Stranger Things cocreator Ross Duffer navigated a split from wife Leigh Janiak while in production on season 5 of the hit Netflix series.
Duffer and Janiak met in 2006 when they worked as an intern and producer’s assistant, respectively, at a Los Angeles production company. The pair tied the knot nearly a decade later and found individual success as screenwriters.
Ross and his brother, Matt Duffer, became household names as cocreators, showrunners, executive producers and directors for Stranger Things. Janiak, meanwhile, was the creative force behind 2014’s Honeymoon and Netflix’s Fear Street Trilogy.
As production on season 5 kicked off in 2024, Janiak filed for divorce from Ross. Neither of them publicly addressed their marriage coming to an end. Amid the change in his personal life, Ross prepared to conclude his hit Netflix series.
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“We feel really happy with how the show ended up. I think in the finale, in particular, the last scene, which again, we’ve had an idea of what that scene was going to be like for years, and when we sat down to break season 5, it’s the first thing we broke,” Ross told The Hollywood Reporter. “Everything is really building to that moment and making sure that works. Because we knew that no matter what we did, we could do eight hours of entertainment that people love, and then if you slip in the last five minutes, it’s all anyone’s going to talk about!”
He continued: “So you just want to make sure you get those five minutes right, and then hopefully everything falls into place. We’re so proud of that scene and the performances from our cast in that scene, so we’re feeling good about it. But it’s always nerve-racking to put it out there for the audience.”
Keep scrolling to relive Ross and Janiak’s relationship:
2006
Ross and Janiak met in 2006 at a Los Angeles production company where they both worked. While Janiak served as a producer’s assistant, Ross worked as an intern and they subsequently started dating.
2015
The duo exchanged vows at Korakia Pensione — a Palm Springs resort — in 2015. The ceremony was officiated by Jennifer Knode, who was Ross and Janiak’s friend that became a Universal Life minister for the big day.
2016
Ross found success working on Stranger Things, which inspired a Broadway play and yet-to-be-announced spinoff ideas. Janiak, meanwhile, released a three-part film series Fear Street Trilogy in 2021 to critical and fan acclaim.
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2024
After nearly a decade of marriage, Janiak filed legal paperwork listing a date of separation as TBD and citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split. Janiak requested spousal support.
In his response, Ross asked to “terminate” the court’s ability to award spousal support to Janiak.
“Respondent is unaware of the nature and extent of his separate property assets and debts and will amend his Response when same are ascertained,” read his response about property. “Respondent is unaware of the nature and extent of community and quasi-community property assets and debts and will amend his Response when same are ascertained.”
Ross asked that both parties pay their own legal fees.
