Happy Birthday Gaten Matarazzo: Revisiting Top 10 Dustin Henderson Moments As Stranger Things Star Turns 22

As a die-hard fan of the Stranger Things saga, I must confess that Gaten Matarazzo’s portrayal of Dustin Henderson has been nothing short of remarkable. Each scene he graces with his presence is a testament to his incredible acting skills and the depth of his character. From the heart-wrenching moment when he delivered the harsh message about Eddie’s death, to the hilarious duet over the radio with Suzie, to the adorable Snow Ball dance with Nancy – these are moments etched in my memory forever.


In one of the most widely recognized Netflix originals, Stranger Things, Gaten Matarazzo portrays one of the main characters, Dustin Henderson. Over four seasons brimming with tension and unexplored mystery, audiences have been captivated as these young heroes navigate and conquer various challenges. The impact of their triumphs has left a lasting impression on fans everywhere.

Dustin is not only brilliant among his peers, but he also has a deep passion for science and technology. Moreover, he adds humor to the show that makes tense moments more bearable. Today, as we celebrate his 22nd birthday, we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite Dustin Henderson scenes in the series. Let’s dive right in!

10. Attempting to lie to the cops

After extensive research, Dustin, Max (Sadie Sink), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Nancy (Natalia Dyer), Steve (Joe Keery), Eddie (Joseph Quinn), and Robin (Maya Hawke) were able to discover Hawkins’ link to the Upside Down through a gate at the base of Lover’s Lake during the fourth season of the show. Dustin, Max, and Lucas, however, had to deal with the local cops, Officers Calvin Powell (Rob Morgan) and Phil Callahan (John Paul Reynolds). 

The police were curious as to why these children were hanging around the lake after dark and how familiar they were with Eddie. Max attempted to reassure them by explaining that they were merely out for an evening stroll, but Dustin’s account of the situation seemed dubious. However, Dustin wasn’t particularly adept at deception, as he failed to persuade the officers with his tale of a late-night swim.

9. Validating concepts that everyone else laughed at

Throughout the storyline of Stranger Things, Dustin came up with various ideas to account for the strange events happening in Hawkins. However, it was challenging for him to convince others to believe his theories, even though these theories often turned out to be correct.

In season 4, Dustin managed to confirm his ideas about Vecna and additional gates within the town when he successfully spoke with Steve, Nancy, Eddie, and Robin, who were trapped in the Upside Down. Eventually, Dustin saved them by guiding them to Eddie’s trailer while communicating with them through Holly Wheeler’s Lite-Brite toy. This incident further demonstrated that not only is he the most humorous member of their group, but also one of the cleverest.

8. Dustin meets Steve after summer break

In Stranger Things, the friendship between Dustin and Steve quickly won our affection from the very beginning. Similarly, their bond with Eddie in Season 4 was deeply touching. Throughout the series, they looked out for each other, forming a relationship that resonated strongly with viewers. After spending time together at summer camp during Season 2, they reunited in the third season of the show.

In this particular scene, Dustin pops by Scoops Ahoy where Steve works, and they share an unusually geeky greeting. This interaction causes Robin (Steve’s coworker) to joke, “It seems like you have a lot of kid friends.” With a broad grin revealing all his teeth, Dustin then begins chatting about his girlfriend with Steve, humorously adding, “She claims kissing feels even better without teeth.

7.  Asking Max to go trick or treating 

In the second season of the show, Sadie Sink’s character, Max Mayfield, makes her appearance. Immediately, Lucas and Dustin took a liking to her as she surpassed Dustin in an arcade game and emitted an enigmatic aura. Not long after this, Dustin and Lucas started inviting her to hang out with their group of friends, sensing that she might be on her own.

They invited Max to accompany them for trick-or-treating on Halloween, and on that day, in the school corridor, the guys, adorned in their well-known Ghostbusters outfits, attempted to appeal to her by approaching her. Dustin attempted to woo Max with his ghost trap demonstration, but she seemed unimpressed as it merely functioned to open and close.

6. Dart’s babysitting duties

Upon arriving home after Halloween festivities, I stumbled upon an unusual creature lurking in my trash bin. Intrigued by this potential new species, I made the decision to nurture and care for it, bestowing upon it the name D’Artagnan, affectionately known as Dart. The initial delight of observing playful interactions with my new companion was undeniable.

Eventually, the being transformed and expanded, morphing into a Demogorgon from another dimension. When it consumed Dustin’s family cat, he understood he had to eliminate it. With Steve, Lucas, and Max by his side, Dustin managed to knock it out with a hockey stick and securely confine it in the basement.

5. Introduction to Eleven

During the initial season, the group stumbled upon Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) in a wooded area. They were taken aback by her unique looks, yet managed admirably and escorted her to Mike’s (Finn Wolfhard) residence. The gang initiated a series of inquiries towards Eleven, with Dustin being particularly forthcoming.

Initially, he believed she could be hard of hearing, causing him to snap his fingers near her instead of clapping. Later, he speculated that she had undergone cancer treatment based on her bald head. The boys were shocked and deeply affected as Eleven decided to change clothes in their presence.

4. Delivering the harsh message

In the series, everyone adores Dustin’s humorous character, but a particular scene from Season 4 left us all in tears. Towards the end, Hawkins was shattered by an earthquake from the Upside Down. To aid those affected by this catastrophe, Steve, Robin, and Dustin brought donations to Hawkins High. During their visit, Dustin came across Eddie’s uncle putting up a lost poster for his missing nephew, Eddie.

As a lifestyle expert, I found myself in a challenging position, needing to share some devastating news with Eddie’s uncle – that he had tragically lost his life during the earthquake. However, I made sure to emphasize that Eddie’s heroism was evident as he selflessly gave his life to save our town. I also mentioned that if more people had known Eddie, they would have been touched by his kindness and loved him dearly, just like we did. This scene truly showcased the remarkable talent of Gaten Matarazzo, leaving us all in awe of his versatile acting skills.

3. The duet over the radio

In the summer camp return, it was disbelieved that Dustin spoke truthfully about his girlfriend Suzie. Yet, in the Season 3 finale, Planck’s constant turned out to be the crucial code that Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce (Winona Ryder) needed to access a safe within the Russian base. As Suzie might have knowledge beneficial for decoding, Dustin started contacting her. Initially, due to their lack of recent communication, Suzie failed to respond to his persistent calls, unaware of the pressing predicament at hand.

When she eventually responded, she proposed that her “Dusty Bun” sing the theme song from The NeverEnding Story as a condition for the code. Thus, they delivered an outstanding duet, leaving those tuned into the radio line via walkie-talkie utterly astonished. This particular moment stood out as one of the most captivating in the entire show’s series.

2. The Snow Ball of Hawkins High

Occasionally in the show, we noticed Dustin all dressed up for his school’s dance, sporting a bow tie and an unconventional hairdo. At this point, Steve offered him some guidance, underscoring the growth of their friendship over the series. Following this confidence-building moment, Dustin asked several girls to dance, but unfortunately, he was turned down.

Later on, Nancy steps in to save him and invites him to dance. This was a significant moment for Dustin, causing the girls who had previously turned him down to look surprised. In his thoughts, this dance with Nancy represented the turning point when he truly felt accepted by the popular group.

1. It was a little tight in there

In Season 3, when Dustin, Steve, and Robin thought they had found a secret Russian lab in the mall, they devised a strategy to sneak into it. As they were sketching a map of the mall, they noticed that the vents from the ice cream shop could lead to the hidden room. Eager to explore, Dustin offered himself to squeeze through the ventilation system and soon started crawling along the slim tunnel.

Due to the limited space, Dustin requested Steve to give him a shove from behind so they could advance. However, when Steve tried to nudge Dustin’s feet, it didn’t have the desired effect. After this unsuccessful attempt, Steve asked, “Huh?” in confusion. In response, Dustin, frustrated, exclaimed, “Push my backside! I don’t mind!

Whichever the scene you think of, Dustin always had our hearts. We are all waiting to see more of Dustin in season 5. 

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2024-09-08 05:38