Matt Bettinelli-Olpin
Encyclopedia
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin is an American
actor
, writer
and musician
.
, Bettinelli-Olpin later attended the University of California, Santa Cruz
.
, a band he started in 1993 (with Joey Bustos
, Aaron Nagel
, Adam Pereria and Nick Traina
) when he was 15 years old.
He later worked as a music journalist, during which he interviewed bands such as Alkaline Trio
, Blur
, Violent Femmes
, Sondre Lerche
, the Breeders
, Phantom Planet, Pennywise, Thrice, the Mars Volta
and the Psychedelic Furs.
's first video, "Goodbye Forever," and in the early 2000s he appeared in many of The Lonely Island
's early videos (including "The Hot Seat," "Vanilla Sky," "White Power" and "The 'Bu"
).
In 2007, Bettinelli-Olpin co-founded the comedy group Chad, Matt & Rob
. Among their many short films, the group was responsible for the viral video, Roommate Alien Prank Gone Bad, and a first-of-its-kind series of Interactive Adventures.
According to the LA Times, Bettinelli-Olpin is working on the upcoming feature film V/H/S as part of the group Radio Silence
, which also includes Tyler Gillett, Chad Villella and Justin Martinez.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
.
Biography
Raised in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, Bettinelli-Olpin later attended the University of California, Santa Cruz
University of California, Santa Cruz
The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California...
.
Music
Bettinelli-Olpin is the original guitar player and co-songwriter for influential punk band Link 80Link 80
-Band history:Link 80 started in late 1993 in the East Bay of California. In the beginning, original members played around town as Drano, The Rag-Tags, and Mr...
, a band he started in 1993 (with Joey Bustos
Joey Bustos
Joey Bustos was one of the founding members and the drummer of the influential punk band Link 80. The members changed the musical direction of the band and subsequently changed the name of the band to Desa...
, Aaron Nagel
Aaron Nagel
Aaron Nagel is the original trumpet player for punk rock/ska core act Link 80, born and raised in Berkeley, California. He currently plays guitar in the band DESA with other former Link 80 members Ryan Noble, Adam Davis, and Barry Krippine....
, Adam Pereria and Nick Traina
Nick Traina
Nicholas John Steel Traina was an American singer, who was lead singer for the punk band Link 80.- Early life :...
) when he was 15 years old.
He later worked as a music journalist, during which he interviewed bands such as Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band that formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996. The band's line-up consists of Matt Skiba , Dan Andriano , and Derek Grant...
, Blur
Blur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
, Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes were an American alternative rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, initially active between 1980 and 1987 and again from 1988 to 2009...
, Sondre Lerche
Sondre Lerche
-Career:Sondre Lerche was born in Bergen, Norway. Growing up, Lerche was heavily influenced by the '80s pop that emanated from his older siblings' rooms. Compelled by a defining fascination for bands such as The Beatles, A-ha, the Beach Boys, and Prefab Sprout, Lerche began formal guitar...
, the Breeders
The Breeders
The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...
, Phantom Planet, Pennywise, Thrice, the Mars Volta
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is a Grammy award winning American progressive rock band from El Paso, Texas. Founded in 2001 by guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala, the band incorporates various influences including progressive rock, krautrock, jazz fusion, Latin American music, and...
and the Psychedelic Furs.
Film
While in college, Bettinelli-Olpin directed Alkaline TrioAlkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band that formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996. The band's line-up consists of Matt Skiba , Dan Andriano , and Derek Grant...
's first video, "Goodbye Forever," and in the early 2000s he appeared in many of The Lonely Island
The Lonely Island
The Lonely Island is an American comedy troupe composed of Akiva "Kiv" Schaffer, Jorma "Jorm" Taccone, and David Andrew "Andy" Samberg, best known for their comedic music. Originally from Berkeley, California, the group is currently based in New York City. The group broke out due to their...
's early videos (including "The Hot Seat," "Vanilla Sky," "White Power" and "The 'Bu"
).
In 2007, Bettinelli-Olpin co-founded the comedy group Chad, Matt & Rob
Chad, Matt & Rob
Chad, Matt & Rob is a group of filmmakers based in Los Angeles. The group has created numerous shorts that often blend comedy with horror, adventure and fantasy. They coined the term "Interactive Adventure" to describe their 2008 film The Time Machine: An Interactive Adventure; the project was...
. Among their many short films, the group was responsible for the viral video, Roommate Alien Prank Gone Bad, and a first-of-its-kind series of Interactive Adventures.
According to the LA Times, Bettinelli-Olpin is working on the upcoming feature film V/H/S as part of the group Radio Silence
Radio Silence
Radio Silence is an album by Boris Grebenshchikov, leader of the Russian group Aquarium. The album was recorded in 1989 in studios in the U.S., UK, and Canada, mostly with Western musicians, and produced by David A. Stewart...
, which also includes Tyler Gillett, Chad Villella and Justin Martinez.