Who plays Stranger Things’ Karen Wheeler? Meet prolific actress Cara Buono
The actress behind ‘Karen wine ‘em down Wheeler’ has appeared in Mad Men and The Sopranos, among over 80 other acting credits – she is also a Columbia grad
Premiering on November 26, the show’s fifth season is being released in three chapters, with the first already out. Only four episodes in, several moments from the show have already gone viral – including a clip of Cara Buono, who plays Karen, the doting but clueless mother of Mike, Nancy and Holly Wheeler.
In the season’s second episode, fans see a new side of Karen when a Demogorgon attacks her youngest child, Holly. Suddenly, Karen is no longer a wine-drunk housewife, but a formidable mother who holds her own against a supernatural monster – with the help of a broken wine bottle. While she didn’t win the fight and was left mauled nearly to death by the monster, the fight scene went viral with fans who have since nicknamed the mum “Karen wine ‘em down Wheeler.”
Here’s everything to know about Cara Buono, the actress behind Stranger Things’ Karen Wheeler.
She debuted at 12 years old
Most fans of the show may only know Buono for her role as Karen Wheeler, but the 54-year-old American actress has an illustrious career with over 83 acting credits to her name. Born and raised in the Bronx, Buono made her acting debut at only 12, in Harvey Fierstein’s play Spookhouse.