Gaten Matarazzo | Age, Girlfriend, Movies & Broadway
Gaten Matarazzo is an American actor and singer best known for playing Dustin Henderson in Netflix’s Stranger Things. Born on September 8, 2002, he is 24 years old as of 2026. After the series ended, he expanded his screen work and returned to musical theater, starring in London’s West End production of Rent.
Who Is Gaten Matarazzo?
Gaten Matarazzo, whose full name is Gaetano John Matarazzo III, first performed professionally on stage as a child. He has also spoken openly about living with cleidocranial dysplasia, a rare condition affecting bone and dental development.
| Full name | Gaetano John Matarazzo III |
| Date of birth | September 8, 2002 |
| Age in 2026 | 24 years old |
| Raised in | Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey |
| Known for | Dustin Henderson in Stranger Things |
| Parents | Heather Matarazzo and Gaetano Matarazzo Jr. |
| Siblings | Sabrina and Carmen Matarazzo |
| Partner | Elizabeth (Lizzy) Yu |
| Medical condition | Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) |
| 2026 projects | Rent (West End) and Pizza Movie |
How Old Is Gaten Matarazzo, and Where Is He From?
Gaten Matarazzo was born on September 8, 2002, making him 24 years old as of 2026. He turned 24 before this article’s October 25 publication date. He grew up in Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, near the Jersey Shore, and developed an interest in singing and acting early in life.
Published biographies differ on his precise birthplace: IMDb lists New London, Connecticut, while some film and theater databases list New Jersey. His upbringing in southern New Jersey is consistently documented. He attended Pinelands Regional High School while continuing to work as a young actor.
Who Are Gaten Matarazzo’s Parents and Siblings?
His parents are Heather Matarazzo and Gaetano Matarazzo Jr. He has an older sister, Sabrina, and a younger brother, Carmen. His family supported his acting from an early age.
In a September 2026 interview with The Guardian, Matarazzo recalled that his parents worked nights and held multiple jobs to support his ambitions. His mother later became his chaperone during his acting work. He also described music as a regular part of family life and praised his sister’s singing talent.
How Did Gaten Matarazzo Become Famous on Stranger Things?
Matarazzo became internationally known as Dustin Henderson, one of the main young characters in Stranger Things. The science-fiction series premiered on Netflix in July 2016 and followed a group of friends investigating disturbing events in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.
Dustin stood out for his humor, curiosity, loyalty, and love of science. The Duffer Brothers also incorporated Matarazzo’s own medical condition into Dustin’s story instead of treating it as something to hide.
Stranger Things ran for five seasons. Netflix released the final season in stages beginning November 26, 2025, with the series finale arriving on December 31, 2025, in the United States.
How Old Was Gaten Matarazzo in Stranger Things Season 1?
Matarazzo was 13 when the first season premiered on July 15, 2016. He had not yet reached his fourteenth birthday, which fell on September 8 that year. He was younger during parts of the casting and production process, so articles discussing filming may give a different age.
The difference matters because the show was released after much of its first season had been filmed. Audiences watched him grow from a child performer into an adult actor.
Gaten Matarazzo’s Broadway Career and Sweeney Todd Role
Matarazzo’s professional musical-theater career began before his television fame. His Broadway credits include Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Les Misérables, Dear Evan Hansen, and Sweeney Todd.
He appeared as an alternate Benji in Priscilla Queen of the Desert in 2011, then played Gavroche and Petit Gervais in the 2014 Broadway revival of Les Misérables. In 2022, he joined Dear Evan Hansen as Jared Kleinman.
He returned in 2023 to play Tobias Ragg in the acclaimed revival of Sweeney Todd, leaving that production in November 2023.
These roles demanded different skills: Gavroche brings youthful energy to a large ensemble, Jared uses sharp comedy, and Tobias has emotionally difficult scenes.
What Are Gaten Matarazzo’s Best-Known Songs and Singing Moments?
His most recognizable television singing moment is the duet of The NeverEnding Story with Suzie, played by Gabriella Pizzolo, in the third-season finale of Stranger Things in 2019.
His stage singing reaches well beyond that scene. He performed in Les Misérables, Dear Evan Hansen, and Sweeney Todd, and he has continued singing in Rent.
Which Movies and TV Shows Feature Gaten Matarazzo?
His other screen work spans comedy, hidden-camera television, and animation, including voice roles in The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019), My Father’s Dragon (2022), and LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy (2024).
Some of his notable screen credits are:
- The Blacklist (2015), an early television guest appearance.
- Prank Encounters (2019 to 2021), a Netflix hidden-camera series he hosted.
- Honor Society (2022), in which he played Michael Dipnicky opposite Angourie Rice.
What Is Gaten Matarazzo Doing in 2026?
In 2026, Matarazzo is performing as Mark Cohen in a London revival of Jonathan Larson’s Rent. The production began performances on September 26 at the Tom Stoppard Theatre, formerly known as the Duke of York’s Theatre.
It is his West End debut and an important return to the kind of live musical theater that launched his career.
Mark is an aspiring filmmaker who records the lives of a group of friends in New York’s East Village. The official production website lists him as scheduled to perform through January 10, 2027, although individual appearances are not guaranteed.
He also starred in Pizza Movie, a 2026 comedy with Sean Giambrone, and served as an executive producer. The movie premiered at SXSW in March and began streaming on Hulu on April 3, 2026. Together, the movie and Rent show his move into adult roles and greater creative responsibility after Stranger Things.
What Condition Does Gaten Matarazzo Have?
Matarazzo has cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), a rare genetic condition that mainly affects development of the skull, collarbones, and teeth. He has discussed the condition publicly since becoming famous, and it is also part of Dustin’s character on Stranger Things.
According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, CCD can cause delayed adult-tooth eruption, extra teeth, and collarbones that are small or absent. The symptoms vary from person to person. It does not mean that every person with CCD has the same bones, dental history, or medical needs.
CCD can be linked to changes in a gene called RUNX2, which helps regulate bone and tooth development. A person’s specific treatment depends on their symptoms and clinical care.
What Happened to Gaten Matarazzo’s Teeth and Collarbones?
CCD has affected Matarazzo’s dental development, and he has undergone oral procedures to manage extra teeth and adult teeth that did not emerge normally. Rutgers University reported that he discussed these experiences with dental professionals and had used dentures during his earlier Stranger Things years.
Questions such as whether Matarazzo ‘has teeth now’ cannot be answered accurately from photographs or old interviews alone. Dental treatment can change over time, and no dependable public medical update establishes every detail of his dental condition in 2026. His earlier public descriptions are more reliable than guesses based on his appearance.
His condition has also affected his collarbone development. CCD commonly involves underdeveloped or missing clavicles, which can allow unusual shoulder movement. That physical feature is not proof that every person with CCD has no collarbones, and it should not be used to make broad claims about the condition.
How Does Gaten Matarazzo Help People with CCD?
Matarazzo supports CCD Smiles, a nonprofit that raises awareness and helps people facing high costs for dental care related to cleidocranial dysplasia. He has used interviews and public appearances to discuss the gap between medical and dental insurance coverage.
The organization’s founder, Kelly Wosnik, says she began developing the nonprofit in 2013 and that Matarazzo’s father contacted her in 2016. CCD Smiles became an approved nonprofit in January 2017.
Who Is Gaten Matarazzo Dating, and Is He Married?
Matarazzo has been in a long-term relationship with actress Elizabeth ‘Lizzy’ Yu since 2018. Yu plays Princess Azula in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender. Matarazzo spoke publicly about their relationship in April 2026, describing how they stay connected while working in different places.
As of this article’s publication date, there is no reliable public announcement that he and Yu have married, so she should not be described as his wife. Their public relationship also does not establish a label for his sexual orientation; claims about that should come from a person’s own statements, not assumptions.
How Tall Is Gaten Matarazzo?
There is no consistently verified official height figure for Matarazzo. Public entertainment profiles give different numbers, including 5 feet 3 inches and 5 feet 4½ inches. Because those listings conflict and are not authoritative measurements, presenting a single exact height as confirmed would be misleading.
What Is Gaten Matarazzo’s Net Worth?
Matarazzo’s exact net worth is not publicly verified. Some celebrity finance websites estimate his wealth at about $5 million, but these figures are not audited financial statements. His acting, theater, voice work, and producing credits are public; his personal assets, expenses, and contract terms are not fully disclosed.
Where Does Gaten Matarazzo Live Now?
Matarazzo’s exact current home address and permanent residence are not publicly established in dependable reporting. He grew up in New Jersey and is working in London for Rent in 2026. His London stage work does not prove he has moved permanently.
His path runs alongside the other Stranger Things biographies in this set. Readers can continue with Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, David Harbour, Joe Keery, Charlie Heaton, and Caleb McLaughlin.
Conclusion
Gaten Matarazzo built his career in musical theater before becoming a household name as Dustin Henderson. At 24 years old as of 2026, he has finished Stranger Things, starred in Pizza Movie, and made his West End debut in Rent.
His continued work on stage and advocacy for people with CCD show the breadth of his career beyond one famous role.
