Gaten Matarrazzo Sr. – Meet the Proud Father of a Star

Father of actor Gaten Matarazzo who is family oriented. He cheers on his son’s acting and dotes on his family.
Who is Gaten Matarrazzo Sr.?
Born on September 23, 1966, he is a massive fan of his son, famous for Stranger Things. Gaten Sr. is from the United States and loves his family a lot.  He is often there when Gaten Jr. goes to special events. He advises as Gaten Jr. figures out acting stuff.
Gaten Sr. helps his son handle being famous at a young age. He talks a lot about cleidocranial dysplasia, which Gaten Jr. has. It makes him look different. Gaten Sr. tells people about this condition and wants everyone to be friendly and understanding.
Gaten Matarazzo Sr. thinks family is super important. Even though his son is famous, he makes sure things stay normal. He helps Gaten Jr. follow his dreams, whether in acting or growing up. His role in Gaten Jr’s life shows how having good people around is important, especially for young actors. He’s focused on his son’s happiness and acting career. This helps Gaten Jr. do well as an actor.

His Educational Background

Actor Gaten Jr. (L) and his dad, Gaten Matarrazzo Snr. in California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Turner)
The father of the actor from Stranger Things isn’t named Gaten, but Gaetano. This name is shared with his grandfather and father. Mr. Gaetano Matarazzo has family roots in Italy. He was born and grew up in New Jersey. The actor’s dad went to Pinelands Regional High School for his education. Later, he started working at Golden Nugget Casino, where he spent many years.
In the show Stranger Things, the actor goes by Gaten, but his real name is Gaetano. This name has a special meaning because it’s also the name of his grandfather and father.
Mr. Gaetano Matarazzo has an Italian heritage and was born and raised in New Jersey. The actor’s dad studied at Pinelands Regional High School before beginning work at the Golden Nugget Casino. He spent a long time working there.
Related Story: Vlatko Andonovski

His Wife, Heather

Heather and son, actor Gaten Matarazzo at SunTrust Park in Georgia. (Photo by Beam Imagination/Getty Images)
Gaten Snr’s wife is Heather Matarazzo, but she was initially named Heather Rae Hendrickson. She was born in Waterford, Connecticut. She finished high school at Waterford High School in 1991. Heather got married to Gaetano Matarazzo when they were pretty young. They had three kids together.
Gaten Matarazzo is their second child and their first son. Heather gave birth to him at New London’s Lawrence and Memorial Hospital. They used to live in Mystic Village, a special place for Gaten.
He was sadly born with a rare genetic condition, so the family had to leave the village and move to Little Egg Harbor Township, NJ. This move brought them closer to Gaten’s grandparents on his dad’s side.
Heather Matarazzo is now a caring mom of three and does good things for others. She and her son started a fund called CCD Smiles. This fund helps people with the same illness as Gaten, the star of Stranger Things.
His Daughter, Sabrina

Sabrina, Gaten, Carmen, and their mother. ( Credit: Twitter)
Sabrina Matarazzo is Gaten Snr’s only daughter, and they’re close pals. Like Gaten, she got the acting bug from their mom, Heather Matarazzo. When she was in high school, their mom was part of a drama club.
Sabrina got into the spotlight by being in a TV commercial. After that, she and her younger brother Carmen formed a family band called Work in Progress.
Nowadays, Sabrina works at a restaurant. She lives with her parents in New Jersey and is in a relationship with a good-looking guy named Steffan Batullo.
Related Story: Zecira Musovic Salary
Carmen, His Second Son
Carmen is the youngest member of the Matarazzo family.  He’s a teenager who’s really into his education right now. He and his older sister, Sabrina, make music together during his free time. 
Now and then, Gaten also hangs out with them and joins in on their musical fun. The actor doesn’t think he’s all that great at music. He’s modest and says he can only sing a tiny bit. Carmen and Gaten get along well. They’re super close siblings and try to spend as much time together as possible.
A close companion in the acting world of young actor Gaetano John Matarazzo III is the character he plays, Dustin Henderson, on the show Stranger Things. In the series, he portrays a charming boy who is part of a group of four friends. This group encounters a girl with extraordinary abilities, played by Millie Bobby Brown.
His Son’s Career Success

Actor Gaten Matarazzo Jnr. at Feria Valencia. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)

The show’s success transformed Gaten Matarazzo into a star in Hollywood, attracting worldwide interest. Born in the tiny New Jersey Township with the unique name Little Egg Harbor, he grew up in a family of five, including an older sister and a younger brother.
From birth, he’s been dealing with a rare genetic condition called cleidocranial dysplasia, which his character Dustin also has. This creative decision by the show’s writers explained Gaten’s distinct appearance and speech patterns. 
Now, Gaten uses his fame to support individuals with similar conditions and educate others about this complex health disorder. Gaten Jnr’s acting journey began very young. One of his earliest roles was as Gavroche, the French street urchin from; Les Misérables, which he performed on Broadway. He also appeared in the play Cinderella.
Even today, he continues to be active in various theater productions, displaying confidence and natural talent on stage. His global recognition isn’t solely due to his theater work; it’s all thanks to his roles in popular TV series. He guest-starred in an episode of The Blacklist on NBC before landing the role on Stranger Things,  where he remains busy. On the set of the show, he shares the screen with other young talents like Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, and more.
Related Story: Shailene Woodley
Facts About Gaten Jnr.
– Despite his fame, he strives to be down-to-earth. When he’s not filming Stranger Things, he attends a public school and has a friend there. He’s determined to stay grounded and avoid letting stardom go to his head.
– His teeth are false due to complications from his disease. He was born without natural teeth and collarbones.

Gaten Matarazzo in New York City. (Photo by Jenny Anderson/Getty Images)
– He never anticipated the massive success of Stranger Things. He admits he wasn’t too keen on the script when he first read it. 
– Since 2018, he has been in a relationship with Lizzy Yu, and they both attend acting courses together. He’s a big fan of the Harry Potter series.
Gaten Matarazzo Snr. is keen on building a solid standing with his family and the acting world as he supports his children in their chosen fields.