Jake Connelly, the Chicago-area teen who plays foul-mouthed breakout Derek Turnbow in the Stranger Things final season, shared candid stories about sudden fame during his December 15 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He revealed how kids now yell “Suck my fat one!” at him between classes, with some even offering money for episode spoilers. Connelly recreated the line with a spot-on Eric Cartman impression from South Park, prompting bleeps on the broadcast but earning big laughs from the audience. He also described a green room prank where his nameplate read “Dipsh*t Derek,” which he flipped to “Delightful Derek” before Fallon changed it back.
Connelly opened up about the long road to landing the role. He learned of his casting while huddled in the basement during a tornado warning, an experience that felt surreal amid the chaos. To keep the secret for over a year, he told friends he was filming a documentary about mayonnaise, joking that no one asks follow-up questions about that topic. The young actor, who only began watching the series with his family during the release of Season 4, called the opportunity a dream come true and shared lighter moments from set life.
Derek Turnbow has quickly become a fan favorite in Season 5’s first volume, despite starting as a bratty bully in Holly Wheeler’s class. His crude humor, including fart jokes and aggressive outbursts, provides comic relief in tense scenes. After supernatural threats force a change, Derek evolves into a brave ally, earning the affectionate “Delightful Derek” label from viewers. Connelly’s natural energy shone through in auditions, leading creators to expand the character’s arc for more depth and redemption.
This interview highlighted Connelly’s relatable charm, mirroring how his performance transformed an initially disliked character into a standout of the season. Moments like sneaking onto a filming location tour during a family vacation showed his enthusiasm for the world he joined. As Volume 2 approaches on December 25, followed by the finale on New Year’s Eve, Derek’s journey continues to resonate, blending humor with heartfelt growth in the series’ emotional close.
For behind-the-scenes on Connelly’s audition that expanded Derek’s role, see this feature: Netflix Tudum interview with Jake Connelly. Check the full release schedule here: Stranger Things Season 5 release dates. Explore the new cast additions, including Derek: Season 5 cast and character guide.
