BY EVAN & ELISE TRAINOR
From helping super-powered teenagers fight off inter-dimensional monsters to heroically saving Christmas as a tattooed Santa Clause, David Harbour has had an interesting career to say the least. In case that wasn’t enough to catch your attention, he’s also portrayed a friendly ghost, a Russian superhero, a formula-one racing coach, and a horned demon from hell within the past five years.
What might be lesser known about Harbour is that he was born and raised in Westchester County, spent a significant portion of his childhood right here in Armonk and graduated from Byram Hills High School in 1993. I recently had the pleasure of speaking with this local celebrity who was nothing but kind and generous when it came to sharing his story and what it’s like to be one of the most highly sought-after actors in the business.
The first thing Harbour emphasized was how this level of fame and success was not always his reality. Ken Harbor, David’s father and long-time Armonk resident, commented, “I was concerned about David’s potential success in acting early on, but came to realize that his definition of success was never based on financial rewards, rather the opportunity to act and help people think and feel, a success which he has always been able to achieve.”
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Prior to his breakout performance on Netflix’s Stranger Things, Harbour spent most of his early career in theaters across New York playing various roles in dramatic – often Shakespearean plays. It wasn’t until his mid-30s that Harbour began to utilize his 6’ 3”, naturally wide frame in more action-based films such as James Bond – Quantum of Solace, The Equalizer, and Suicide Squad. He’s also currently preparing to reprise his role as The Red Guardian in one of Marvel Studios’ upcoming blockbusters, Thunderbolts, alongside familiar favorites like Harrison Ford and Florence Pugh.
Harbour noted, “The transition from stage to screen can be extremely difficult as live/in-person performances offer none of the safety nets a recorded medium would – no retakes, editing, or any other digital enhancements of any kind. I do feel like there’s less control in those cases – but as I get older, I like the cultural power of the broader mediums of film and TV.”
Since the start of the show in 2016, Stranger Things has certainly made the short list of films and series to embody that vast cultural influence. In addition to sparking countless Halloween costumes, board games, corporate partnerships, toys and other merchandise, the show propelled Harbour and the majority of his costars into the mainstream spotlight.
Harbour recalled his first experience ever playing the shows charismatic police commissioner, Jim Hopper, saying, “I felt like there was something so pure about that first season – where none of us knew it was going to be any good and so we were all committed to loving the script, loving the idea – and I just love that character.” That love was palpable and mutually felt across an audience of over 14 million people – earning Harbour a Screen Actor’s Guild Award, a Critic’s Choice Award and countless other nominations.
Harbour’s standout performance and the show’s incredible success played significant roles in keeping Netflix afloat during a time when rival platforms/providers were becoming much more legitimate and competitive. A win was very much needed, and it came in the form of a series that would eventually become the second most watched of all time (behind Game of Thrones which has twice as many seasons/episodes). Now entering its fifth and final season, the show has attracted a massive audience across all ages who are eagerly awaiting the epic conclusion that is currently in production.
I felt it would be remiss to not ask David about his experience hosting Saturday Night Live back in 2019. Often considered a rite of passage for only the best rising talent, this opportunity was, “a dream come true!” he said, “one of the highlights of my life for sure.” For now, we’ll just have to eagerly wait and see if we ever get the feature-length version of his dark, gritty Oscar the Grouch/Sesame Street parody.
We at The Inside Press were very interested in the early years and origins of one of Byram Hill’s most famous alumni. He claimed to have only had a handful of opportunities when he was young, but said, “Once I got to high school, I had the fuel for the fire and was raring to go.”
With specific mentions and anecdotes about his theatre director at the time, Harbour expressed how that exposure to the arts and the stage in high school was instrumental in giving him the guidance and confidence – a huge blessing. David’s terrific successes on stage, screen, and television aside, his mother and biggest fan (known for her Rice Krispie treats sold at school play intermissions) felt that nothing could match his iconic portrayal of Salieri in the Byram Hills High School production of Amadeus.
When asked if he has any advice for the next generation of actors, Harbour explained that the world needs good artists, and that people should not be dissuaded from the profession. “Today people are building brands, which is easy. What’s difficult are the skills, and when push comes to shove in the arts, you will always need a good plumber or a good electrician… there is a lot of technique in good acting,” Harbour said. “If you focus on that as an actor, while it may feel difficult to understand, it will pay off long term in a big way. Hunker down, read the books, go to classes, and study what the great ones do,” he concluded.
With the climactic, heavily anticipated final season of Stranger Things and the next installation of The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) on the horizon, both with release dates in Spring of 2025, there’s no telling how high David Harbour’s metaphorical ceiling can go. He’s also secured a role in Sylvester Stallone’s next film, Levon’s Trade, alongside action star, Jason Statham. Wherever his career takes him, whether it’s beating up bad guys or making us sob uncontrollably, you can be sure that we’ll be ready with plenty of popcorn and beaming with pride.
David shared, “I’ve had a lot of fun roles and things that I’ve been proud of, but I actually feel like my best work is certainly ahead of me.”
Evan Trainor grew up in Armonk/also a Byram Hills graduate. Now he is a senior graphic designer/creative strategist/copywriter living in Greenwich, CT.
Elise Trainor is the Associate Publisher/Editor for The Inside Press. A lifelong lover of all media and proud to be content developer and community business collaborator for advertising in our print & online publications.
