Matt Bentley
An actress and activist from Hollywood's most unconventional family, who chose a path of artistic integrity and sustainable living over blockbuster fame.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American professional wrestler·Birthday: December 10·Generation X
Biography
Growing up in the nomadic, eccentric Phoenix family, Summer Phoenix was immersed in creativity from birth, but also witnessed its costs. The youngest sibling of River, Rain, Joaquin, and Liberty, she began acting as a child, appearing alongside her brother River in 'A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon.' However, the tragic loss of River in 1993 profoundly shaped her worldview. She pursued acting on her own terms, taking on sharp, independent films like 'The Laramie Project' and 'The Believer,' which showcased her preference for substance over glamour. Simultaneously, she co-founded the alternative clothing label The Vege Thread, reflecting her lifelong commitment to veganism and environmentalism. More than a supporting player in her famous family's story, Summer Phoenix crafted a life defined by conscious choices, using her platform for advocacy and embracing roles that challenge, rather than placate, an audience.
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.
Matt 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 Matt Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Matt'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
- Co-founded the eco-friendly and vegan clothing line The Vege Thread with friend and designer Stella McCartney's sister, Mary McCartney.
- Delivered a powerful performance as a hate crime victim's sister in the HBO film 'The Laramie Project.'
- Starred in the controversial and critically acclaimed drama 'The Believer,' which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.
Did You Know?
She is a lifelong vegan, raised by her parents in the vegan religious group The Children of God.
She was married to actor Casey Affleck from 2006 to 2017.
She provided the voice of Velma in the 2006 animated film 'The Adventures of Brer Rabbit.'
She briefly attended the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.
“I had to step out of that shadow and prove I was more than just a name.”
