Is Noah Schnapp gay? What the “Stranger Things” star has said, how it connects to Will Byers, and where the conversation stands now

Noah Schnapp publicly came out as gay in January 2023, sharing the news himself and framing it with a wry nod to his on-screen journey. Since then, he’s spoken about how playing Will Byers helped him better understand his own identity and how fan support made a difficult, deeply personal step feel a little lighter. The question “Is Noah Schnapp gay?” remains one of the most-searched queries around the final season rollout, so here’s the straightforward answer and the key context—without rumor or speculation.

Noah Schnapp’s own words and timeline

• January 2023: Schnapp told fans he is gay, in his own voice and on his own channels.

• Afterward: He reflected that embracing Will’s story arc—long rumored, then unmistakably clear—helped him accept himself.

• Today: He keeps the focus on work, emphasizing gratitude for support while steering interviews toward craft, friendship with castmates, and closing a defining chapter.

The headline hasn’t changed since his announcement. What has changed is how openly he links personal growth to the role that made him famous.

Will Byers in “Stranger Things”: where character and real life intersect (and where they don’t)

Will Byers’ journey—loneliness, secrecy, and finally honesty—has always been central to the show’s heart. In recent seasons, Will’s sexuality moved from subtext to text, making him a rare genre lead whose adolescence and identity are treated with care. Schnapp has said that living with Will for years gave him language and confidence he didn’t have at the start.

It’s also worth separating lanes:

• Overlap: Themes of self-acceptance and friendship informed both the character and the actor’s personal life.

• Boundary: Will is fictional; Noah’s life is his own. Public interest is natural, but respecting that boundary is part of supporting the person fans say they admire.

Why people still ask “Is Noah Schnapp gay?” in 2025

Search spikes tend to follow three things: new episodes, cast profiles, and social clips reviving older quotes. As the final season has rolled out in stages, many newer or casual viewers are discovering the 2023 announcement for the first time. Others are catching up on how Will’s endgame aligns with what Schnapp shared off-screen.

Quick answers (no fluff)

• Is Noah Schnapp gay? Yes—he said so publicly in January 2023.

• Did that influence Will Byers? The character’s arc was already headed there; the alignment helped Schnapp play it with added honesty.

• What has he said since? That fan support mattered, and that he’s proud to close the story with clarity for both Will and himself.

• Any new “updates”? Nothing that changes the core fact; current chatter is mainly interview soundbites tied to the final-season press run.

The bigger takeaway

For many fans, Will’s story was the first time they saw a beloved sci-fi show center a queer coming-of-age without turning it into a gimmick. For Schnapp, telling that story up close helped him reach his own conclusion—and share it on his terms. If you arrived here searching “Is Noah Schnapp gay,” you already have the answer. The more interesting part is what comes next: a final performance built on the same honesty, and a young actor stepping into the future with the question settled.