If you are a fan of Stranger Things or The Princess Diaries, you might have wondered if the actors Gaten Matarazzo and Heather Matarazzo are related. They share the same last name and both have appeared in popular movies and TV shows. But are they really family? Here’s what we found out.
Who is Gaten Matarazzo?
Gaten Matarazzo is a 20-year-old American actor who rose to fame for playing Dustin Henderson in the Netflix sci-fi horror series Stranger Things. He started his career on Broadway, playing Benjamin in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Gavroche in Les Misérables. He also hosted the Netflix prank show Prank Encounters and voiced Boris the Dragon in the animated film My Father’s Dragon.
Gaten was born on September 8, 2002, in New London, Connecticut, to Gaetano Jr. and Heather Matarazzo (no relation to the actress of the same name). He has an older sister, Sabrina, and a younger brother, Carmen. He was born with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), a rare genetic disorder that affects the development of bones and teeth. He has used his platform to raise awareness and funds for CCD research and support.
Who is Heather Matarazzo?
Heather Matarazzo is a 38-year-old American actress who is best known for playing Lilly Moscovitz in The Princess Diaries and its sequel. She also starred in films such as Welcome to the Dollhouse, Scream 3, Saved!, Hostel: Part II, and The L Word: Generation Q. She has won several awards for her performances, including an Independent Spirit Award and a Young Artist Award.
Heather was born on November 10, 1982, in Oyster Bay, New York, to Camille and Ray Matarazzo. She was adopted by her parents when she was a baby. She has a brother, Mark. She came out as lesbian in 2004 and has been engaged to comedian Heather Turman since 2018.
The short answer is no. Gaten Matarazzo and Heather Matarazzo are not related by blood or by marriage. They just happen to share a common Italian surname that means “mattress maker”. They have never met each other in person, but they have addressed the rumors online.
In 2016, actress Heather tweeted: “We are not related. He is NOT my son, though he is adorable and such a good actor.” In 2022, she reiterated this in a TikTok video, writing: “I adore #gatenmatarazzo but he is NOT my son.”
In 2017, actor Gaten explained in an interview with Wired: “Not the actress, but my mother’s name is Heather Matarazzo.” He added: “There’s an actress named Heather Matarazzo and everyone’s like, ‘Is that his mother?’ and I’m like, ‘No.'”
So there you have it. Gaten Matarazzo and Heather Matarazzo are not related at all. They are just two talented actors who happen to share a last name.
