Charlie Heaton is best known for playing Jonathan Byers, the brooding older brother of Will Byers, on the hit Netflix show ‘Stranger Things‘. Charlie is currently dating his co-star Natalia Dyer, who plays Nancy Wheeler on the show. The two have been together since 2016, but they kept their romance low-key until 2017. Charlie and Natalia are one of the most popular couples on ‘Stranger Things‘, both on-screen and off-screen.
But did you know that he is also a dad in real life? The 27-year-old actor has a son named Archie with his ex-girlfriend Akiko Matsuura, a musician from Japan. Here’s everything you need to know about Charlie’s baby mama and his secret child.
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Who is Akiko Matsuura?
Akiko Matsuura is a 41-year-old drummer and vocalist who was born in Osaka, Japan. She moved to London with her parents when she was 16 and started playing music as a teenager. She formed a punk rock band called Comanechi with guitarist Simon Petrovich and met Charlie when he joined the band as a drummer. The two started dating when Charlie was 19 and Akiko was 33.
Akiko is also the lead singer and drummer of another band called Pre, which is known for its art rock style and wild stage antics. She has performed with famous acts like Muse, Florence & the Machine, and The Horrors. She is also a solo artist under the name Sperm Javelin.
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The Controversy Around Boyfriend Charlie Heaton’s Secret Child
Charlie and Akiko welcomed their son Archie on May 19, 2014, in London. Charlie was only 20 years old at the time, while Akiko was 34. The couple split up shortly after Archie’s birth, but they remained friends and co-parents. Charlie kept his fatherhood a secret from the public until 2017 when he was denied entry to the US for allegedly having traces of cocaine in his luggage.
He missed the premiere of ‘Stranger Things‘ season 2 because of the incident, which also revealed his son’s existence. Charlie has since been able to visit his son in London whenever he can. He told GQ in 2019 that he loves being a dad and that Archie is “incredible”. He also said that he has a good relationship with Akiko and that they support each other as parents. Natalie Dyer is also very supportive of Charlie’s career and his personal life.
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