Learn more about Gaten Matarazzo

Gaetano‍‍‍‍‍‍ Matarazzo III, better known as Gaten Matarazzo, is an American actor and singer who is most famous for his portrayal of Dustin Henderson in the Netflix sci-fi horror series Stranger Things (2016–2025).

He started his professional career as a child on Broadway. He later appeared in other projects such as Prank Encounters and Honor Society, as well as voice roles in animated movies. 

By being open about living with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), he has used his platform to raise awareness of this condition and motivate others, which has earned him appreciation for his humor, warmth, and resilience.

Profile

• Full Name: Gaetano John Matarazzo III
• Stage Name: Gaten Matarazzo
• Born: September 8, 2002
• Age: 23 years old
• Birthplace: New London, Connecticut, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actor, Singer
• Height: 165 cm (5 ft 5 in)
• Religion: Christianity
• Ethnicity: Italian-American
• Parents: Gaetano John Matarazzo Jr. (father) and Heather Matarazzo (mother)
• Siblings: Sabrina Matarazzo and Carmen Matarazzo
• Spouse: Elizabeth ‘‘Lizzy’’ Yu
• Relationship: Dating
• Net Worth: $5 million to $6 million USD

Early Life and Education

Gaten Matarazzo was born on September 8, 2002, in New London, Connecticut, and grew up in Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.

His parents are Heather and Gaetano John Matarazzo Jr., with Italian ancestry on his father’s side (his grandfather was from Avellino, Italy). 

He has an elder sister named Sabrina and a younger brother named Carmen, both of whom have appeared in commercials or minor acting roles.

He is of Italian-American descent and was raised by his Christian family.

When Gaten was born, he was diagnosed with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), a rare hereditary disorder characterized by abnormalities in the bones and teeth.

He has courageously shared his stories with the public, including the fact that he underwent several surgeries to remove extra teeth and he is a spokesperson for CCD awareness through his involvement with CCD Smiles.

He was a student at Pinelands Regional High School in Tuckerton, New Jersey, from where he graduated in 2020.

Career

Gaten Matarazzo had his beginning on Broadway at the age of nine, in the part of Benjamin in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (2011–2012), and subsequently in Les Misérables. A guest role in The Blacklist (2015) marked his screen debut.

The role of Dustin Henderson in Stranger Things brought him worldwide recognition. 

This part was written so that his real-life CCD could be included in the storyline. The character in the series was appreciated by the public not only for his sense of humor but also for his brain and loyalty as a friend. 

Besides this, Gaten Matarazzo also presented the Netflix program Prank Encounters (2019–2021), lent his voice to Boris in My Father’s Dragon (2022), was featured in Honor Society (2022), and has been involved in Animal Farm (voice, 2025) as well as some other projects like Pizza Movie and Hump (voice).

Gaten Matarazzo, on the other hand, wants to keep acting, doing music, and doing the work of ‍‍‍‍‍‍advocacy.

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Award and Nominations

• Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards – Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (multiple wins and nominations for Stranger Things)
• Shorty Awards – Best Actor Winner (2017)
• Young Artist Awards – Nominations for his work in Stranger Things

Social Media

Instagram: @gatenm123

Personal‍‍‍‍‍‍ Life

Gaten Matarazzo, 23, is dating actress Elizabeth ‘‘Lizzy’’ Yu, whom he has been with since 2018. The pair does not share many details about their relationship.

He is childfree and is a vegetarian. Being left-handed, Gaten also has a dog. The actor spends his time with his family and has mentioned how they have been instrumental in his life and career.

Gaten cherishes the simple life and uses his influence for the better, like spreading awareness on CCD and mental health issues.

Controversy

Gaten Matarazzo has succeeded in keeping his public persona without any blemishes or negative incidents.

As of 2026, there have been no reports of scandals, controversies, arrests, or any sort of disputes linked to him.

People admire him for his frankness about his CCD condition, his down-to-earth nature, and his kind-hearted attitude both in and out of the spotlight.

Net Worth

Gaten Matarazzo’s net worth is roughly in the range of five to six million U.S. dollars. He gets his pay mainly from playing a part in the Stranger Things series for a long time (with reports on the per-episode salary increasing over the seasons) and hosting Prank Encounters.

Besides, Gaten Matarazzo has also done movie and voice acting as well as advertisements. As he dives into playing mature characters through his post-Stranger Things works, his income is anticipated to keep increasing gradually.

Filmography

• The Blacklist (2015) – Guest role
• Stranger Things (2016–2025) – Dustin Henderson (main role)
• Prank Encounters (2019–2021) – Host
• Honor Society (2022)
• My Father’s Dragon (2022) – Voice of Boris
• Animal Farm (2025) – Voice of Lucky
• Upcoming: Pizza Movie (2026) – Jack; Hump (TBA) – Voice of Rami
• Additional credits: Broadway productions (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Les Misérables) and early guest roles

Total number of Filmography: 8+ 

Conclusion

Gaten Matarazzo has transitioned from being a child performer to becoming one of the most popular actors around as Dustin Henderson on Stranger Things.

At the young age of 23, his perfect blend of comedy and drama skills as well as his CCD awareness campaign and honest personality, have won him acclaim and adoration from fans all over the world.

Besides having future projects lined up and a strong theater and screen work record, he continues to be a talented and inspiring figure in American ‍‍‍‍‍‍entertainment.

Chimezie Duru

Chimezie Duru is a Lagos-based Digital Entrepreneur, Wikipedia Editor & Biography Writer, Affiliate Marketing Strategist, IT Consultant, and Blogging Coach with over 6 years of experience building and monetizing blogs in Nigeria’s digital space. He is the founder of InkRise Academy (InkRise Digital Concepts) and creator of the Ink To Income Masterclass. A 9-module blogging course for aspiring Nigerian & African writers and bloggers covering SEO, content strategy, and monetisation.

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