Gaten Matarazzo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gaten Matarazzo
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Matarazzo at the 2022 Tony Awards
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| Born |
Gaetano John Matarazzo III
September 8, 2002 New London, Connecticut, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Partner(s) | Elizabeth Yu (2018–present) |
Gaten Matarazzo (born September 8, 2002) is a talented American actor. He became famous for playing Dustin Henderson in the popular Netflix show Stranger Things. Before his big break on TV, Gaten performed on Broadway, starring in musicals like Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Les Misérables.
Besides Stranger Things, Gaten has hosted the Netflix show Prank Encounters. He also appeared in the comedy film Honor Society and lent his voice to Boris the Dragon in the animated movie My Father's Dragon.
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About Gaten's Life
Gaten Matarazzo was born on September 8, 2002, in New London, Connecticut. He grew up in Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. His family has Italian roots.
Gaten was born with a condition called cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD). This condition affects bone and tooth development. He has an older sister named Sabrina and a younger brother named Carmen. Since 2018, Gaten has been in a relationship with actress Elizabeth Yu.
Gaten's Acting Journey
Gaten started his acting journey with vocal training in New Jersey. In 2011, he won third place in a singing competition. His first professional acting job was in the Broadway musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in 2011. He later joined the musical Les Misérables for its 25th Anniversary Tour in 2013. He played the role of Gavroche in this musical on Broadway in 2014.
Becoming a TV Star
Gaten made his first TV appearance in 2015 on an episode of The Blacklist. Soon after, he was cast as Dustin Henderson in Stranger Things. The show's creators even changed Dustin's character to also have CCD, just like Gaten. The first season of Stranger Things became a huge hit in July 2016.
Over the years, Gaten has also appeared in music videos and other TV shows. In 2019, he started hosting Prank Encounters, a hidden camera show on Netflix. He also voiced Bubba in The Angry Birds Movie 2.
In May 2022, Gaten returned to Broadway in the musical Dear Evan Hansen. He also starred in the Paramount+ movie Honor Society, which came out in July 2022. He voiced Boris the dragon in the animated film My Father's Dragon. In December 2022, it was announced that Gaten would be back on Broadway as Toby Ragg in the musical Sweeney Todd.
Helping Others
Gaten uses his fame to help others. He works to raise awareness about cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD). He also helps raise money for CCD Smiles, an organization that helps people with CCD pay for dental surgeries.
In February 2020, Gaten took part in a Star Wars musical parody to raise money for NEXT for AUTISM. He also joined a virtual reading of the movie Elf in December 2020 to support a political campaign.
In April 2021, Gaten played Among Us online with other stars like Jimmy Fallon and his Stranger Things co-star Noah Schnapp. This event raised money for Feeding America. In December 2021, he played Dungeons & Dragons in a livestream event that helped raise money for Extra Life and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
In November 2022, Gaten performed in the musical Parade to help make performing arts more affordable for fans.
Gaten's Work
Movies
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The Angry Birds Movie 2 | Bubba | Voice role |
| 2022 | Honor Society | Michael Dipnicky | |
| My Father's Dragon | Boris the Dragon | Voice role | |
| 2023 | Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain | Himself | |
| 2025 | Animal Farm  |
Lucky | Voice role |
TV Shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | The Blacklist | Finn | Episode: "The Kenyon Family (No. 71)" |
| 2016–2025 | Stranger Things | Dustin Henderson | Main role |
| 2017 | Ridiculousness | Himself | Episode: "Scarediculousness" |
| Lip Sync Battle | Episode: "The Cast of Stranger Things" | ||
| 2018 | Drop the Mic | Episode: "Darren Criss vs. Gaten Matarazzo / Chandler Riggs vs. Chad Coleman" | |
| 2019–2021 | Prank Encounters | Host and executive producer | |
| 2021 | Nickelodeon's Unfiltered | Episode: "Be My Valentine" | |
| Waffles and Mochi | Casey the Electrician | Episode: "Mushroom" | |
| 2024 | Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy | Sig Greebling | Main voice role |
Music Videos
| Year | Title | Artist | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Swish Swish" | Katy Perry (feat. Nicki Minaj) | |
| "Lost Boys Life" | Computer Games | ||
| 2020 | "Meet Me on the Roof" | Green Day |
Theater Performances
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–2012 | Priscilla, Queen of the Desert | Benjamin | Palace Theatre | Broadway replacement | |
| 2012 | Godspell | Jesus | Circle in the Square Theatre | Special performance | |
| Radio City Christmas Spectacular | Ben | US tour | Rockettes' 85th Anniversary Celebration | ||
| 2013 | Les Misérables | Gavroche | North American tour | 25th Anniversary | |
| 2014–2015 | Gavroche / Petit Gervais | Imperial Theatre | Broadway | ||
| 2019 | Into the Woods | Jack | Hollywood Bowl | Special performance | |
| 2022 | Dear Evan Hansen | Jared Kleinman | Music Box Theatre | Broadway replacement | |
| Parade | Frankie Epps | New York City Center | Encores! | ||
| 2023 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Tobias Ragg | Lunt-Fontanne Theatre | Broadway | |
| Gutenberg! The Musical! | The Producer | James Earl Jones Theatre | Broadway (One night only) |
Awards and Recognitions
Gaten Matarazzo has received several awards and nominations for his acting, especially for his role in Stranger Things.
- In 2017, he won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, along with his Stranger Things castmates.
- He also won a Shorty Award for Best Actor in 2017.
- He has been nominated for other awards, including the MTV Movie & TV Awards and Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.
See also
In Spanish: Gaten Matarazzo para niños
