One of the "Stranger Things" Kids on the Show's Humble Beginnings
“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).
In this edition of Tik Talk None Of The Above's J.D. Durkin breaks down the latest trend on TikTok where people sit down to tape a scholarship application video and it all goes off the rails.
First American Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi joins Closing Bell to discuss the pros and cons of renting vs. owning your home in the current market. Owning can involve extra costs -- but compared to renting, it's better to own in order to build equity.
It's hard to believe that 2020 will soon be something we went through two years ago. Although we are making progress as a society, it's clear that looming mental health problems continue to be reported for people nationwide. A new study by the telehealth company Evernow, found that women are largely being impacted by the tolls of the pandemic. Dr. Alicia Jackson, CEO and founder of Evernow joins us to discuss those factors.
In stories sure to move markets next week, Robinhood and several retail giants report earnings, Jerome Powell takes the podium, New York City's mask mandate goes into effect, and Tesla hosts its 'AI Day.'
