Stranger Things star says condition landed him the role

Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo has been very forward about his genetic bone condition, cleidocranial dysplasia. 

And on Wednesday, he told The Doctors that the condition was actually written into his character on the hit Netflix show, and was part of the reason he got the job in the first place. 

‘I was born with it, it’s a genetic bone condition, it affects pretty much every bone in the body, specifically the skull and the jaw, and the clavicle,’ he told reporters during Sunday night’s SAG awards. 

The 15-year old said Thursday that the disorder, though, actually helped him in getting the role of Dustin. 

The 15-year old said Thursday that the disorder, though, actually helped him in getting the role of Dustin (far left)

‘I was stretching in the audition room, just stretching,’ he explained, giving a demonstration of how his shoulders can touch in the front due to his lack of collar bone. 

‘[They said] “What did you just do?'” I said “What? I’m stretching.’ 

Matarazzo then said that he told the directors that he was born without a collar bone because of his condition, and told them how it impacts his life. 

‘I started explaining what it was,’ he said. 

‘They liked how I told them about that and once I got the part they said they were gonna incorporate that and kind of use it in a realistic way.

‘They asked if it was okay if the kids in the show had bullied me because of it. I said it’s totally cool, it’s realistic.’ 

He said he got the role because the condition unique and relatable. 

‘They liked how I told them about that and once I got the part they said they were gonna incorporate that and kind of use it in a realistic way,’ he explained

‘They asked if it was okay if the kids in the show had bullied me because of it. I said it’s totally cool, it’s realistic,’ Matarazzo explained 

Now that he has a platform, Matarazzo is working with nurse practitioner Kelly Wosnik, who started the foundation CCD Smiles. He is pictured during Stranger Things Season One 

‘They wanted to make sure each character in the show was unique, and they had something that was realistic and personal and made them not cookie cutter,’ he said. 

But this hasn’t always been the case, Matarazzo explained. In fact, he said he’s been passed up for roles before because of his height, lack of front teeth and lisp. 

‘I would go to auditions three times a week, and it was a constant no,’ he said.

Now that he has a platform, Matarazzo is working with nurse practitioner Kelly Wosnik, who started the foundation CCD Smiles. 

Together they are bringing awareness to the disorder, shedding light on what it is and bringing people with the condition – which impacts roughly one in a million, together.  

CCD Smiles also raises money for the people with the condition who can’t afford treatments due to lack of insurance. 

Matarazzo has undergone two surgeries and four extractions – and explained that because his baby teeth didn’t fall out properly and his adult teeth didn’t come in properly, he actually has more teeth than most people. He also wears an oral appliance in his mouth at all times that help his teeth grow in properly (pictured)

Matarazzo plays Dustin on the Netflix hit show Stranger Things – which is coming back for a third season in 2018. He is pictured right at the 2018 SAG awards, and right during Season Two of the show 

Matarazzo has undergone two surgeries and four extractions – and explained that because his baby teeth didn’t fall out properly and his adult teeth didn’t come in properly, he actually has more teeth than most people. 

‘It’s like your body doesn’t know you’re going to have a set of baby teeth, they’re going to fall out, and then you’re going to have a set of adult teeth,’ he explained. 

He also wears an oral appliance in his mouth at all times that help his teeth grow in properly.      

Matarazzo plays Dustin on the Netflix hit show Stranger Things – which is coming back for a third season in 2018.