Gaten Matarazzo Bio
Gaetano John “Gaten” Matarazzo III is an American actor who began his professional career on the Broadway stage and rose to international recognition for his portrayal of Dustin Henderson on the Netflix series Stranger Things. He has expanded his work into film, voice acting and hosting while using his public profile to raise awareness and funds for cleidocranial dysplasia, a condition he was born with.
Matarazzo first entered professional performance as a child and built a résumé that includes stage musicals, television guest work, animated features and a leading role in a streaming coming-of-age film. His career demonstrates a steady progression from youth theatre and touring productions to prominent roles on screen and recurring returns to Broadway.
Early Life and Background
Gaetano John Matarazzo III was born on September 8, 2002, in New London, Connecticut, and was raised in Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. He is the son of Heather Matarazzo and Gaetano John Matarazzo Jr., and his family is of Italian descent from Avellino. He has two siblings, an older sister named Sabrina and a younger brother named Carmen.
Matarazzo was born with cleidocranial dysplasia, a skeletal condition that affects dental and cranial development. From an early age he trained in singing and performance, studying at the Starlight Performing Arts Center in New Jersey and competing in youth talent competitions, where his vocal work received awards and recognition at the regional and national level.
Path to Celebrity
Matarazzo’s path to celebrity began onstage in New York and on tour. His first professional credit came in 2011 when he was cast as a replacement in the Broadway musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. He continued in youth and professional performances, participating in a special youth production of Godspell at Circle in the Square Theatre in 2012 and joining the U.S. tour and later Broadway revival of Les Misérables in the role of Gavroche.
Those early stage roles established Matarazzo as a child performer with strong vocal and acting skills and opened the door to screen opportunities. His stage background provided a foundation for rapid adaptation to film and television sets and for voice-over work in animated features.
Gaten Matarazzo Career
Early Career (2011–2015)
Matarazzo’s professional career began in 2011 on Broadway and in youth competition circuits. He trained vocally at the Starlight Performing Arts Center and in 2011 placed at the Starpower Talent Competition Nationals in Uncasville, Connecticut. His work on Broadway and in touring productions, including Les Misérables as Gavroche, marked his first sustained professional engagements and showcased his stage experience to casting directors and agents.
During this period Matarazzo made his screen acting debut with a guest appearance on the television series The Blacklist in 2015. That early television credit preceded the casting that would bring him wider public attention and signaled a transition from stage to screen acting.
Breakthrough (2016–present)
Matarazzo’s breakthrough came when he was cast as Dustin Henderson in the Netflix science-fiction series Stranger Things, which premiered in July 2016. The role made him one of the show’s breakout young stars; production details noted that the character’s backstory was revised to reflect Matarazzo’s cleidocranial dysplasia, integrating his real-life condition into the role. Stranger Things provided consistent exposure across multiple seasons and established Matarazzo as a recognizable presence in global pop culture.
Following Stranger Things, Matarazzo broadened his on-screen profile with hosting and producing duties on the Netflix hidden-camera show Prank Encounters in 2019, where he served both as host and an executive producer. He also undertook voice roles in family and animated features, voicing Bubba in The Angry Birds Movie 2 and later voicing Boris the dragon in Cartoon Saloon’s adaptation of My Father’s Dragon. These projects expanded his range into comedy, family entertainment and animation.
In 2022 Matarazzo returned to Broadway, joining the final cast of Dear Evan Hansen as Jared Kleinman and later announced to join the revival of Sweeney Todd in the role of Toby Ragg. That same year he co-starred in the Paramount+ film Honor Society, released on July 29, 2022, further reinforcing his movement between stage, television and film work. He has continued to balance franchise television with stage commitments and voice acting roles.
Notable Works and Milestones
Matarazzo’s signature role remains Dustin Henderson on Stranger Things, a performance that introduced him to a worldwide audience and influenced the depiction of his character to reflect his personal experience with cleidocranial dysplasia. Key milestones include his Broadway beginnings in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Les Misérables, his transition to television with The Blacklist and Stranger Things, his hosting and producing work on Prank Encounters, and his voice and film roles such as The Angry Birds Movie 2, Honor Society and My Father’s Dragon.
Gaten Matarazzo Family
Matarazzo was born to Heather Matarazzo and Gaetano John Matarazzo Jr. and grew up in Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. He has an older sister, Sabrina, and a younger brother, Carmen. His family background includes Italian ancestry from Avellino, which has been referenced in public profiles and interviews.
Personal Life
Matarazzo has been open about living with cleidocranial dysplasia and has used his platform to support awareness and fundraising for others with the condition, including work with organizations that help cover costs for dental and oral surgeries related to CCD. He has participated in charity events, virtual fundraisers and public conversations to raise awareness and resources for affected families.
Since 2018 Matarazzo has been in a relationship with actress Elizabeth Yu. He continues to live and work between stage and screen projects while maintaining public advocacy for CCD awareness and supporting performing-arts initiatives through benefit performances and virtual fundraising appearances.
Gaten Matarazzo Philanthropy
Matarazzo has publicly supported CCD-related causes, including fundraising efforts to help cover costs of surgeries and dental care for people with cleidocranial dysplasia. He has joined charity streams and benefit performances supporting feeding and medical charities and has taken part in virtual readings and events that raise funds for autism and children’s healthcare organizations. These activities are tied to his broader engagement with charitable and community-focused events that leverage his fanbase for causes he endorses.