Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Actor

Gaten Matarazzo

Gaten Matarazzo is an American actor and singer best known for playing Dustin Henderson in the Netflix series *Stranger Things*.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Gaten Matarazzo is an American actor and singer best known for playing Dustin Henderson in the Netflix series *Stranger Things*. Born on September 8, 2002, he has also appeared on Broadway and in several films and television projects.

What it is

Gaten Matarazzo is a performer who started on Broadway before moving into screen acting. He gained wide recognition for his role as Dustin Henderson in *Stranger Things*, a Netflix series that ran from 2016 to 2025. He has also hosted the Netflix series *Prank Encounters* and voiced characters in animated films.

Key details

Matarazzo was born in New London, Connecticut, and has cleidocranial dysplasia, a rare genetic condition affecting bone and teeth development. He has spoken publicly about the condition to raise awareness. His film credits include *The Angry Birds Movie 2*, *Honor Society*, *My Father's Dragon*, and *Animal Farm*.

Why it matters

Matarazzo's role in *Stranger Things* has made him a familiar face to Canadian audiences through Netflix, which has a large subscriber base in Canada. His advocacy for cleidocranial dysplasia has also brought attention to a little-known condition, and his continued work in film and television keeps him relevant in pop culture.

In short

  • Best known for playing Dustin Henderson in *Stranger Things*.
  • Has cleidocranial dysplasia and advocates for awareness.
  • Film credits include *The Angry Birds Movie 2* and *Honor Society*.
  • Born September 8, 2002, making him 23 in 2026.
Canadian angle

He is widely known in Canada through *Stranger Things* on Netflix, a platform with a large Canadian audience, and through internationally released films and streaming projects.

Quick questions

How old is Gaten Matarazzo?
He was born on September 8, 2002, so he is 23 years old in 2026.
What condition does Gaten Matarazzo have?
He has cleidocranial dysplasia, a genetic condition that affects skull, collarbone, and dental development.
What movies has Gaten Matarazzo been in?
Listed film credits include *The Angry Birds Movie 2*, *Honor Society*, *My Father's Dragon*, *Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain*, and *Animal Farm*.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaten_Matarazzo
    Supports: Birth date, occupation, Stranger Things role, and selected filmography
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7140802/
    Supports: Birth date, acting credits, and role in Stranger Things
  3. TV Insider — https://www.tvinsider.com/people/gaten-matarazzo/
    Supports: Birth date, age, and overview of acting career
  4. Famous Birthdays — https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/gaten-matarazzo.html
    Supports: Age and cleidocranial dysplasia mention
  5. AlloCiné — https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne_gen_cpersonne=779999.html
    Supports: Filmography and age