Key Takeaways:
- Powerful Representation: Gaten Matarazzo’s character, Dustin Henderson, in “Stranger Things” incorporates the actor’s real-life rare genetic condition, cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD).
- Viewer Connection: For many viewers who share the condition, seeing Dustin on screen provided a rare and immediate moment of recognition and inspiration.
- Raising Awareness: The popular Netflix series has brought significant global awareness to cleidocranial dysplasia, a condition that affects the development of teeth and bones.
- Beyond the Condition: The show portrays Dustin as a beloved, integral character, normalizing the condition and focusing on his personality rather than just his physical traits.
When Netflix’s “Stranger Things” first premiered, audiences quickly fell in love with the show’s cast of nerdy, lovable kids. For some viewers, however, the connection to one character, Dustin Henderson, was uniquely profound. Actor Gaten Matarazzo’s own rare genetic condition, cleidocranial dysplasia, was written into his character, creating a powerful moment of representation that has resonated deeply with individuals and families affected by the same disorder.
The Impact of Seeing Yourself on Screen
For many people living with a rare condition, seeing someone like themselves on a global phenomenon like “Stranger Things” is a game-changing experience. As one viewer shared in an op-ed for The Washington Post, the connection was immediate. Seeing Dustin’s familiar physical traits—such as the missing teeth, the shape of his eyes, and the slope of his shoulders—was like seeing a part of herself on television for the very first time.
This on-screen visibility does more than just entertain; it validates and inspires. It provides a shared reference point for a community that often feels unseen, fostering a sense of belonging and helping to explain the condition to friends, family, and classmates.
What is Cleidocranial Dysplasia?
Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is a rare genetic condition that primarily affects the development of bones and teeth. Common characteristics include underdeveloped or absent collarbones (cleido-), which can cause sloped shoulders, and dental abnormalities, such as delayed loss of baby teeth and the emergence of adult teeth.
Before his role in “Stranger Things,” Matarazzo has said he was often passed over for roles because of his lisp and the appearance of his teeth. The Duffer Brothers, creators of the show, not only cast him but embraced his condition and wrote it directly into the script, making Dustin one of the most visible characters with a disability on television.
Normalizing, Not Just Showing
What makes the portrayal of Dustin Henderson so effective is that his condition is part of his character, but it doesn’t define him. He is a brilliant, funny, and loyal friend who is essential to the group’s adventures in Hawkins. The show addresses his CCD openly—he even explains it to school bullies in one scene—but it never becomes his sole character trait.
This normalization is a crucial aspect of authentic representation. By presenting a character who lives with a rare condition while being a fully fleshed-out hero, Gaten Matarazzo and “Stranger Things” have not only educated millions but have also provided an inspiring and familiar face for those who, for the first time, could finally see themselves in a hero on screen.