Gaten Matarazzo

Gaetano John "Gaten" Matarazzo III ( GAY-tən MAT-ə-RAZ-oh, 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). In 2022, he co-starred in the coming-of-age comedy film Honor Society and voiced Boris the Dragon on the animated fantasy comedy film My Father's Dragon.

Infobox

Born

Gaetano John Matarazzo III (2002-09-08) September 8, 2002 (age 23)New London, Connecticut, U.S.

Occupations

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Years active

2011–present

Partner

Elizabeth Yu (2018–present)

Occupation

Actor

Tables

· Filmography › Film

2019

The Angry Birds Movie 2

Role(s)

Bubba

Notes

Voice role

2022

Honor Society

Role(s)

Michael Dipnicky

My Father's Dragon

Role(s)

Boris the Dragon

Notes

Voice role

2023

Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain

Role(s)

Himself

2025

Animal Farm

Role(s)

Lucky

Notes

Voice role

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2019	The Angry Birds Movie 2	Bubba	Voice role
2022	Honor Society	Michael Dipnicky
2022	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

· Filmography › Television

2015

The Blacklist

Role(s)

Finn

Notes

Episode: "The Kenyon Family (No. 71)"

2016–2025

Role(s)

Stranger Things

Notes

Dustin Henderson

2017

Ridiculousness

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Episode: "Scarediculousness"

Lip Sync Battle

Role(s)

Episode: "The Cast of Stranger Things"

2018

Drop the Mic

Role(s)

Episode: "Darren Criss vs. Gaten Matarazzo / Chandler Riggs vs. Chad Coleman"

2019–2021

Role(s)

Prank Encounters

Notes

Host and executive producer

2021

Nickelodeon's Unfiltered

Role(s)

Episode: "Be My Valentine"

Waffles and Mochi

Role(s)

Casey the Electrician

Notes

Episode: "Mushroom"

2024–2025

Role(s)

Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy

Notes

Sig Greebling

2025

Haunted Hotel

Role(s)

Randy

Notes

Voice, episode: "Randy Slasher"

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"
2017	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"
2021	Waffles and Mochi	Casey the Electrician	Episode: "Mushroom"
2024–2025	Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy	Sig Greebling	Main voice role
2025	Haunted Hotel	Randy	Voice, episode: "Randy Slasher"

· Filmography › Music videos

2017

"Swish Swish"

Role(s)

Katy Perry (feat. Nicki Minaj)

"Lost Boys Life"

Role(s)

Computer Games

2020

"Meet Me on the Roof"

Role(s)

Green Day

Year	Title	Artist	Ref.
2017	"Swish Swish"	Katy Perry (feat. Nicki Minaj)
2017	"Lost Boys Life"	Computer Games
2020	"Meet Me on the Roof"	Green Day

· Theater

2012

Godspell

Role(s)

Jesus

Notes

Circle in the Square Theatre

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Role(s)

Ben

Notes

US tour

2013

Les Misérables

Role(s)

Gavroche

Notes

North American tour

2014–2015

Role(s)

Gavroche / Petit Gervais

Notes

Imperial Theatre

2019

Into the Woods

Role(s)

Jack

Notes

Hollywood Bowl

2022

Dear Evan Hansen

Role(s)

Jared Kleinman

Notes

Music Box Theatre

Parade

Role(s)

Frankie Epps

Notes

New York City Center

2023

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Role(s)

Tobias Ragg

Notes

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

Gutenberg! The Musical!

Role(s)

The Producer

Notes

James Earl Jones Theatre

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
2012	Radio City Christmas Spectacular	Ben	US tour	Rockettes' 85th Anniversary Celebration
2013	Les Misérables	Gavroche	North American tour	25th Anniversary
2014–2015	Les Misérables	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
2022	Parade	Frankie Epps	New York City Center	Encores!
2023	Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street	Tobias Ragg	Lunt-Fontanne Theatre	Broadway
2023	Gutenberg! The Musical!	The Producer	James Earl Jones Theatre	Broadway(One night only)

· Awards and nominations

2017

Young Artist Awards

Role(s)

Best Performance in a Digital TV Series or Film – Teen Actor

Notes

Stranger Things

Screen Actors Guild Awards

Role(s)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Notes

Won

Shorty Awards

Role(s)

Best Actor

Notes

Won

2018

Screen Actors Guild Awards

Role(s)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Notes

Nominated

MTV Movie & TV Awards

Role(s)

Best On-Screen Team (with Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp and Sadie Sink)

Notes

Nominated

2019

Teen Choice Awards

Role(s)

Choice Summer TV Actor

Notes

Nominated

2020

Screen Actors Guild Awards

Role(s)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Notes

Nominated

2022

Saturn Awards

Role(s)

Best Performance by a Younger Actor (Streaming)

Notes

Nominated

2023

Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards

Role(s)

Favorite Male TV Star (Family)

Notes

Nominated

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2017	Young Artist Awards	Best Performance in a Digital TV Series or Film – Teen Actor	Stranger Things	Nominated
2017	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series		Won
2017	Shorty Awards	Best Actor		Won
2018	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series		Nominated
2018	MTV Movie & TV Awards	Best On-Screen Team (with Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp and Sadie Sink)		Nominated
2019	Teen Choice Awards	Choice Summer TV Actor		Nominated
2020	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series		Nominated
2022	Saturn Awards	Best Performance by a Younger Actor (Streaming)		Nominated
2023	Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards	Favorite Male TV Star (Family)		Nominated

References

"9 Things You Didn't Know About Gaten Matarazzo III (Stranger Things)"
https://bestofnj.com/features/entertainment/things-didnt-know-gaten-matarazzo-stranger-things/
Stranger Things' Gaten Matarazzo III Goes Undercover on Reddit, YouTube and Twitter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEMeDw7dCb4
United Press International
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2019/09/08/UPI-Almanac-for-Sunday-Sept-8-2019/2621567647013/
Playbill
http://www.playbill.com/personlistpage/person-list?production=00000150-aea8-d936-a7fd-eefc733d0003&type=op#oc
E! Online
https://www.eonline.com/news/1339641/is-gaten-matarazzo-related-to-the-princess-diaries-heather-matarazzo-see-her-hilarious-response
HelloGiggles.com
https://web.archive.org/web/20170809070514/http://hellogiggles.com/dustin-stranger-things-loves-showing-off-fake-teeth-real-life-obviously-adorable
Elle
https://www.elle.com/it/showbiz/cinema/a40214207/gaten-matarazzo-attore/
Looper.com
https://www.looper.com/156982/the-untold-truth-of-gaten-matarazzo/
J-14
https://www.j-14.com/posts/gaten-matarazzo-girlfriend-cute-instagram-photos-with-lizzy-yu/#:~:text=The%20Stranger%20Things%20star%20—%20known,that%20read%2C%20
"2011 Uncasville Results"
https://web.archive.org/web/20111229081952/http://www.starpowertalent.com/CompetitionResults/2011WorldChampionships/2011UncasvilleResults/tabid/912/Default.aspx
Playbill
https://playbill.com/article/photo-call-meet-the-godspell-cast-of-2032-com-193334#:~:text=%22The%20Godspell%20Cast%20of%202032%22%20features%20Gaten%20Matarazzo%20as%20%22,and%20Evan%20Smolin%20as%20Nick.
Inverse
https://www.inverse.com/article/20121-dustin-stranger-things-missing-teeth
Variety
https://variety.com/2018/film/global/simon-pegg-gaten-matarazzo-hump-1202807052/
"So excited to announce that I'm in #AngryBirdsMovie2!"
https://x.com/gatenm123/status/1151212158438395905
"'Stranger Things' Star Gaten Matarazzo Sets Broadway Return in 'Dear Evan Hansen'"
https://deadline.com/2022/05/strgaten-matarazzo-broadway-dear-evan-hansen-stranger-things-1235032312/#recipient_hashed=f8bfb4789df334797ec1fddc61eb27556667b31f27e110faf526f3788858f070
Deadline
https://deadline.com/2022/01/awesomeness-films-greenlights-honor-society-angourie-rice-gaten-matarazzo-christopher-mintz-plasse-1234914488/
RTÉ
https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2022/0928/1325969-irelands-cartoon-saloon-goes-global-with-netflix-movie/
TheWrap
https://www.thewrap.com/sweeney-todd-cast-gaten-matarazzo-jordan-fisher-ruthie-ann-miles/
CCD Smiles
https://ccdsmiles.org/press/
BroadwayWorld
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Gaten-Matarazzo-Will-Roland-and-More-Join-Andrew-Barth-Feldmans-SW-A-NEWSICAL-HOPE-20200204
Entertainment Tonight
https://www.etonline.com/elf-reunion-will-ferrell-zooey-deschanel-and-more-stars-unite-for-a-virtual-table-read-for-charity
The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/6/22370078/jimmy-fallon-twitch-stream-among-us-stranger-things
IGN
https://www.ign.com/articles/ign-dd-present-lost-odyssey-promised-gold-how-to-watch-and-what-to-expect
New York City Centre
https://www.nycitycenter.org/pdps/2022-2023/parade/
UPROXX
https://uproxx.com/movies/a-new-star-wars-special-will-acknowledge-one-of-the-galaxys-weirdest-fan-theories/
Star Wars
https://www.starwars.com/news/d23-2024-lucasfilm-reveals
Billboard
https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/katy-perry-swish-swish-video-cameos-7941788/
Fuse
https://www.fuse.tv/2017/08/stranger-things-gaten-matarazzo-computer-games-lost-boys-life-video
Exclaim
https://exclaim.ca/music/article/gaten_matarazzo_stars_in_green_days_adorable_new_video_for_meet_me_on_the_roof
Ladue News
https://www.laduenews.com/diversions/arts-entertainment/radio-city-christmas-spectacular-musical-review/article_d9bcd9ba-2d0a-11e2-8b6a-0019bb30f31a.html
Internet Broadway Database
https://www.ibdb.com/tour-production/les-misrables-25th-anniversary-504219#Tours
Playbill
https://playbill.com/article/patina-miller-gaten-matarazzo-shanice-williams-will-star-in-hollywood-bowls-into-the-woods
"38th Annual Awards"
https://web.archive.org/web/20170202050908/http://youngartistawards.org/nominees
Entertainment Weekly
https://www.ew.com/article/2016/12/14/2017-sag-awards-nominations
"9th Annual Shorty Awards"
http://shortyawards.com/9th/gatenm123
"The full list of the 2018 SAG Awards nominees"
https://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/13/entertainment/sag-awards-nominations/index.html
The Hollywood Reporter
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/mtv-movie-tv-awards-2018-nominations-complete-list-1108100
TVLine
https://web.archive.org/web/20190708201032/https://tvline.com/2019/07/08/teen-choice-awards-nominees-2019-stranger-things-full-list-nominations/
Variety
https://variety.com/2019/film/news/2020-sag-nominations-list-nominees-screen-actors-guild-awards-1203430551/
Deadline Hollywood
https://deadline.com/2022/08/saturn-awards-2022-nominations-list-movies-tv-1235089636/
Stranger Things
https://deadline.com/2023/01/nate-burleson-charli-damelio-host-nickelodeons-kids-choice-awards-stranger-things-leads-2023-nominations-full-list-1235244799/