You’re watching Season 3 of You on Netflix and Joe Goldberg—the world’s most charming serial killer—is suddenly changing diapers. It’s a trip. But as the episodes roll, you start wondering: who plays Henry in You? Because, honestly, that baby has a lot of screen time for a show that usually focuses on stalking and glass cages.
The short answer isn't just one person. It never is with TV babies. Child labor laws are strict, and babies are, well, unpredictable. If you’ve ever tried to get a ten-month-old to look "thoughtful" on camera while Penn Badgley delivers a chilling monologue about murder, you know why directors need options.
The Faces of Henry Forty Goldberg
Most of the time, when we talk about who plays Henry in You, we are actually talking about twins. For the bulk of Season 3, the role of baby Henry was shared by Everly and Atlas McDonell. Using twins is the oldest trick in the Hollywood book. If one twin gets fussy or falls asleep right when the lighting is perfect, the crew just swaps in the other one. It’s efficient. It’s practical.
But Henry isn't just a newborn for the whole series. The timeline jumps. By the time we get to the heart-wrenching finale of the third season—and the glimpses we get later—the character has aged up. This is where things get a bit more crowded in the casting department.
While the McDonell twins handled the "baby" phase, a toddler version of Henry was portrayed by Parker Barnett. If you remember that final, soul-crushing scene where Joe leaves Henry on a doorstep (don't worry, we'll get into the ethics of that in a second), that's the face you're seeing. It’s a heavy moment for a kid who probably just wanted a snack.
Then there's the "future" or older Henry. In the brief flashes and the narrative progression heading into Season 4 and the upcoming Season 5, the show relies on older child actors to convey the passage of time. It’s a revolving door of blonde hair and blue eyes, all meant to remind the audience that Joe Goldberg has a living, breathing legacy out there that he’s desperately trying to "protect" by staying away.
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Why the Casting Matters for Joe’s Arc
Casting a kid for a show like You isn't just about finding a cute face. It’s about the foil. Joe Goldberg spends two seasons being a monster. Then Henry arrives. Suddenly, Joe isn't just a predator; he’s a protector. Or at least, he thinks he is.
The kids who play Henry in You had to deal with Penn Badgley, who, by all accounts, is a lovely guy but plays "creepy" better than almost anyone in the business. There’s a specific chemistry required. Even as infants, the interaction between Joe and Henry is the emotional anchor of the Madre Linda arc. If the baby didn't look like he belonged to Joe and Love (Victoria Pedretti), the suburban nightmare wouldn't have felt so grounded.
Interestingly, Penn Badgley has spoken openly about how having his own child changed his perspective on playing Joe as a father. It made the scenes with the Henry actors more intense. He wasn't just holding a prop; he was holding a tiny human while his character was planning his next "disposal."
The Madre Linda Context
Season 3 was a fever dream. We had the sourdough, the swinging neighbors, and the constant threat of Love Quinn losing her mind. Amidst all that, Henry was the only innocent thing in the room.
- Everly and Atlas McDonell: The primary infants for the majority of the season.
- Parker Barnett: The toddler who broke everyone's hearts in the finale.
- The "Secret" Henrys: Various uncredited photo doubles used for wide shots or background moments.
People often ask if the babies were scared. Probably not. Film sets with infants are strictly regulated. There are "baby wranglers" whose entire job is to keep the kids happy, fed, and distracted. Most of the time, the "distressing" scenes are edited together so the child is never actually in the room for the scary stuff.
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What Happened to Henry in Season 4?
After the fire in Madre Linda, Joe fakes his death and flees to London. He leaves Henry with Dante and Lansing. This was a massive pivot for the show. Many fans expected Henry to be a permanent fixture, but the writers realized that a serial killer traveling the world is hard to write if he’s carrying a car seat and a diaper bag.
So, who plays Henry in You during Season 4? Technically, nobody—physically. Henry appears in Joe’s mind and in photographs. Joe is haunted by the son he abandoned. He convinces himself that leaving Henry was an act of love. "I’m not a good man, Henry," he tells the baby in his head. It’s classic Joe: self-justification wrapped in a layer of genuine tragedy.
The absence of the physical actor changed the show's energy. Season 4 became a whodunnit, moving away from the domestic horror of Season 3. But the idea of Henry remained. He is Joe’s "why." He is the reason Joe wants to be "better," even if his version of better usually involves a higher body count.
Looking Ahead: Will Henry Return in Season 5?
The big question for the final season is whether we will see an older version of Henry. If the show does a significant time jump, we’ll need a new actor to step into those shoes. Fans have been theorizing about this for months. Will Henry grow up to be like his father? Or will he be the one to finally bring Joe down?
If they cast a teenager or a young adult, the dynamic shifts entirely. Imagine a 15-year-old Henry Goldberg tracking down his "dead" father in New York. That’s the kind of full-circle drama Netflix loves. While there’s no official word on who plays Henry in You for the series finale, the breadcrumbs are definitely there.
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The Reality of Being a TV Baby
It’s a weird gig. You’re on one of the biggest shows in the world, and you won't even remember it. The McDonell twins will eventually grow up and realize they were the centerpiece of a show about a guy who keeps people in a glass box. That’s a hell of a "fun fact" for college.
The production of You has always been careful with its younger cast members. Showrunner Sera Gamble has mentioned in interviews that the set environment changes completely when the babies are there. The swearing stops (mostly), the voices get quieter, and the focus shifts to getting the shot before the "talent" decides they’ve had enough.
A Quick Reality Check on the Casting Process
- Casting Calls: For a role like Henry, the breakdown usually asks for "identical twins, Caucasian, blonde/fair hair."
- The "Audition": It’s mostly checking if the kids are chill. If a baby screams the moment a stranger holds them, they aren't getting the part.
- Rotation: In California, infants can only work for a few hours a day. This is why having two or three kids for one role is mandatory.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're following the Henry storyline closely, keep an eye on the Season 5 casting announcements. The show is returning to New York, and Joe’s past is catching up with him. Henry is the ultimate "unfinished business."
- Check the Credits: If you see a name like "Henry (Age 10)" in the IMDb credits for Season 5, you know a time jump is coming.
- Follow the Parents: The parents of child actors often run Instagram accounts for their kids. The McDonell twins' parents occasionally post throwbacks from the You set, giving a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to film with Penn Badgley.
- Rewatch with Context: Go back to the Season 3 finale. Now that you know who plays Henry in You (Parker Barnett in that specific scene), look at the nuance of the handoff. It’s one of the few moments Joe Goldberg shows genuine, selfless empathy.
Understanding the logistics of the "Henry" role helps peel back the curtain on how a dark, twisted show manages to incorporate a sense of innocence. It wasn't just one kid; it was a team of toddlers and infants helping Joe Goldberg pretend—if only for a moment—that he could be a normal dad.
The legacy of Henry Forty Goldberg isn't over. Whether he appears in the flesh or stays a ghost in Joe's conscience, the actors who played him have already left an indelible mark on the series' most complex season. Keep your eyes peeled for the final chapter; the "son of Joe" might just have the last word.