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Who is Trent Olsen?
Trent is an American writer, artist and former actor best known for being the older brother of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, former child actresses and successful fashion designers. Trent has kept a relatively low profile compared to his famous sisters, pursuing a career outside of the entertainment industry. Over the years, he’s been associated with a variety of creative projects, from comics to music, showcasing a passion for the arts.
Early Life and Family
Born James Trent Olsen on 6 May 1984, in Sherman Oaks, California he’s the eldest of four siblings – his family has been thrust into the limelight primarily because of his younger twin sisters, Mary-Kate and Ashley, who shot to fame as child actors in the sitcom “Full House”. Trent’s also the older brother of the actress Elizabeth Olsen, while from his father’s side, he has two half-siblings, Taylor and Jake, who are not involved in show business.
His parents, Jarnette Olsen, a personal manager, and David Olsen, a banker and real estate developer, divorced when Trent was young.
Trent studied at North Hollywood’s prestigious Campbell Hall School, the same institution attended by his sisters. After matriculating, he enrolled at the University of Southern California, reportedly majoring in film and television production, a clear testament to his early interest in the world of cinema.
Acting Career
Trent’s foray into acting was brief – he made his first on-screen appearance in 1993, in Mary-Kate and Ashley’s direct-to-video project “Our First Video”. He also made a handful of appearances in his sisters’ straight-to-video series “The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley” (1995-1996), and “Olsen Twins Mother’s Day Special” (1993).
In 1995, he played the role of an unnamed flower boy in an episode of “Full House”. Eight years later, he appeared in the comedy movie “Old School”, and since then, he’s featured in the comedy series “Comedy Corner” (2014), and the movie “Stalker” (2020), both times as a background character.
Despite the ready access to acting opportunities, Trent didn’t follow the same path as his famous siblings. His roles were minor, and he showed little interest in pursuing acting as a full-time career. In contrast, Trent appeared more interested in the technical and creative sides of the film industry, which would later inspire his shift towards writing.
Career as a Writer
After completing his studies, Trent stepped away from acting to explore his passion for writing and creativity. His interests ranged from music to comic books, and he began establishing himself within these fields.
In 2009, he worked as a writer on the TV movie “Model Behavior”, gaining his first experience behind the scenes. He also served as a script consultant on the 2011 short comedy “Cookie Time”, written and directed by David Lawrence.
More recently, in 2023, he co-wrote the short thriller “Leaving Yellowstone”, alongside Kayla Arend, and iss also collaborating with her on another short film, “Rambler”, set to release in late 2023.
Aside from being a screenwriter, Trent is better known for his work as a comic book writer. Since 2014, he’s been working with the renowned comic book company Storm King Productions, owned by Sandy King Carpenter. They are widely recognized for their horror and fantasy visual novels which have earned critical acclaim in the comic book world. Some of the comics Trent has worked on include the “John Carpenter’s Asylum” series, “Tales For a Halloween Night”, and “Metaphor XXXI”.
Moreover, Trent also showcased a keen interest in music, penning articles and reviews for several online music platforms and blogs, exploring various genres from indie rock to electronica.
Personal Life
Trent has always maintained a low-key private life, keeping his personal affairs away from the public eye. Unlike his famous sisters who are regularly in the tabloids, Trent prefers a life out of the spotlight. Though he occasionally makes appearances at events and parties with his sisters, he is predominantly known for his reserved nature.
According to his Instagram profile, Trent is married to Alexis Olsen, who isn’t involved with the entertainment industry. They reside together in Los Angeles, California; they don’t have children together.
Trent is a lover of animals, and has a pet dog called Huxley, whose pictures he often shares on social media.
As of July 2023, it’s estimated that he has a net worth of more than $700,000.
The Olsen twins
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, also known as the Olsen twins, have captivated audiences since their shared breakout role in the late 1980s. Born on 13 June 1986, in Sherman Oaks, California, the Olsen twins were thrust into the spotlight at an exceptionally early age.
Their acting careers began when they were just six months old, sharing the role of Michelle Tanner in “Full House” for eight seasons, with their endearing performances quickly making them fan favorites. Beyond “Full House”, they’ve made numerous appearances in other TV shows, such as “7th Heaven”, “All My Children”, and “The Simpsons”.
During the 1990s and 2000s, the Olsen twins built a multimedia empire aimed at pre-teen and teen girls. They starred in direct-to-video movies, TV movies, the short-lived television series “Two of a Kind”, and even lent their names to lines of clothing, accessories and beauty products.
The twins’ transition from child stars to adult actors was not without its challenges. In 2004, they briefly attended New York University, but dropped out to focus on their business careers. At the same time, they started to distance themselves from acting – Ashley officially retired in 2004, while Mary-Kate followed suit some years later, to turn their attention to fashion.
They launched a high-end fashion line called ‘The Row’ in 2006, followed by a more affordable line called ‘Elizabeth & James’. Their success in the fashion industry has been substantial, with ‘The Row’ earning the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) award multiple times. The sisters are known for their distinctive style, often featuring oversized silhouettes, neutral colors, and a blend of high and low pieces.
Despite their success, the twins have faced their share of adversity, including a highly publicized lawsuit from a former intern, and Mary-Kate’s battle with an eating disorder.
Mary-Kate married French banker Olivier Sarkozy in 2015 and although the marriage ended in divorce in 2021, it served as a further sign of her departure from her former life in Hollywood.
Ashley is married to the artist and philanthropist Louis Eisner – the two met in 2017, and exchanged their vows five years later, on 28 December 2022. Her previous relationships received a lot of media attention, as she was linked to several high-profile celebrities, such as actor and musician Jared Leto, singer Justin Bieber, and cyclist Lance Armstrong.
Elizabeth Olsen
Born on 16 February 1989, Elizabeth Olsen, the younger sister of the famous Olsen twins Mary-Kate and Ashley, has become a renowned actor in her own right. Despite being initially known for her family connections, Elizabeth, widely known as ‘Lizzie’, has since stepped out of her sisters’ shadows, and carved a successful path in Hollywood.
Elizabeth started acting at a very young age, appearing in her sisters’ projects. However, she took an hiatus from acting in her early teens, focusing instead on her studies and personal development. After matriculating from Campbell Hall School, she furthered her education at New York University’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts.
Elizabeth returned to acting with a focus on independent films, making her breakthrough in the critically acclaimed film “Martha Marcy May Marlene” in 2011. Her portrayal of a young woman suffering from paranoia and delusion after fleeing from a cult earned her several award nominations, including for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead.
Three years later, Elizabeth joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Wanda Maximoff, also known as Scarlet Witch, making her debut in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, the role which marked a turning point in her career. Her subsequent performances in “The Avengers” film series, “Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness”, and the Disney+ series “WandaVision”, solidified her status as a leading actress in Hollywood.
While her work in the MCU has garnered mainstream attention, Elizabeth continues to choose diverse and challenging roles outside the superhero genre. In 2017, she starred in the drama film “Wind River” alongside her “Avengers” co-star Jeremy Renner, then in 2018 and ‘19, she starred in the drama series “Sorry for Your Loss”, centering on a woman dealing with her husband’s sudden death.
More recently, her portrayal of Candy Montgomery in the HBO limited series “Love & Death” earned her significant critical acclaim.
In her personal life, Elizabeth was engaged to actor Boyd Holbrook, but the couple called off their engagement in 2014. She has since found love with musician Robbie Arnett, whom she secretly married in 2020.
