One of the OG stars of the Netflix phenomena “Stranger Things” has revealed the sweet secret that keeps his eight-year relationship going strong.
Gaten Matarazzo, 23, has been with fellow screen star Elizabeth Yu, also 23, since 2018 when they were both 15. They’re childhood sweethearts who met through attending the same high school in New Jersey.
Per IMDb, Yu is best known for playing Azula in the live-action adaptation of Nickelodeon’s popular animated series “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” She has also appeared in movies like 2022’s comedy drama “Somewhere in Queens,” 2023’s psychological black comedy drama “May December,” and 2024’s horror film “Womb.”
Matarazzo was speaking about his relationship with Yu to comedian Chelsea Handler on the Thursday, April 30 episode of her popular podcast “Dear Chelsea.”
Gaten Matarazzo Says the Key to His Relationship With Yu Is ‘Thriving Through Distance’
GettyAs reported by People, Chelsea Handler, 51, brought up the topic of Gaten Matarazzo’s relationship with Elizabeth Yu by saying, “I can’t believe you’ve survived this long with your relationship from that young age.”
Matarazzo laughed in response to Handler’s proclamation and said, “Survive is a funny word.”
Handler then said, “You’ve managed to stay together for eight years, I mean that’s very unusual. Let’s discuss how that works for you.”
The actor candidly said, “Uh, well, we communicate really, really well. And I think, like, a big key to it is thriving through distance, and that’s kind of like what we were like thrust into early on was, I was working on the show and she was also, simultaneously, pursuing and starting her own career in a similar industry… in the same industry.”
He continued, “So, so much of our work has to do with us leaving the city and being able to communicate through that, and do it very well, was kind of a tell-tale sign that this is working pretty well, because it’s very rare that I think it can feel good. Because that’s usually what, like, a lot of times, long distance relationships usually just get like… they fizzle out because it’s so hard not being in the same city as the… as your… your person.”
Matarazzo concluded, “And what’s great is that our home base is the same. So anytime we go and travel for work, we know we’re coming back to… to each other here in the city.”
It was a lovely insight into Matarazzo and Yu’s relationship.
Matarazzo Is Thriving Without ‘Stranger Things’
GettyIt’s not just Gaten Matarazzo’s personal life that is thriving. “Stranger Things” may have defined his acting career to date, but he has proven he doesn’t rely on it to be successful. The mystery sci-fi horror series ended in 2025, but the actor has worked on many other projects in recent times.
Per IMDb, his other television roles in 2025 included his starring voice role as Sig Greebling in the animated series “Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy” and voicing Randy in an episode of the animated supernatural sitcom “Haunted Hotel.” He also voiced Lucky in Andy Serkis’ animated “Animal Farm” movie.
This year, he has appeared in an episode of the popular sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Live” and played Jack in the absurdist stoner comedy film “Pizza Movie.”
His major upcoming project will see him playing a character called Toby in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical movie “Octet.” The film will also star the likes of Amanda Seyfried, Rachel Zegler, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Phillipa Soo, Jonathan Groff, and Tramell Tillman (per IMDb).
We’d like to wish the brilliant Gaten Matarazzo all the very best in his ongoing acting career. We also hope his relationship with Elizabeth Yu continues to thrive.
