Gaten Matarazzo

Gaten Matarazzo
Name	Gaten Matarazzo
Birth date	8 September 2002
Birth place	Connecticut, USA
Occupation	Actor, singer
Years active	2015–present

Gaten Matarazzo is an American actor and singer known for his work in television, film, and theater. He rose to prominence through a breakout role in a high-profile streaming series and has since appeared in Broadway productions, animated features, and charity initiatives. Matarazzo is also recognized for public advocacy related to a rare craniofacial condition.

Early life and family

Matarazzo was born in Connecticut and raised in a family with ties to New Jersey and Fair Lawn, New Jersey. He is the son of parents who supported his early interest in performance, and he has a sibling involved in creative pursuits. His family connections include relatives who participated in community theater productions and regional events linked to Broadway auditions and Radio City Music Hall performances. Matarazzo attended local schools before pursuing professional training with programs associated with St. Ann's School (Brooklyn), William Esper Studio, and workshops connected to Juilliard School alumni. Early influences cited in interviews include exposure to productions at Paper Mill Playhouse, Paramount Theatre (New Jersey), and touring companies affiliated with Disney Theatrical Group.

Career

Matarazzo began his career with auditions for television pilots and guest appearances on series connected to networks such as NBC, ABC, and Netflix. He made his professional debut in roles for theater and television casting directors who also worked on productions for Hamilton (musical), Dear Evan Hansen (musical), and touring versions of Les Misérables. His breakout came when casting directors from 21 Laps Entertainment and production teams associated with The Duffer Brothers cast him in a lead role for a global streaming drama produced by Netflix. Following that success, he expanded into voice work for animated features distributed by Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Studios, and he performed on Broadway stages produced by The Shubert Organization and Nederlander Organization. He has participated in industry events alongside peers from Stranger Things (TV series), collaborated with musicians represented by Republic Records and Atlantic Records, and appeared on award-show stages produced by The Hollywood Reporter and Variety.

Notable roles and performances

Matarazzo is best known for portraying a character in a science-fiction horror series developed by The Duffer Brothers and produced by 21 Laps Entertainment for Netflix, a role that placed him alongside co-stars affiliated with Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, and Natalia Dyer. He also appeared in Broadway productions including a replacement cast member in a revival associated with Mean Girls (musical) producers and in concert performances at venues like Madison Square Garden and The Kennedy Center. In film, he voiced characters in animated features distributed by Paramount Pictures and teamed with actors who have credits in Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, and Pixar projects. His television guest roles connected him to creators from Saturday Night Live, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and streaming series developed by Shondaland and Lionsgate Television.

Health advocacy and cleidocranial dysplasia

Matarazzo has a visible craniofacial difference caused by cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), a genetic skeletal disorder studied by researchers at institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Harvard Medical School. He has publicly discussed CCD in interviews with outlets including People (magazine), The New York Times, and The Washington Post and has collaborated with nonprofit organizations like Children's Craniofacial Association, Craniofacial Foundation of America, and patient advocacy initiatives connected to National Institutes of Health research consortia. His advocacy has involved fundraising events with partners such as St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, awareness campaigns tied to Rare Disease Day, and participation in panels at conferences organized by American Association of Plastic Surgeons and geneticists from American Society of Human Genetics.

Personal life

Matarazzo resides between New York and Los Angeles and maintains friendships with colleagues from productions linked to SAG-AFTRA, Actors' Equity Association, and talent agencies such as Creative Artists Agency and United Talent Agency. Outside acting, he has expressed interest in music connected to labels like Interscope Records, technology ventures in collaboration with YouTube, and philanthropic work alongside organizations including March of Dimes and Ronald McDonald House Charities. He has made appearances on talk shows produced by Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Awards and nominations

Matarazzo's work has attracted recognition from industry bodies and critics' groups including nominations or mentions in coverage by Emmy Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, MTV Movie & TV Awards, Critics' Choice Television Awards, and youth-oriented honors from Teen Choice Awards and People's Choice Awards. He has been featured in year-end lists by publications such as Time (magazine), Rolling Stone, and Vogue (magazine), and he has received honors from charitable organizations affiliated with UNICEF and Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Category:2002 births Category:Living people Category:American child actors Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:American male voice actors