Stranger Things Star Can’t Forget the Duffer Brothers’ Shocking Decision!

“They Let Me Make the Call”

“I was open about discussing it. However, they specifically asked me about it,” Gaten Matarazzo shared in an interview with Variety. The actor, who has played Dustin Henderson since 2016, reflects on a pivotal moment from the set of Stranger Things. Diagnosed with cleidocranial dysplasia, a rare condition that impacts the development of bones and teeth, Matarazzo had the final say on how his condition was portrayed in the series.

“They mentioned they had cast the kids for their differences, not despite them,” he continued. This approach allowed them to avoid using prosthetics or other means to conceal the actor’s missing upper front teeth. But it was the Duffer Brothers’ focus on his well-being that truly left a lasting impression on Matarazzo: “What really stuck with me – even to this day – was primarily how much they valued my well-being.“

A Meaningful Decision

This freedom of choice, rare in Hollywood, transformed what could have been a limitation into a powerful tool for representation. In the first episode, when Dustin is bullied by peers who nickname him “toothless,” he retorts, “I’ve told you a million times, my teeth are coming in! It’s called cleidocranial dysplasia.“

Before scripting this scene, the showrunners asked Matarazzo if he was comfortable having his character face bullying due to his condition. “I always thought it was a way to enhance my character, so as soon as they asked, I said: ‘Yes’,” he revealed in a 2018 interview on The Doctors.

Now 23 years old, Matarazzo has become a role model for those with cleidocranial dysplasia, which affects about one in a million people. Thanks to Stranger Things, this little-known condition has gained more visibility. The actor has also founded the organization CCD Smiles to raise awareness and help those affected access necessary dental care.

Season 5 of Stranger Things arrives on Netflix on November 27, 2025.