Sam Owens

Spoiler Warning! This article or section reveals details from the second season. Read at your own discretion.

Dr. Owens
Biographical information
Status	Alive
Affiliation	United States Department of Energy
Occupation	Acting Director of Operations at Hawkins Lab
Physical information
Eye color	Gray
Hair color	Gray
Portrayal
Main actor	Paul Reiser
Episodes	9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17

Dr. Sam Owens was a high-ranking member within the US Department of Energy. Owens was tasked with containing the strange events that took place in Hawkins, Indiana in 1983, replacing Dr. Brenner as Director of Operations at Hawkins Lab.

Quick Answers

What role does Sam Owens play in the Stranger Things series?

Sam Owens, also known as Samuel Owens or Dr. Owens, is a significant character in the Stranger Things series. Portrayed by Paul Reiser, he is the former head of Hawkins National Laboratory. He is married to Cathy Owens and they have a son named Peter. Throughout the series, he becomes an ally and friend to Joyce Byers and Jim Hopper. His character is involved in the investigation of mysterious deaths and occurrences in Hawkins, Indiana.

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Who replaced Dr. Martin Brenner as Director of Operations at Hawkins Lab?

Dr. Sam Owens, portrayed by Paul Reiser in Stranger Things, replaced Dr. Martin Brenner as the Director of Operations at Hawkins Lab. After the mysterious events of 1983 left Brenner's fate unknown, Owens took over the role, focusing his efforts on investigating and preventing the Gate to the Upside Down from spreading.

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What was Dr. Sam Owens' main task within the US Department of Energy in Stranger Things?

In the Stranger Things series, Dr. Sam Owens, portrayed by Paul Reiser, was a high-ranking member within the US Department of Energy. His main task was to contain the strange events that took place in Hawkins, Indiana in 1983. He replaced Dr. Martin Brenner as Director of Operations at Hawkins Lab and was primarily responsible for investigating and preventing the Gate to the Upside Down from spreading.

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In which season of Stranger Things is Dr. Sam Owens introduced?

Dr. Sam Owens, portrayed by Paul Reiser, is introduced in the second season of the popular Netflix series, Stranger Things. He plays a significant role as the former head of Hawkins National Laboratory.

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What is the significance of Dr. Sam Owens in the fourth season of Stranger Things?

Dr. Sam Owens, portrayed by Paul Reiser, plays a significant role in the fourth season of Stranger Things. He is the former head of Hawkins National Laboratory and is deeply involved in the mysterious happenings in Hawkins. His character is further developed through his family life, as he is married to Cathy Owens and they have a son named Peter. In the fourth season, their house is raided by military commander Lt. Col. Jack Sullivan, who is investigating mysterious deaths. Dr. Owens also has affiliations with other characters such as Agent Harmon, adding to his importance in the storyline.

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Personality

Owens shares his predecessor's stubbornness and commitment to science, as evidenced by his refusal to believe the poisoned pumpkins were connected to the Upside Down and his choice to threaten Jonathan and Nancy into silence regarding Barb's death. However, he makes a legitimate point about the need for secrecy: that the deadly nature of the Upside Down portal, if replicated in the hands of an authoritarian government (for instance the Soviet Union) would create even greater disaster, which is why it must be kept secret.

Owens is much more amiable and open-minded than Dr. Brenner, showing a good bedside manner to Will during their checkups and refusing to immediately put the Upside Down tunnels through a full burn if it meant killing Will in the process. He is never shown treating anyone with deliberate cruelty (although he waited a bit too long when testing Will's connection to the Shadow Monster by burning a tendril).

He puts himself at risk of death in staying in the Labs during the lockdown to keep an eye out on the security cameras for Joyce, Hopper, and Bob, and is ultimately injured in the process. Following the closure of the Hawkins Laboratory, he cheerfully greets Hopper as "Chief-O," and helped arrange his official adoption of Eleven, suggesting that despite their previous adversity they have become friends.

Behind the scenes

The Duffer Brothers said in an interview that one of the new adult characters in Season Two is involved in Joyce's life, whereas the other is involved in the labs. The identity of the character involved with the labs and the casting of Paul Reiser was announced on November 7, 2016. Reiser previously played the villainous character Burke in Aliens, a 1986 James Cameron film that the Duffer Brothers named as an influence for Season 2.