Health January 31, 2020
‘Stranger Things’ Star Undergoes 4th Surgery for Rare Genetic Disorder

Gaten Matarazzo gives a big thumbs-up before his “big” medical procedure.
This week on Instagram, the “Stranger Things” actor revealed he is undergoing his fourth surgery for cleidocranial dysplasia, a rare genetic disorder that primarily affects the development of the bones and teeth.
While sharing a pic from his hospital bed, the Netflix star wrote, “Surgery number 4! This is a big one! To learn more about Cleidocranial Dysplasia and how you can help those with the condition you can go to ccdsmiles.org.”
In the comments section, co-star Millie Bobby Brown wrote words of encouragement, exclaiming, “good luck love!!! sending my love gate.”
On Friday, the 17-year-old announced his surgery was a success and hopes this will be his “last one.”
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
Gaten previously opened up about his health in a January 2018 interview on “The Doctors.”
While explaining how “Stranger Things” creators the Duffer Brothers wrote his condition into the show, he dished, “So when [the Duffer Brothers] heard I had the condition, I told them... when I was just stretching in the audition room… I was like, 'Yeah, I was born without collarbones.' I started explaining what it was, and how I had a condition from birth. And that it affects my teeth and everything, and that's why I was missing teeth the first season.”
Matarazzo added, “They used it in a realistic way. They asked me if it was OK if the kids in the show had bullied me because of it. And I said, 'That's totally cool. It's realistic.'”