Special Reports

Broadway Shockers 2016: David Harbour's Torn Achilles as Achilles Is One of the Stranger Things

Harbour’s great year as star of a Netflix cultural phenomenon was only marred by his Achilles heel.

David Harbour arrives at the opening night of Troilus and Cressida.
David Harbour arrives at the opening night of Troilus and Cressida.
(© Allison Stock)

Broadway's David Harbour shot to stardom this year, playing Chief Jim Hopper in the much-lauded Netflix original series Stranger Things. The cherry on top of 2016 was supposed to be performing the role of Achilles in Shakespeare in the Park's Troilus and Cressida at the open air Delacorte Theater. But sadly, every great hero has a hamartia. And, implausibly, Harbour's turned out to be the same as that of the character he was slated to play: During previews for the production, the actor tore his Achilles tendon.

David Harbour in rehearsal for Troilus and Cressida, with Alex Breaux.
David Harbour in rehearsal for Troilus and Cressida, with Alex Breaux.
(© Joan Marcus)

Not sure how to account for such an unlikely twist of fate? Harbour offered one explanation on Twitter, saying, "The demigorgon. It got me." Who knew Stranger Things' monster from the dark dimension was such a fan of poetic coincidence?