Why Jennifer Marshall Didn’t Appear in the Final Season of Stranger Things — The Reason Is Heartbreaking

Jennifer Marshall, who played Susan Hargrove on Netflix’s Stranger Things, has spoken out about why she did not appear in the show’s final season. Her comments came through social media and later in interviews, where she shared that her absence was connected to her cancer diagnosis.

Marshall appeared in Seasons 2 and 4 as the mother of Max Mayfield, played by Sadie Sink. When the series reached its final chapter, fans noticed that Susan was missing, even during major hospital scenes involving Max.

This led many viewers to question why the character was not there. Marshall addressed this directly in a social media post, explaining that she was disappointed not to return, especially because working on the show would have helped her keep her union health insurance.

In her post, she wrote, “I had cancer, I get it. But I was in remission during the shooting of Season 5. Shooting would have helped me obtain my health insurance through the union.” She added that she was unsure why she was not called back and joked about her character’s absence, saying Susan clearly was not a great mother.

The post quickly gained attention online. Marshall later told Variety that the message was meant to be lighthearted and not angry. In an email to the outlet, she said, “I just made the reel as a funny thing and it blew up. I hold no ill will toward anyone and just wish things would have gone a different way.” She also said she was thankful for being part of the show in earlier seasons, even if she was surprised by the decision.

Marshall also reminded fans that she battled cancer while filming Season 4. She first shared her diagnosis in 2022 on Facebook.

During that time, she continued working and later needed to wear a wig due to hair loss. She recalled opening up to people on set, including Sadie Sink, whose support meant a lot to her. She described Sink as kind and caring and said those moments stayed with her.

She also shared that she spoke privately with creators Matt and Ross Duffer about her health at the time. According to Marshall, they showed concern and kindness, and she made it clear she did not want to be written out because of her illness. Filming, she said, gave her light during a very hard period in her life.

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