Known for his beloved portrayal of Dustin Henderson on the global phenomenon Stranger Things, Gaten Matarazzo has firmly established himself as one of the standout actors of his generation. He began his professional career when he was 9 years old in the original Broadway production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert as Benji, later earning acclaim for his performances in Godspell and as Gavroche in the 2014 revival of Les Misérables, a role he also performed on the 25th Anniversary North American tour. A lifelong lover of theater, Gaten has continued to showcase his range on stage with celebrated performances in Dear Evan Hansen, Sweeney Todd, and Parade. Recognized by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the “Top 30 Stars Under 30,” he continues to evolve as both an actor and creative force across film, television, and theater.

In 2022, Gaten starred in the live-action comedy Honor Society for Paramount+. He later voiced Sig Greebling in the Disney+ animated series LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, reprising the role in the 2025 sequel event, LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past. In 2025, Gaten returned for the fifth and final season of Stranger Things, reprising his SAG Award-winning role as Dustin in one of the most anticipated television finales in recent history, as the series continued its reign as one of the most-streamed shows of all time.

Most recently he starred as Jack in Pizza Movie, the breakout college comedy released by Hulu following its premiere at SXSW. The film became a major success for the platform, earning strong audience response and further establishing Gaten as a leading voice for the next generation. In addition to starring alongside Sean Giambrone, Gaten also served as an executive producer on the project, marking an important step in his continued expansion behind the camera. He can next be seen starring as Toby in Octet, the highly anticipated feature adaptation of Dave Malloy’s acclaimed musical directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda. He also voiced Lucky in Animal Farm directed by Andy Serkis, which hit theaters in Spring 2026.

Beyond acting, Gaten is deeply committed to advocacy work surrounding cleidocranial dysplasia, a rare genetic condition affecting bone and dental development. Through his foundation, CCD Smiles, he helps families offset the financial burden of critical dental care while raising awareness for the condition nationwide. He has also appeared on Capitol Hill in support of the bipartisan Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA), legislation aimed at expanding insurance coverage for individuals born with congenital abnormalities and birth defects. Looking ahead, Gaten continues to expand his creative ambitions, with aspirations to move into directing and further shape the entertainment landscape both in front of and behind the camera.