Gaten Matarazzo

Early Life and Background

Gaetano John "Gaten" Matarazzo III was born on September 8, 2002, in New London, Connecticut, and raised in Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. He is of Italian descent, with family roots tracing back to Avellino, Italy. Gaten is the middle child of Heather and Gaetano Matarazzo Jr., with an older sister, Sabrina, and a younger brother, Carmen .

From a young age, Gaten showed a passion for the performing arts. He pursued vocal training at the Starlight Performing Arts Center in New Jersey and achieved third place with his solo performance of "Ben" at the Starpower Talent Competition Nationals in 2011 .

Career Beginnings on Broadway

Gaten's professional acting career commenced on the Broadway stage. In 2011, he was cast as Benjamin in "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert." He continued to showcase his talent in the 2012 youth production "Godspell Cast of 2032" and gained further recognition portraying Gavroche in the 25th Anniversary Tour of "Les Misérables" in 2013, a role he reprised in the 2014 Broadway revival .

Breakthrough with "Stranger Things"

Gaten's transition to screen acting began with a guest role as Finn in a 2015 episode of NBC's "The Blacklist." His breakthrough came in 2016 when he was cast as Dustin Henderson in the Netflix series "Stranger Things." His portrayal of the endearing and witty character resonated with audiences, contributing to the show's critical acclaim and popularity .

Notably, Gaten has cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), a rare genetic condition affecting the development of bones and teeth. The show's creators incorporated this aspect into his character, bringing awareness to the condition .

Expanding Horizons: Hosting and Voice Work

Beyond acting, Gaten ventured into hosting with the Netflix hidden-camera series "Prank Encounters," which aired from 2019 to 2021. In this show, he orchestrated elaborate pranks on unsuspecting participants, blending horror and comedy elements .

Gaten also lent his voice to animated characters, such as Bubba in "The Angry Birds Movie 2" (2019) and Boris the Dragon in "My Father's Dragon" (2022) .

Continued Success on Stage and Screen

In addition to his screen roles, Gaten returned to Broadway, portraying Jared Kleinman in "Dear Evan Hansen" in 2022 and Tobias Ragg in the 2023 revival of "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" .

He also starred in the 2022 coming-of-age film "Honor Society" and voiced a character in the animated series "LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy," showcasing his versatility across different media .

Personal Life and Advocacy

Gaten has been in a relationship with actress Elizabeth Yu since 2018. He is an advocate for individuals with CCD, using his platform to raise awareness and support for those affected by the condition .

As "Stranger Things" approaches its final season, Gaten reflects on the impact the show has had on his life and career, expressing both gratitude and a sense of nostalgia for the journey .