Hollywood is full of surprises, and sometimes even the biggest stars have chapters of their lives that stay hidden for the most part. Charlie Heaton, beloved for his role in Stranger Things, has always been known for his brooding charm and talent, but off-screen, he has kept a major detail of his personal life as much under wraps as possible. Heaton is a father, and his son, Archie Heaton, has recently come into the spotlight again, revealing a side of the actor not many knew about.

The fact that he has a son gives a glimpse into Charlie Heaton’s life in showbiz, showing that in the world of fame, some things stay personal until they can no longer.

The Sun revealed in 2017 that Charlie Heaton has a son, Archie Heaton, who was already three years old at the time. Born in May 2014, Archie should be 11 years old now. Heaton shares Archie with his former Comanechi bandmate and ex-girlfriend Akiko Matsuura. A source for the publication then revealed that the couple, though no longer together, maintained an amicable relationship for their son’s sake.

Filming commitments in Los Angeles kept Charlie Heaton away from Archie, The Sun claimed. However, the actor hoped to spend more time with his son once his career allowed. That does not appear to be happening anytime soon, as Heaton has already booked a post-Stranger Things commitment. Notably, Charlie Heaton and Akiko Matsuura share a sizable age gap. Heaton is 31 years old now, and his ex-girlfriend is 45, meaning while Heaton became a father at 20, she embraced motherhood in 30s. With the pair having been broken up for years now, though, has the actor moved on with someone else?

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The simple answer, and not exactly a new one, is yes. Charlie Heaton has been dating one of his Stranger Things co-stars since 2016.

Charlie Heaton has been dating Stranger Things co-star Natalia Dyer since 2016, after meeting on the show’s set. The couple is not married and does not have children together, but they have stayed close over the years. Their relationship is not a loud one either. While not much is known about how involved Heaton remains in his son’s life, his admirers do occasionally get a glimpse into his life with Dyer as they appear together at certain events.

At last, Charlie Heaton’s life shows that fame and family can coexist, even when much of it stays out of the public eye. From navigating early fatherhood with Archie to nurturing a long-term relationship with Natalia Dyer, Heaton manages to strike a balance between the demands of Hollywood and the quieter, more personal aspects of life that define him off-screen, being in full control of the details about him that go out in the world.

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What do you think of Charlie Heaton’s secret child? Let us know in the comments.