Person Biography:
Gaetano John "Gaten" Matarazzo III is an Italian-American actor born on September 8, 2002, in New London, Connecticut. He grew up in Tuckerton, New Jersey, and began his career on the Broadway stage, playing notable roles such as Benjamin in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Gavroche in Les Misérables.
Matarazzo is best known for his portrayal of Dustin Henderson in the popular Netflix science-fiction drama series, Stranger Things, which premiered in 2016. He shares a unique connection with his character, as both he and Dustin have cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD),a rare genetic disorder that affects the development of bones in the skull and face.
As a result of his condition, Matarazzo wears dentures and has used his platform to raise awareness about CCD. He actively promotes CCD Smiles, an organization that helps cover the costs of oral surgeries for individuals with cleidocranial dysostosis. Matarazzo has also launched a line of T-shirts, with proceeds going towards CCD Smiles.
In addition to his acting career and advocacy work, Matarazzo has served as a spokesman for Verizon FiOS since 2017.
