Career and work
Harbour built his early career in theatre, film, and television. On Broadway, he appeared in productions including The Rainmaker, The Invention of Love, The Coast of Utopia, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. His performance as Nick in the 2005 revival of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play. [6]
He became widely known for playing police chief Jim Hopper in Netflix’s Stranger Things. The role earned him Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in both 2017 and 2018. [7]
Harbour’s film work includes playing the title role in Hellboy, Santa Claus in Violent Night, and Alexei Shostakov, the Red Guardian, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Black Widow and Thunderbolts.
What has been publicly discussed
Sources and other resourcesExpand to view the sources used in this profile and resources to learn more.
Sources used for this profile
The following sources contain information that supports the claims made on this page.
The Guardian interview, 2021 Covers Harbour’s diagnosis and acting career.
interviewSELF, 2018 Covers the manic episode leading to diagnosis, hospitalization, spirituality, and meditation.
article or webpageNPR / Fresh Air, 2019 Covers medication, psychoanalysis, stability, empathy, disclosure, and stigma.
podcast or transcript
View all 7 sources
Variety, 2026 Covers a recent breakdown, extreme stress, mania, depression, and later improvement.
interviewFuture of Personal Health Covers stigma, identity, and bipolar disorder.
article or webpagePlaybill Documents Harbour’s Broadway career and Tony nomination.
article or webpageTelevision Academy Documents Stranger Things and Emmy nominations.
article or webpage
Learn more
Recommended books and other resources about David Harbour and their experiences.
- WTF with Marc Maron — David HarbourPodcast
Long-form interview covering bipolar disorder, hospitalization, spirituality, sobriety, and acting.
- Armchair Expert — David HarbourPodcast
Extended conversation about bipolar disorder, creativity, and personal experience.
- The Independent interview, 2022Interview
Discussion of acting and mental illness in relation to Mad House.