Last Updated on March 18, 2023

Robert Schwartzman Biography

Robert Schwartzman born Robert Coppola Schwartzman is an American screenwriter, actor, director, and musician. He is also well known as the lead vocalist of the rock/pop band Rooney. Schwartzman has also acted in the short black-and-white film Lick the Star and The Virgin Suicides, both directed and co-written by his cousin Sofia Coppola and also The Princess Diaries.

Robert Schwartzman Age

Robert Coppola Schwartzman was born on December 24, 1982 in Los Angeles, California, U.S. He is 36 years old as of 2018.

Robert Schwartzman Height

He stands at a height of 1.72 m.

Robert Schwartzman Net Worth

Schwartzman has an estimated net worth of  $1 Million.

Robert Schwartzman Wife

Schwartzman has been married to Zoey Grossman since September 9, 2017 to date.

Robert Schwartzman Photo

Robert Schwartzman Family

Schwartzman is the youngest of three boys of Talia Shire (née Coppola) and the late producer Jack Schwartzman. He is the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola, cousin of Nicolas Cage, Roman Coppola, Sofia Coppola and Christopher Coppola and grandson of Italia Coppola (née Pennino) and Carmine Coppola (the source of his old stage name) and his niece, Gia Coppola.

Schwartzman has a brother named Jason Schwartzman who is the lead singer of the band Coconut Records (also an actor and former drummer of the band Phantom Planet). He has half-siblings Stephanie Schwartzman and cinematographer John Schwartzman.

Robert Schwartzman Ethnicity

Schwartzman is of Jewish descent on his father’s side and of Catholic Italian descent on his mother’s side.

Robert Schwartzman Career

Schwartzman went to Windward School in Los Angeles, California and formed his band Rooney in his junior year of school in 1999. He left the band temporarily in 2001b when he attended Eugene Lang College in New York City. In his first semester at college, Schwartzman used to write songs in his dorm room and flew home every month to perform new material for Rooney.

Most of the songs on the first Rooney album were written while in college. It was at this time that Schwartzman realized that he wanted to go back to Los Angeles and pursue a professional career in music with Rooney.

Schwartzman was signed to Geffen/Interscope records in early 2002 shortly after he left school. In June 2002, Rooney recorded their debut self-titled album. They were also selected by Schwartzman’s friend, Johnny Ramone, for the Ramones tribute album entitled We’re A Happy Family, which was released in early 2003.

Rooney opened for Weezer during their headlining tour in the summer of 2002. This was their first national support slot. The next tour the band landed was with the band The Strokes. Rooney’s released their album in May 2003 and has since sold approximately 500,000 copies. The band had a cameo appearance in an episode of The O.C., “The Third Wheel”.

Rooney’s song “Blueside” was featured on the Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 soundtrack and their song “I’m Shakin'” was featured on an episode of the daytime soap opera All My Children. The band issued their first DVD, Spit & Sweat on November 16, 2004. The hourlong documentary features interviews with the band and live performances from Los Angeles. The DVD also includes the videos for “I’m Shakin'”, “Blueside” and “If It Were Up to Me”.

Following their 2006 summer tour, the band started the recording sessions for their second album. Three songs from previous sessions (“Don’t Come Around Again”, “Tell Me Soon” and “Paralyzed” ), were kept for their new album, Calling the World. On March 6, 2007, the single “When Did Your Heart Go Missing?” was released on their oMySpace. The single also was used in commercials for the TV show Beauty and the Geek. The album was released to stores July 17, 2007 and debuted at #42 on the Billboard Top 100 Albums chart.

On October 25, 2011, Robert Schwartzman released his first solo album, Double Capricorn. All profits from the sale of the album will be donated to the Tibetan Healing Fund to help build a new birthing center. Schwartzman scored the 2013 film Palo Alto with Dev Hynes of Blood Orange.

Schwarzmann wrote and directed Dreamland in 2016, starring Johnny Simmons and Amy Landecker. It had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 14, 2016. It was released on November 11, 2016 in a limited release and through video on demand. Schwartzman directed The Unicorn in 2018, starring Lauren Lapkus and Nick Rutherford. It had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 10, 2018.

Robert Schwartzman Movies

Robert Schwartzman Director

• Dreamland (2016)
• The Unicorn (2018)

Robert Schwartzman Composer

• Rooney – Rooney (released May 20, 2003)
• Rooney – Calling the World (released July 17, 2007)
• Ben Lee – Ripe co-writer (song “Sex Without Love”, 2007)
• Demi Lovato – Don’t Forget co-writer (song “Party”, 2008)
• Rooney – Iron Man: Armored Adventures Theme Song (released March 29, 2009)
• Rooney – Wild One EP (released November 27, 2009 only through private band distribution but later released
• on Amazon.com February 3, 2010 and was soon available at other online-only media outlets; iTunes, Zune)
• Rooney – Eureka, excluding track 4 (released June 8, 2010)
• SoloBob – Fantastic 15 (released via Amazon.com July 27, 2010)
• Robert Schwartzman – Double Capricorn (released October 25, 2011)
• We the Kings – Sunshine State of Mind co-writer (song “Friday is Forever”, 2011)
• StarSystem -Pleasure District EP (released October 8, 2013)
• Rooney – Washed Away (released May 6, 2016)

Robert Schwartzman Misc

• Rooney: Spit and Sweat as Himself
• A New Princess (The Making of the Princess Diaries) as Himself
• Solobob as Himself

Robert Schwartzman Producer

• Clique Girls “Incredible” – 2008
• Clique Girls “Clique Girlz EP” – 2008
• Clique Girls “Then I Woke Up/Heaven Is Place on Earth” – 2008

Robert Schwartzman Interview

Q: When will there be a new Rooney album?

A: I’m currently writing and releasing singles. I love the LP but things have changed today. I like singles because I’m always listening to random songs. We live in a single-driven era. I think I’ll just go with an EP next time I release something.

Q: Are you going to preview new material in Iowa City?

A: We’re going to play a lot of new stuff and some songs from “El Cortez,” the EP I put out last year. We’ll also sprinkle in some of the old songs. We’ve built a catalog of music and we’re drawing from it. It’s a balanced and impactful evening.

Q: Your mom made such an impact as an actress. What is Talia Shire like?

A: My mom is a magical person. She’s all about the arts and being independent. Growing up with her, she was always kind and always had classical music playing in the house. Her dad was a composer.

Q: What did you listen to growing up?

A: My brothers exposed me to the Beach Boys, ELO and Queen. Being a ’90s kid, I loved Blur, but I also loved the oldies but goodies station. I loved Motown, Dion, Del Shannon, The Ronettes and the Crystals.

Q: What was your mother’s reaction when you decided to pursue music professionally?

A: My mom wasn’t crazy about it. She wanted me to become a composer. But it was about rock ’n’ roll for me.

Q: How much of an impact did your brother’s band, Phantom Planet, have on you?

A: They had a big impact. Jason is older and so he was in the band when I was still young and I would go see them play. I followed in his footsteps. But I have such a passion for songwriting. I had to go this way and my mother learned to appreciate it over time.

Q: But you also act and direct. What was it like acting in your cousin, Sophia Coppola’s classic film, “The Virgin Suicides?”

A: I remember it like it was yesterday. It was 21 years ago. I was on the set all summer long. What I did only took three days. I was 14 years old. I remember being there hanging out with the other actors.

Q: Did you always want to make movies?

A: Yes, I always wanted to make movies. Music was not my first dream. I wasn’t trying to become a musician. I remember being on that set wanting to learn how to make movies. I lived at the house Sophia rented. The whole moviemaking process fascinated me.

Q: Your film “The Unicorn” debuted at South By Southwest in March.

A: I wanted to work with these amazing actors and I did. It was amazing. My mom likes that I produced the movie, as well. I put it all together. I enjoyed directing it. I’ll keep doing music, but when I have the chance to make films, I’ll do it.

Q: What’s it like when the Schwartzmans and Coppolas get together?

A: We don’t talk about work. We just hang out and don’t talk business.

Q: What do you do for fun?

A: I work. Work is fun. … But … I like to go and have a good dinner. Having a good meal helps me relax.