'Stranger Things' Actress Jennifer Marshall Says Season 5 Return Could've Helped Her During Cancer Battle

Jennifer Marshall, who played Max Mayfield’s mom Susan Hargrove on Stranger Things during seasons two and four, is opening up about her character’s absence in the show’s fifth and final season.

The 44-year-old actress shared a candid Instagram post on Tuesday (January 6), explaining that being invited back for season five could have made a major difference while she was battling cancer.

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Jennifer revealed she was in remission during filming and said the work would have helped her qualify for union health insurance. “I had cancer, I get it. But I was in remission during the shooting of season five. 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 wrote.

In the video, she wrote “how often I think about where TF Max’s mom was during season 5 lmao,” in the text overlay and then responded verbally in the clip, saying, “Every day. Not all day every day, but every day.”

The Sugar star previously revealed on Facebook that she was diagnosed with stage III melanoma.

In a statement to People, she said playing Max’s mom was “the opportunity of a lifetime” and she “would have been ecstatic to return.”

“It would have helped me not only financially, but would have been a mental and emotional uplift after battling cancer for almost two years. Either way, no one is entitled to a role, cancer or not,” Jennifer wrote. “My heart remains grateful, and I will always give those involved in the decision-making the benefit of the doubt.”

Fans have also questioned Susan’s absence, especially during Max’s coma and graduation, sparking ongoing theories about the character’s fate.

Max actress Sadie Sink previously provided her own theory on what happened to her mom while chatting with Vulture in December.

“It’s kind of common for the parents on the show: You just don’t know where they are except for Karen Wheeler. My theory is that Max’s mom must have disappeared or died at some point in the rift at the end of season four, because it goes through the trailer park,” Sadie said.

Find out what the cast of Stranger Things is up to next now that the show is over!