Alex Greenwald
The frontman of Phantom Planet who turned a TV theme song into an anthem and built a career on eclectic musical collaboration.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American musician and actor·Birthday: October 9·Generation X
Biography
Alex Greenwald began in the spotlight as a teen actor but found his true voice as a musician, shaping the sound of early-2000s alternative rock. As the frontman and rhythm guitarist for Phantom Planet, his band became inextricably linked with a generation when their song 'California' served as the theme for the hit TV series 'The O.C.' Rather than being defined by that pop-culture moment, Greenwald steered the band through stylistic shifts and pursued a wide array of side projects. He formed the moody electronic duo Blackblack, joined the indie collective Phases, and became a frequent creative partner with producer Mark Ronson, contributing vocals and ideas to projects like the album 'Uptown Special.' His career is a map of Los Angeles's collaborative music scene, marked by a restless, genre-blending curiosity.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Alex was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alex Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Alex's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- He is the lead vocalist and co-writer of 'California,' the theme song for the television series 'The O.C.'
- He collaborated with Mark Ronson, providing vocals on the hit 'Somebody to Love Me' from the album 'Record Collection.'
- He co-founded and fronted the band Phantom Planet, which released five studio albums from 1998 to 2012.
Did You Know?
He voiced the character of Tom Sawyer in the 1993 animated film 'The Halloween Tree.'
He was engaged to actress and filmmaker Brie Larson for several years.
He directed music videos for Phantom Planet and other artists.
He made a cameo appearance in the 2004 film 'The Girl Next Door.'
“We wrote 'California' in about ten minutes; it was just a feeling.”
