Jamie Campbell Bower gave theatergoers the ultimate “Upside Down” shock on Friday night. In a moment that blurred the lines between the Netflix screen and the Broadway stage, the actor made his official Broadway debut with a surprise appearance in Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Marquis Theatre.
The cameo occurred during the play’s final scene, which serves as a narrative bridge to the television series. In a sequence set within the Rainbow Room at Hawkins Lab, the adult Henry Creel—the role Bower originated in the show’s fourth season—is introduced to a young Eleven by Dr. Brenner. While actor Louis McCartney typically portrays Henry throughout the production, Bower stepped into the role for this specific climactic moment.
Dressed in the iconic white orderly uniform from the series, Bower’s reveal was met with a deafening standing ovation that reportedly lasted over a minute before the scene could continue. For fans, it was a visceral “full circle” moment, seeing the two actors who have defined Henry Creel share the stage.
During the curtain call, Louis McCartney took a moment to honor his predecessor. He noted that having Bower there was an incredible honor and called him a constant inspiration throughout the development of the stage character. Bower appeared visibly emotional during the tribute, taking a solo bow to another round of thunderous applause.
This surprise visit comes at a pivotal time for the franchise. Stranger Things Season 5 is currently mid-release on Netflix; Volume 1 premiered in late November, with Volume 2 scheduled to drop on Christmas Day, followed by the series finale on New Year’s Eve.
Bower later shared that the idea for the walk-on role was first suggested to him during the Season 5 premiere in Los Angeles last month. While he has seen the play twice as an audience member—once in London and once in New York—this marked his first time performing the role live.
Though Bower has hinted that he is ready to “pass the torch” and say goodbye to Henry Creel once the series concludes, this one-night-only performance at the Marquis Theatre provided a legendary farewell to the character that has become one of television’s most formidable villains.