There's a Queer Eye cameo in Stranger Things season 3 you might have missed
There’s another Netflix Easter egg you might’ve missed in Stranger Things season 3: Queer Eye season 2 star William Mahnken.
On the Fab Five’s makeover show, Mahnken was “stuck in the ’70s” with his style, according to then-girlfriend, now-wife Shannan Eller on the show. Now, with Stranger Things, he’s stuck in the ’80s. Fans re-binging the drama will notice Mahnken appearing in the premiere episode as one of the newspaper men staring at Nancy when she tries to pitch an idea.
As it turns out, that wasn’t his only cameo.
ICYMI: William Mahnken, who stole our hearts with his proposal in Queer Eye S2 makes a cameo in Stranger Things this season (with a brand new moustache to boot) pic.twitter.com/R77WsmJvb0
— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) July 8, 2019
Amazing coworkers at the Hawkins Post!!! Thanks to Jonathan for taking the photo since Nancy was busy solving the mystery of the store brand creamer. @Stranger_Things pic.twitter.com/qDXCRe55UT
— William Mahnken (@SilverLimePhoto) July 9, 2019
Mahnken teased on his personal Instagram that he has nine appearances in season 3, including one where he and Eller play a couple out to dinner.
“Who caught Shannan from @QueerEye looking lovingly at @DavidKHarbour on our date in the second episode of @Stranger_Things?” Mahnken tweeted.
Who caught Shannan from @QueerEye looking lovingly at @DavidKHarbour on our date in the second episode of @Stranger_Things?
(@SilverLimePhoto @Treeandshield #StrangersThings3 pic.twitter.com/hAIMPkD1Sq— William Mahnken (@SilverLimePhoto) July 5, 2019
A post shared by William Mahnken (@william_mahnken) on Jul 7, 2019 at 7:12am PDT
On Queer Eye, Mahnken was described as a Walmart employee from Dahlonega, Georgia with a passion for film. That passion has led to a pretty extensive filmography of background roles in movies. It makes sense: Georgia has an abundance of film productions. Notably, Mahnken appeared on episodes of The Walking Dead as one of Negan’s (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) Saviors, and he played a guard at the prison in Steven Soderbergh’s Logan Lucky during the best Winds of Winter joke ever put to film (so far).
A post shared by William Mahnken (@william_mahnken) on Jun 4, 2019 at 2:58pm PDT
A post shared by William Mahnken (@william_mahnken) on Jan 24, 2019 at 1:23pm PST
A post shared by William Mahnken (@william_mahnken) on Jan 25, 2019 at 5:02pm PST
As for Stranger Things, Mahnken already appeared in season 2 as an arcade worker. According to him, it’s the same character he plays in season 3.
“In season 2, Paul lived in his mom’s basement with his tween son. Season 3, Paul gets a job at the Hawkins Post as a reporter,” he wrote on Instagram. “He also starts dating multiple women. Looks like Paul is moving on up!!”
A post shared by William Mahnken (@william_mahnken) on May 10, 2019 at 2:09pm PDT
What’s next for Mahnken? According to his IMDb page, a background role in the remake of Jacob’s Ladder.
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