Gaten Matarazzo’s Girlfriend Elizabeth Yu: Relationship Timeline and Career

Gaten Matarazzo’s girlfriend is Elizabeth “Lizzy” Yu, a 23-year-old American actress best known for playing Princess Azula in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender. The couple started dating on March 4, 2018, when both were 15-year-old students at Pinelands Regional High School in Ocean County, New Jersey. Eight years later, they still live together in New York City with their cats.

Matarazzo became a household name at 13, playing Dustin Henderson in Stranger Things. Yu built her own career quietly alongside him, booking roles in Todd Haynes’ May December (2023) and Ray Romano’s directorial debut Somewhere in Queens (2022) before the Avatar casting turned her into a recognizable name. Their relationship has outlasted most Hollywood pairings twice its age, and both remain busy on separate sets, separate press tours, and a shared apartment.

Who Is Elizabeth Yu, Gaten Matarazzo’s Girlfriend?

Elizabeth Yu is an American actress born on October 6, 2002, in New Jersey. She is half-Korean, with a Korean father and a mother of German, Irish, and Polish ancestry. Yu attended Pinelands Regional High School alongside Matarazzo and graduated in 2021, the same year she landed her career-defining audition for Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Yu goes by “Lizzy” among friends and family. Her Instagram handle is @lizz.yu, where she has amassed over 524,000 followers. She maintains a curated but low-key social media presence, sharing a mix of career updates, candid personal photos, and occasional glimpses of her relationship with Matarazzo.

As a half-Korean actress, Yu told Refinery29 in 2024 that she was proud to be part of a broader shift toward Asian American representation in film and television. That perspective has informed her career choices, gravitating toward roles that explore cultural identity and generational dynamics.

Elizabeth Yu’s Acting Career: Princess Azula, May December, and Beyond

Elizabeth Yu’s breakout role came as Princess Azula in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender, which premiered in February 2024. The series was renewed for a second and third season the following month, according to Netflix. Season 2 wrapped filming in May 2025, with Season 3 production finishing in November 2025.

Before Avatar, Yu earned her first screen credit in Somewhere in Queens (2022), the directorial debut of comedian Ray Romano. She followed that with a role as Mary Atherton-Yoo in Todd Haynes’ critically acclaimed May December (2023), playing the daughter of characters portrayed by Julianne Moore and Charles Melton. Yu recalled to IndieWire in December 2023 that she was sitting on a couch with her boyfriend, Gaten Matarazzo, when she first read the script.

Complete Filmography

Yu’s casting trajectory moved fast. She went from her first audition to sharing scenes with Julianne Moore within two years. Auditioning during high school was “a struggle,” she told Refinery29, but booking Avatar just months after graduation changed everything. “I left to go film that probably two weeks or so after I had booked it,” she said. “It really was just like jumping into the deep end.”

How Gaten Matarazzo Met Elizabeth Yu

Gaten Matarazzo and Elizabeth Yu first met on July 4, 2017, according to an Instagram Live video Yu shared in September 2018. Both were 14 at the time, attending Pinelands Regional High School in Ocean County, New Jersey. They became friends first and started dating roughly eight months later, on March 4, 2018.

The timing puts their meeting right between Stranger Things Season 2’s production wrap and its premiere in October 2017. Matarazzo was already one of the most famous teenagers in America. Yu was a New Jersey high schooler who had just begun exploring acting.

Yu posted their first couple photo on Instagram in June 2018, while Matarazzo was filming Stranger Things Season 3. That post made the relationship public. Friends at school already knew, but the Instagram debut introduced Yu to Matarazzo’s massive fanbase overnight.

Gaten Matarazzo and Elizabeth Yu Relationship Timeline (2018-2026)

Gaten Matarazzo and Elizabeth Yu have been together for over eight years as of 2026, making their relationship one of the longest-running among the young Stranger Things cast. They are still together, living in New York City with their cats, and attended the Stranger Things 5 UK Special Screening together on November 13, 2025, in London.

Are Gaten Matarazzo and Elizabeth Yu Still Together?

Yes. As of March 2026, Gaten Matarazzo and Elizabeth Yu are still dating. Matarazzo’s November 2025 profile in Esquire referenced his “girlfriend” Elizabeth. The couple appeared together at the Stranger Things 5 UK premiere that same month, photographed by WireImage’s Karwai Tang. No credible reports of a breakup have surfaced at any point during their eight-year relationship.

Yu confirmed their status independently in August 2025 with Instagram posts featuring Matarazzo. They reportedly still live together in New York City with their cats, having relocated from their earlier New Jersey apartment.

Gaten Matarazzo’s Cleidocranial Dysplasia Explained

Gaten Matarazzo was born with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), a rare genetic condition caused by a mutation of the RUNX2 gene that affects bone development, particularly the skull, collarbones, and teeth. According to Cleveland Clinic, people with CCD may have underdeveloped collarbones, short stature, and delayed tooth development.

Matarazzo has been open about his condition since childhood. The Stranger Things creators, the Duffer Brothers, wrote CCD directly into Dustin Henderson’s character. In Season 1, Dustin tells bullies: “I told you a million times, my teeth are coming in! It’s called cleidocranial dysplasia.” Dean Cecile A. Feldman of the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine noted that Matarazzo’s dental work visibly evolved across the show’s seasons.

Matarazzo wears dentures in real life and has undergone multiple surgeries to remove supernumerary teeth. He told CCD Smiles, a nonprofit foundation he actively supports: “My experience with cleidocranial dysplasia has been pretty good, honestly. I have a very mild case of it and it hasn’t really caused me to be bullied or anything. It has benefited me in many ways because it’s basically started my acting career.”

His advocacy matters beyond the celebrity angle. CCD affects roughly 1 in 1 million people. Matarazzo uses his platform to help individuals with CCD access dental treatment through CCD Smiles, an effort he has championed publicly since his career took off.

Dustin’s Girlfriend in Stranger Things vs Gaten’s Real-Life Relationship

Dustin Henderson’s on-screen girlfriend in Stranger Things is Suzie, played by actress Gabriella Pizzolo. Dustin met Suzie at Camp Know Where (a science camp) between Seasons 2 and 3, and their long-distance relationship became a fan-favorite subplot. Their memorable duet of “The NeverEnding Story” in the Season 3 finale remains one of the show’s most iconic moments.

The real-life parallel is striking but different. While Dustin’s romance with Suzie played out through walkie-talkies and camp nostalgia, Matarazzo’s relationship with Elizabeth Yu started in the hallways of a New Jersey high school and grew alongside both of their careers. Yu has no connection to Stranger Things beyond dating its star, though she has attended multiple premieres and cast events with Matarazzo over the years.

Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler and is one of Matarazzo’s closest co-stars, has been spotted with both Gaten and Elizabeth outside of work. A January 2025 social media post showed Wolfhard and Matarazzo walking hand-in-hand through New York streets, with Yu reportedly nearby during a casual house-hunting outing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Gaten Matarazzo’s girlfriend?

Gaten Matarazzo’s girlfriend is Elizabeth “Lizzy” Yu, an American actress born on October 6, 2002. She is best known for playing Princess Azula in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender. The couple has been dating since March 4, 2018, and they currently live together in New York City.

Are Gaten Matarazzo and his girlfriend still together in 2026?

Yes, Gaten Matarazzo and Elizabeth Yu are still together as of March 2026. They attended the Stranger Things 5 UK premiere together in November 2025, and Matarazzo’s Esquire profile that same month referenced Elizabeth as his girlfriend. No credible breakup reports have surfaced during their eight-year relationship.

How did Gaten Matarazzo meet his girlfriend?

Gaten and Elizabeth first met on July 4, 2017, while both were students at Pinelands Regional High School in Ocean County, New Jersey. Elizabeth shared this detail during a September 2018 Instagram Live session. They became friends before beginning to date on March 4, 2018.

How long have Gaten Matarazzo and Elizabeth Yu been together?

They have been together for over eight years. Their official anniversary is March 4, 2018. Gaten celebrated their fifth anniversary in March 2023 with an Instagram post captioned: “Holy s—. Five years. And yet again. I miss the post by one minute. Thanks for putting up with me every day. I love you.”

What is Elizabeth Yu’s ethnicity?

Elizabeth Yu is half-Korean. Her father is Korean, and her mother is of German, Irish, and Polish ancestry. Yu was born and raised in New Jersey and has spoken publicly about her pride in contributing to Asian American representation in Hollywood.

Does Gaten Matarazzo have a disability?

Gaten Matarazzo has cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), a rare genetic condition affecting bone and teeth development. It is caused by a mutation of the RUNX2 gene. Matarazzo has described his case as “very mild” and actively advocates for CCD awareness through the CCD Smiles foundation.

Did Gaten Matarazzo and his girlfriend break up?

No. Gaten Matarazzo and Elizabeth Yu have never publicly broken up. They have been continuously together since March 2018. Recent public appearances in late 2025 and early 2026 confirm the relationship is ongoing.

What is Elizabeth Yu’s Instagram?

Elizabeth Yu’s Instagram handle is @lizz.yu. Her account has over 524,000 followers. She shares career updates, personal photos, and occasional posts featuring Matarazzo.

How old is Gaten Matarazzo’s girlfriend?

Elizabeth Yu is 23 years old, born October 6, 2002. Gaten Matarazzo is also 23, born September 8, 2002, making him roughly one month older than Yu.

How tall is Gaten Matarazzo?

Gaten Matarazzo stands approximately 5’5″ (165 cm). His cleidocranial dysplasia can affect stature, though Matarazzo has described his case as mild. Elizabeth Yu is roughly 5’4″ (163 cm) based on their joint red carpet appearances.

Do Gaten Matarazzo and Elizabeth Yu live together?

Yes. The couple first moved in together around 2022, into a New Jersey apartment with three cats, when both were 19 years old. According to Esquire, they have since relocated to New York City, where they continue to live together.