Top 10 Reasons We Love David Harbour
So hot right now. From his hilarious Super Bowl Tide Ads, to his adorable friendship with Winona Ryder, there are so many reasons to love this Stranger Things actor. WatchMojo is counting down the top 10 reasons we can't get enough of David Harbour!
Script written by Nick Spake
#10: His Super Bowl Tide Ads
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As much as we love Super Bowl commercials, a lot of them follow a familiar formula. Year after year we see routine ads for cars and beers, with very few surprises. During Super Bowl LII, however, Harbour starred in multiple commercials that appeared to be going in one direction, only to pull the rug out from under the audience. Brilliantly sending up the clichés we frequently see in advertising, Harbour nonchalantly reveals that we’re actually watching Tide ads. While the commercials themselves are smartly written and well-produced, it’s Harbour’s comedic timing that truly sells us.
#9: His Protectiveness of Millie Bobby Brown
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In Season 2 of “Stranger Things,” Jim Hopper takes Eleven under his wing, protecting her as if she were his own daughter. It’s comforting to know that Harbour and actress Millie Bobby Brown share a similar dynamic in real life. When Harbour accepted a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, he made Brown a focal point of his speech, describing her as “gifted” and “incomparable.” While backstage, Harbour vowed to look after his thirteen-year-old co-star as she continues to grow as an artist, icon, and person. Beautiful.
#8: His “Funny or Die” Sketch
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Speaking of Sheriff Hopper and Eleven, we can only imagine how different “Stranger Things” would’ve been if Harbour and Brown traded roles. Actually, we don’t have to imagine it, because Harbour gave us an idea in a priceless “Funny or Die” sketch. In a fake interview, the actor reveals that he originally auditioned for Eleven. Although the showrunners wanted him to read for Hopper, Harbour is convinced that he can play a little girl. He goes all out to prove his point, donning Eleven’s wardrobe. Of course instead of telekinesis, Harbour prefers to let his fists do all the work. It’s a perfect comedic contrast to the emotionally changed performance we typically see from Harbour.
#7: His Dad Bod
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It’s rare for an actor to achieve sex symbol status after turning 40, but Harbour managed to pull it off. While he’s not sexy in a conventional sense, Harbour’s appeal stems from his winning personality and quote unquote “dad bod.” As Harbour put it in an interview, “If you have a dad bod, if you wear it well, and still shake your hips pretty good, I feel like you too can be a sex symbol!” Merriam-Webster dictionary even used Harbour’s photo to accompany the definition of “dad bod.” Whether he’s sporting a set of love handles or bulking up for the “Hellboy” reboot, Harbour never fails to make people swoon.
#6: He’s BFFs with Winona Ryder
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Much like his dynamic with Brown, Harbour also has marvelous chemistry with co-star Winona Ryder, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Harbour mentioned in an interview that Ryder was totally his high school crush. He’s also populated his Instagram account with photos of him and Ryder, describing their friendship as one of the most “loving, inspiring working relationship I’ve ever had.” By the end of Season 2, fans wanted to see Hopper and Joyce get together more than ever. The fact that Harbour and Ryder are so close in real life only adds to our desire to see these characters become a couple.
#5: He Compares His Looks To His Co-Stars
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Harbour’s selfies with Winona Ryder aren’t the only reason to follow him on Instagram. He also loves to post side-by-side photos demonstrating how his “Stranger Things” co-stars have been stealing his looks. For example, both Harbour and Millie Bobby Brown share almost identical furrowed brows. Natalia Dyer’s Nancy could also afford to take a few makeup tips from Hopper. It’s especially hilarious whenever Harbour incorporates a younger photo of himself. He actually would’ve made a great Will Byers back in the day. Oh, and if you thought Jean Ralphio from “Parks and Recreation” was a dead ringer for Steve Harrington, check out this picture of a teenage Harbour.
#4: The Hopper Dancing Meme
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In addition to having a “dad bod,” Harbour also dances like a dad. In “Stranger Things,” Hopper attempts to lift Eleven’s spirits by putting on some music and doing a little jig. This brief dance is so corny, sweet, and humorous that it was bound to take the Internet by storm. Not only has Hopper dancing become a meme, but the scene has also been redubbed numerous times with different music playing in the background. A fan even asked Millie Bobby Brown to do the Hopper Dance, and she was more than happy to comply.
#3: His Twitter
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David Harbour is killing it on all fronts of social media. The actor’s Twitter account, in particular, encompasses all of his wit, charm, and humility. He’s constantly making fun of himself, (especially when it comes to that Hopper Dance). Harbour shares an engaging rapport with his followers, and retweet contests have become a staple of his account. In 2018, Harbour promised to officiate a fan’s wedding in exchange for a huge chunk of retweets. It didn’t take long for the tweet to go viral. He’s also reached out to Greenpeace, asking how many retweets it’ll take them to send him somewhere with penguins. Imagine the Hopper Dance meets “Happy Feet.”
#2: His Award Speeches
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When it comes to most award shows, the speeches are typically the most boring part of the ceremony. Whenever Harbour is on stage with a statuette, though, we always turn up the volume in anticipation. We already touched upon the heartfelt, eloquent speech Harbour gave at the 2018 Critics’ Choice Awards. However, he initially brought the house down at the SAG Awards. Accepting an ensemble award alongside his co-stars, Harbour not only thanked everyone involved with the show, but also delivered an empowering speech about overcoming hypocrisy and prejudice. Considering everything that was going on at the time, the world truly needed to hear these inspiring words from a sincere human being.
#1: He Posed For a Fan’s School Photo
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As mentioned before, Harbour couldn’t be more dedicated to his fan base. When a Twitter user asked Harbour how many retweets it would take for him to appear in her senior photos, he set the goal at 25,000, and insisting that he get to wear the school sweatshirt and hold a trombone. The tweet blew up, of course, and Harbour kept his word. In addition to taking the yearbook pictures, Harbour also posted them to his Instagram account, writing, “Voted most likely to hijack someone’s high school senior photos 24 years later.”
