Jennifer Marshall Reveals Heartbreaking Reason She Was Absent From ‘Stranger Things’ Final Season

Jennifer Marshall has shared why she did not appear in the final season of Stranger Things, and the reason is deeply personal. The actress, who played Susan Hargrove, the mother of Max Mayfield, spoke about her absence after fans noticed her character was missing from the show’s ending.

Marshall appeared as Max’s mother in seasons two and four of the Netflix series. In the final season, Max, played by Sadie Sink, spends much of the story in the hospital. While her brother Lucas is often shown at her side, her mother never appears. This led fans to question why Susan was not part of the storyline.

Marshall addressed the situation in a social media post, where she revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer. She explained that she was disappointed not to be asked back, especially since working on the show would have helped her qualify for health insurance through her acting union.

“I had cancer, I get it,” Marshall wrote. “But I was in remission during the shooting of Season 5. Shooting would have helped me obtain my health insurance through the union. Maybe they had too many characters, idk but obv Susan Hargrove is THE WORST MOTHER EVER LMAO.”

She later clarified her comments in an interview with Variety. Marshall said the post was meant to be lighthearted and not an attack on the show or its creators.

“I just made the reel as a funny thing and it blew up,” she said. “I hold no ill will toward anyone and just wish things would have gone a different way. I was surprised to not be called back but cannot confirm why that decision was made. Regardless, I am grateful for the opportunity to be in the previous seasons.”

When the final episodes of Stranger Things were released on New Year’s Eve, Marshall also shared another message on Instagram, joking about her character’s absence.

“Okay folks! It’s over…but where was she? What kind of mother isn’t there for her child while she’s in the hospital? Give me all your theories…”

Marshall first went public with her cancer diagnosis in 2022 through a Facebook post. At the time, she revealed that she was undergoing treatment while filming season four of Stranger Things. She said that by the fourth episode, she needed to wear a wig due to hair loss.

She also shared how supportive the cast and crew were during that time, especially Sadie Sink.

“I confided in certain people on set, including Sadie, who plays my daughter, Max. Her kindness and compassion overwhelmed me,” Marshall wrote. “She’s an incredible talent, but more importantly, a caring and kind human being.”

Marshall added that she later spoke privately with creators Matt and Ross Duffer about her diagnosis and asked them not to remove her character out of concern for her health.

“The days spent on set were such a bright light in an otherwise dark and depressing time,” she wrote, adding that the Duffers were kind, concerned, and supportive.

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