When the world was introduced to the Upside Down with Stranger Things, a new set of stars emerged, quickly becoming some of Hollywood's most sought-after talents. While these newcomers rose to fame, several well-established actors in Tinseltown also experienced a resurgence. As new artists made their mark, veteran stars like Paul Reiser regained momentum, being recognized as part of the Stranger Things phenomenon by a growing fanbase. 

Reiser shared a similar journey, recently reflecting on how Stranger Things fame has positively impacted his career and the pride it has brought him.

Paul Reiser has an extensive list of notable projects, but for the current generation, he is best known for his role as Dr. Sam Owens, the affable scientist from the Hawkins Lab in Netflix's Stranger Things. In a recent Zoom interview with Decider, Reiser reflected on this newfound fame and shared his thoughts on this new generation of fans. "It’s a fool’s errand to try and pretend that you’re not what you are," Reiser told the publication, embracing his new-age fame with pride.

Reiser admitted it was a bit disconcerting when his friends would attend his stand-up shows and mention their kids' astonishment at seeing the doctor from the Upside Down performing comedy. However, with a laugh, he acknowledged that it has been "nice" to see his audience grow in this new phase of his career. Upon being asked if he had been filming for the fifth season, which had been running on a delay, the comedian chose to remain tight-lipped.

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Interestingly, Reiser also took time to reflect on the days he was the “new kid on the block” when the rest of the kids did well in welcoming him to the show.

In his conversation with Decider, Paul Reiser shared that while he was happy to be part of Stranger Things, he is not sad to say goodbye, believing the show deserves to "come full circle and move on." Reflecting on his early days on the show in 2017, he recalled how welcoming the cast had been. Reiser expressed his admiration for them, noting that their warm reception dispelled his initial uncertainties. 

Reiser highlighted that despite the kids now being grown up—Millie Bobby Brown is married, and Caleb McLaughlin and Finn Wolfhard are prominent models—they remain as kind and grounded as ever "even with their incredible success and visibility." Thus, with his heart fully poured out, it is more or less clear why he takes pride in being part of Stranger Things.

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What do you think of Paul Reiser's admission of pride that came with Stranger Things? Let us know in the comments below!