“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).
After testing out some Icelandic cuisine, Cheddar's own Shannon LaNier gets a sneak preview of Taste of Iceland -- a cultural festival running between May 10-13 across New York City.
Cheddar's own Shannon LaNier gets a taste of Icelandic cuisine at Blue Lagoon Iceland in New York City.
Cheddar News reporter Ashley Mastronardi tracks the rise of the "mom-fluencer" or working mothers who have left their jobs to become full-time content creators. While not a new phenomenon, experts say the trend has gained momentum since the start of the pandemic.
Tens of thousands of fans descended upon the Swedish capital of Stockholm to celebrate the opening show of Beyoncé’s new world tour on Wednesday.
Peru’s government will allow the extradition to the United States of the prime suspect in the unsolved 2005 disappearance of American student Natalee Holloway on the Dutch Caribbean Island of Aruba, bringing her family hope there will be justice in the case.
With summer coming up, Cheddar News breaks down some artists that you can check out as music festivals approach for the coming season.
The top entertainment headlines for May 10, 2023.
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MTV, a division of Paramount, is planning to shut down its news division and lay off 25 percent of its workforce. The company cited "broader economic headwinds" as the reason for the shuttering. The decision comes as Paramount makes cuts to better compete with rival entertainment giants.
Cheddar's own Shannon LaNier reports from the world premiere of Disney's live action remake of The Little Mermaid, starring Hallie Bailey as Ariel.
