Stranger Things is one of Netflix’s most popular and expensive series. Produced with a budget of $470 million, it stars Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, David Harbour, Charlie Heaton, Winona Ryder, and Gaten Matarazzo . The latest season took the internet by storm, befitting its colossal budget. Among the main actors, Gaten Matarazzo, who plays Dustin Henderson, became a fan favorite.
His character has an irresistible sense of humor and is best friends with Steve Harrington, played by Joe Keery. Gaten has successfully integrated his condition both on and off screen. His fans may not know that he was born with a rare genetic disorder called cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), which affects the bones and teeth. In an interview with NDTV, the actor shared his personal experience with this condition, which has influenced certain aspects of his personality.
According to a report from Johns Hopkins Hospital, cleidocranial dysplasia is a condition that affects the bones of the legs, collarbones, face, spine, skull, and teeth. People with this condition have malformed, fragile, or even missing bones. The term “cleidocranial” refers to the collarbones, while “cranial” refers to the skull. Symptoms are associated with dental abnormalities and affect the collarbones and skull. Gaten previously revealed in an interview that when the Duffer brothers wanted to create Stranger Things, they wanted each character in the series to be unique.
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Gaten explained that the creators wanted all the characters to be realistic and relatable. They wanted characters who were both endearing and unique. He also discovered that the creators had asked him if he would agree to play the role if his character, Dustin, was bullied at school because of his missing teeth, to which the actor agreed.
Gaten Matarazzo spoke about his life with cleidocranial dysplasia.
In an interview with Health Insights, Gaten Matarazzo revealed that his experience with cleidocranial dysplasia has been positive. He explained that he has a moderate form of the condition and that it has never led to him being harassed or anything like that. On the contrary, it has been beneficial in many ways to his acting career. Gaten disclosed that cleidocranial dysplasia is supposed to have physical repercussions on him, particularly affecting his height, teeth, and youthful appearance. However, the actor has remained very optimistic about taking on roles despite his condition and stated:
“I hope to be able to grow because of this and not get roles solely because of my illness. I can play characters without physical disabilities. I can portray a person whose role is not linked to this illness.”
Gaten Matarazzo also indicated that he recently underwent dental surgery to treat his cleidocranial dysplasia.
In the first season of Stranger Things, Gaten Matarazzo, aka Dustin, simply forgot to put in some teeth. In February 2020, Gaten revealed that he had undergone major surgery to correct his dental issues and wanted to raise awareness about the fact that teeth are not just an aesthetic feature but have a direct impact on well-being and health. He learned that teeth don’t grow spontaneously and that patience is key. Indeed, if you wait too long, the teeth can fuse with the jawbone, making regrowth impossible and requiring implants. Regarding his surgery, Gaten said:
“I want people, and especially doctors, to understand that medical equipment and techniques must be used, and not simply left to wait. It’s not always about time, but about perseverance.”
When Gaten Matarazzo discussed the impact of his cleidocranial dysplasia on his acting career
Gaten Matarazzo told the media that his cleidocranial dysplasia affects him in various ways, from his height and teeth to his youthful appearance. He explained that he has grown because of this condition and that getting his roles is no longer solely dependent on it. Gaten also emphasized that his cleidocranial dysplasia has brought him many advantages. It has allowed him to speak openly about it, without shame. He confided that he can do many things that children his age do. He explained that he can live like everyone else because his dysplasia is relatively mild. He mentioned aspects of video games that do not present any physical limitations. Here are his own words:
“I can play a character who isn’t affected by this disease. The Duffer brothers helped me a lot, especially by incorporating this aspect into the series. Initially, they didn’t plan to include this disease in my character, but after I talked to them about it, they liked the idea of having a disabled person, which gave the character a more original dimension and made him more relatable.”
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