Gaten Matarazzo

American actorTemplate:SHORTDESC:American actor

**Gaetano John Matarazzo III** (/ˈɡeɪtən ˌmætəˈræzoʊ/; Italian: [ɡaeˈtaːno mataˈrattso]; born September 8, 2002) is an American actor. He began his career on the Broadway stage as Benjamin in *Priscilla, Queen of the Desert* (2011–12) and as Gavroche in *Les Misérables* (2014–15). Matarazzo gained recognition for playing Dustin Henderson in the Netflix science-fiction-horror drama series *Stranger Things* (2016–present). He also hosted the Netflix show *Prank Encounters* (2019–2021).

## Early life

Matarazzo was born in New London, Connecticut, to Gaetano and Heather Matarazzo (no relation to the actress of the same name), but raised in Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, and is of Italian descent. He has an older sister and a younger brother.

He pursued vocal training at Starlight Performing Arts Center in New Jersey. In 2011, he competed and won third place with his vocal solo titled “Ben” at Starpower Talent Competition Nationals in Uncasville, Connecticut.

## Career

His first professional credit was in the Broadway musical *Priscilla, Queen of the Desert*, for which he was cast as a replacement in 2011. Following the production, he took part in a special "Cast of 2032" professional youth performance of *Godspell* at Circle in the Square Theatre in 2012. In 2013, he joined the *Les Misérables* 25th Anniversary Tour in the United States in the role of Gavroche; the following year, he played the same role in the Tony-nominated 2014 Broadway revival of the musical. His performance was captured in a filmed version of the production.

He made his screen acting debut in a 2015 episode of *The Blacklist* and was subsequently cast as Dustin in *Stranger Things*, his breakthrough role. The show's first season premiered in July 2016 to critical acclaim. Over the next several years, Matarazzo also appeared in music videos and various reality and competition shows. On May 11, 2018, it was announced that he was cast in the animated film, *Hump*. His voice acting credits include *The Angry Birds Movie 2* (2019) and *My Father's Dragon* (2022).

In 2019, he began hosting the Netflix hidden camera series *Prank Encounters*; he also serves as executive producer. That year, he also appeared in the Hollywood Bowl production of *Into the Woods*. In 2022, it was announced that Matarazzo would return to Broadway, joining the final cast of the musical *Dear Evan Hansen* as Jared Kleinman. He starred in the Paramount+ film *Honor Society* with Angourie Rice, which was released on July 29, 2022.

## Personal life

Matarazzo was born with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), which he has spoken openly about. After he was cast in *Stranger Things* as Dustin Henderson, the character's background was modified to have the condition as well. He attended Pinelands Regional High School in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, where he performed in the drama program's productions, such as *Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella*, *How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying*, and *The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee*.

## Philanthropy

Matarazzo uses his platform to raise awareness of CCD and fundraise for CCD Smiles, an organization that helps cover costs of oral surgeries for people with CCD. Matarazzo has also started a line of shirts whose proceeds will go to CCD Smiles. On his social media sites, Matarazzo tells followers how to donate to CCD Smiles and promotes events he will participate in. In November 2017, his sister started a Facebook campaign to raise money for the organization.

In February 2020, he was as part of Andrew Barth Feldman & Adrian Dickson’s *Star Wars* musical parody fundraiser, *SW: A New(sical) Hope" to help raise funding for NEXT for AUTISM. Matarazzo joined the cast of* Elf *for a virtual table reading on December 13, 2020 in support of the Democratic Party of Georgia's campaign in the 2021 Georgia runoff elections.*

On April 6, 2021, Matarazzo participated in an hour-long charity *Among Us* stream on *The Tonight Show'*s Twitch account with Jimmy Fallon, Questlove, Tariq Trotter, Captain Kirk Douglas, Sykkuno, Valkyrae, Corpse Husband, and his *Stranger Things* co-star, Noah Schnapp, with proceeds going towards Feeding America. In December 2021, he played Dungeons and Dragons with Jack Black and other stars in the *Lost Odyssey: Promised Gold* livestream event that benefited Extra Life and the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

During the first week of November 2022, he will be performing in the musical, Parade, to maintain that the performing arts can be enjoyed at an affordable rate for fans at the New York City Center.

## Filmography

### Film

 2022
 *My Father's Dragon* | Boris the Dragon (voice)

## References

1. ↑ 9 Things You Didn't Know About Gaten Matarazzo III (Stranger Things) (October 24, 2017).
2. ↑ Matarzzo at Template:Cite AV media
3. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"UPI Almanac for Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019". *United Press International*. September 8, 2019. Archived from the original on September 9, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2020. …actor Gaten Matarazzo III in 2002 (age 17)
4. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
5. ↑ Forde, Kisha (July 27, 2022). Is Gaten Matarazzo Related to The Princess Diaries’ Heather Matarazzo? See Her Hilarious Response. *E! Online*.
6. ↑ Santilli, Morgana (June 28, 2019). The untold truth of Gaten Matarazzo (en-US).
7. ↑ 2011 Uncasville Results (en-US).
8. ↑ Blank, Matthew (May 7, 2012). PHOTO CALL: Meet "The Godspell Cast of 2032".
9. ↑ Template:Citation
10. ↑ Simon Pegg, Gaten Matarazzo of Stranger Things to Face Off in Hump.
11. ↑ Template:Cite tweet
12. ↑ Kilkenny animation company Cartoon Saloon goes global again with new Netflix adventure.
13. ↑ 'Stranger Things' Star Gaten Matarazzo Sets Broadway Return in 'Dear Evan Hansen' (May 25, 2022).
14. ↑ Cordero, Rosy (18 January 2022). Awesomeness Films Greenlights 'Honor Society' Starring Angourie Rice, Gaten Matarazzo And Christopher Mintz-Plasse. *Deadline*.
15. ↑ Ro, Crystal (August 5, 2016). Dustin from "Stranger Things" loves showing off his fake teeth in real life, and obviously it's adorable. HelloGiggles.com.
16. ↑ Stranger Things: What Happened to Gaten Matarazzo's Teeth? (en).
17. ↑ Template:Cite Instagram
18. ↑ Template:Cite Instagram
19. ↑ Template:Cite Instagram
20. ↑ Press & Videos.
21. ↑ Donate to CCD Smiles!. StartSomeGood.
22. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"'Stranger Things' star brings smiles to Utahns with rare genetic disorder". Salt Lake City, Utah: KSL-TV. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
23. ↑ Gaten Matarazzo, Will Roland and More Join Andrew Barth Feldman's SW: A NEW(SICAL) HOPE.
24. ↑ Elf Reunion: Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel and More Stars Unite for a Virtual Table Read for Charity.
25. ↑ Jimmy Fallon played Among Us with streamers and the cast of Stranger Things in Twitch debut (en) (April 6, 2021).
26. ↑ IGN & D&D Present Lost Odyssey: Promised Gold - How to Watch and What to Expect.
27. ↑ 2022 Annual Gala Presentation: Parade.
28. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
29. ↑ Darren Criss Taps 'Stranger Things' Star For Computer Games' 'Lost Boys Life' Video.
30. ↑ Gaten Matarazzo Stars in Green Day's Adorable New Video.
31. ↑ BRETZ, MARK, Staff. Radio City Christmas Spectacular: Musical Review (en).
32. ↑ Les Misérables Tour: 25th Anniversary.
33. ↑ Patina Miller, Gaten Matarazzo, Shanice Williams Will Star in Hollywood Bowl’s Into the Woods.
34. ↑ 38th Annual Awards. Young Artist Association.
35. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
36. ↑ 9th Annual Shorty Awards. Shorty Awards (April 25, 2017).
37. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Gonzalez, Sandra (January 17, 2018). "The full list of the 2018 SAG Awards nominees". CNN. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
38. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
39. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
40. ↑ Template:Cite journal
41. ↑ Saturn Awards Nominations: ‘The Batman’, ‘Nightmare Alley’, ‘Spider-Man’, ‘Better Call Saul’ Top List. *Deadline Hollywood* (August 12, 2022). Retrieved on August 12, 2022.

## External links

* Gaten Matarazzo at IMDb
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* Gaten Matarazzo on *Playbill*

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