“Stranger Things” star Gaten Matarazzo recalled one of the first premieres of the hit Netflix show.
“Like three people” showed up, he told Cheddar, and “the only thing they asked was, ‘How’s Winona?’”
He said the 1980s-set sci-fi drama, whose biggest star Winona Ryder had been largely out of the Hollywood spotlight for about two decades, was initially rejected by major networks that thought it was nothing more than a kids show.
But the surprising popularity of “Stranger Things,” which is now preparing for production of its third season, runs parallel to Matarazzo’s own unexpected rise to fame.
The 15-year-old who plays Dustin suffers from Cleidocranial Dysplasia (CCD), a genetic condition that impacts bone development. He was born without a collarbone.
“I only have a tiny little piece of one,” he said.
Matarazzo said the abnormality led to many rejections. But when he auditioned for this part, it became “one of the sellers that gave me the role in the first place.”
“They want the characters to be relatable [and] unique, of course, and realistic.”
Now, he tries to raise awareness for the condition.
“I have a very mild case of it...a lot of people have it a lot harder than I do,” he said.
And if his filming schedule weren’t enough, Matarazzo is part of a rock band, “Work In Progress,” which will be performing at West Hollywood’s Troubadour next month.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/stranger-things-star-gaten-matarazzo-on-shows-surprising-success).
Hollywood Actors Guild Vote to Authorize Strike Amid Ongoing Writers Strike
From Jake Paul's next big swing to the possible return of Meredith Grey, here's what's happening in entertainment.
It was a rare sight — a senior British royal testifying in a court of law. What Prince Harry said, both during cross-examination in the witness box Tuesday and in his written witness statement, was just as unusual.
If your summer could use a pop of color, look no further than fashion brand Never Fully Dressed, which is opening its first permanent U.S. store right here in New York City. Cheddar News correspondent Chloe Aiello is on the scene with founder Lucy Aylen.
Creating the 'Barbie' set took a lot of pink paint, so much pink paint that it wiped out one company's entire global supply of it.
The bodies of three men have been removed from the site of a collapsed six-story apartment building in Davenport, Iowa, about a week after part of the century-old structure tumbled to the ground, the city's police chief announced Monday.
From Superman NFTs to a 'Hocus Pocus' trilogy, here are your top entertainment headlines.
In celebration of Pride Month, Cheddar News anchor Baker Machado visited the Stonewall Inn in New York City and sat down with owner Stacy Lentz to talk about the historic events that took place at the bar more than 50 years ago.
The Writers Guild of America has confirmed plans for a strike action at the Apple HQ in Cupertino, CA on Monday, as the tech giant kicks off its Worldwide Developers Conference.
Ticket sales surpassed already lofty expectations for the sequel to the Oscar-winning Inside the Spider-Verse.
