part of me died that day too. And I haven’t told anyone this. I just can’t. But I had to tell you. Before it is too late.”

Dacre Montgomery as Billy Hargrove on ‘Stranger Things.’ Netflix

As Max attempts to leave, Vecna conjures a vision of Billy to taunt her. “I’ve been waiting to hear those words. Waiting so very long. But it wasn’t the full truth, was it Max? I think there is a part of you, buried somewhere deep, that wanted me to die that day. That was maybe even relieved. Happy,” the fake version of Billy tells his younger sister. “That’s what you stood there, isn’t it Max?”

He continues: “It’s OK. You can admit it now. No more lies. No more hiding. That is why you feel such guilt. Why you hide from you friends. Why you hide from the world. And why, late at night, you have sometimes wished to follow me. Follow me into death. That is why I am here. To end your suffering once and for all.”

The shocking moment comes after Montgomery, 27, previously revealed that he was “happy not to return” to the role following his season 3 departure. “I’ve put Billy to bed in my head,” the actor told Vulture in 2019, adding that he trusted the Duffer brothers to know “that the end is the end.”

At the time, the Australia native also opened up about fighting to have Billy’s backstory introduced. “I really tried to humanize him as much as I could,” he added, noting that he hoped fans remember his character by “what he did in the end” instead of his previous behavior.

Sink, 20, for her part, hinted that Max would struggle on screen in the aftermath of season 3, telling Elle earlier this month, “Max is grieving the loss of her brother, and the loss of Eleven, who’s moved away. So, her entire world has changed. And also, she’s headed into high school. So, she’s in a completely unfamiliar environment.”

Season 4 of Stranger Things is now streaming on Netflix.