Joyce Byers

Joyce Byers
Joyce Byers
Stranger Things character
	Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers in the fifth season
First appearance	"Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers" (2016)
Last appearance	"Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up" (2025)
Created by	The Duffer Brothers
Portrayed by	Television:; Winona Ryder; Birdy (young); Play:; Isabella Pappas (West End); Alison Jaye (Broadway);
In-universe information
Full name	Joyce Maldonado
Occupation	Melvald's General Store employee; Telemarketer;
Spouse	Lonnie Byers (divorced)
Significant other	Bob Newby (boyfriend; deceased); Jim Hopper (fiancé);
Children	Jonathan Byers; Will Byers; Eleven (adoptive daughter);
Home	Hawkins, Indiana, United States (seasons 1–3, 5); Lenora, California, United States (season 4);
Nationality	American

Joyce Byers (née Maldonado) is a fictional character from the Netflix science fiction horror television series Stranger Things, played by Winona Ryder. She is portrayed as a resilient and fiercely protective mother to her son Will, who mysteriously disappears in the town of Hawkins, Indiana in the first season. Joyce is characterized as a determined, resourceful, and deeply emotional person, willing to go to great lengths to find her son, even if it means confronting supernatural forces. Throughout the series, she demonstrates immense strength in the face of adversity, making her a beloved and memorable character.

Ryder's performance and the character itself have been well-received by critics.