Brandon Cruz Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts

Brandon Cruz Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Brandon Cruz is an American actor-turned musician and recovery advocate, best known for his childhood TV role and later punk rock credentials.

Introduction

Brandon Edwin Cruz (born May 28, 1962) launched his career as a child actor and later reinvented himself as a punk rocker and voice for recovery. His estimated net worth stands at approximately $2 million.  In his personal life, Cruz has shared a long-running marriage to Elizabeth Finkelstein (married 1994, divorced 2018) and is father to two children. 

Quick Facts

From Silver Strand to Spotlight: The Early Journey

Born in Bakersfield, California, on May 28, 1962, Brandon Cruz’s early life took a dramatic shift when his family relocated to Oxnard’s Silver Strand Beach. At just seven years old, he was cast as Eddie Corbett on The Courtship of Eddie’s Father (1969-1972), a role that gave him immediate recognition and launched his career. 

Despite this early success, Cruz’s upbringing was turbulent. In a candid 2020 interview, he described living in a chaotic household and feeling like an outsider even while immersed in Hollywood’s glitz. These early experiences informed not only his later transformation but also his resilience.

Defining moments in Brandon Cruz’s journey include:

• Landing his breakout role as Eddie Corbett in The Courtship of Eddie’s Father.

• Transitioning from child actor to punk vocalist with bands like Dr. Know and Dead Kennedys. 

• Embracing sobriety and reinventing his career as an editor and consultant in addition to performing.

The Core Pillars of Wealth

The core pillars of Brandon Cruz’s wealth include:

• Acting Residuals and Royalties – Income from his early television and film work as a child actor.

• Music Career Earnings – Performance fees, album sales and touring income from his time fronting punk bands such as Dr. Know and Dead Kennedys. 

• Editing/Consulting Work – Later in his career, Cruz worked behind the scenes in editing and consulting, adding diversification to his income stream. 

Relationships & Family Life

Brandon Cruz’s personal life mirrors his public journey—marked by early turbulence, creative reinvention and long-standing personal commitments.

He married nurse Elizabeth “Liz” Finkelstein in 1994. The couple had two children: a son, Lincoln Bixby Cruz (born 1995), and a daughter, Ruby Jean Cruz (born 2000).  The union ended with their divorce in 2018. 

Key insights into Brandon Cruz’s relationships and personal life:

• His marriage to Elizabeth Finkelstein lasted decades, underscoring stability following a chaotic youth.

• Parenthood features prominently—both children are on the record, with his daughter acting professionally. 

• Cruz also embraces his role as a recovery advocate, drawing from personal experience and extending his role beyond entertainment. 

Lifestyle, Assets & Interests

Beyond career success, Brandon Cruz leads a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:

• Surfing & Skateboarding – As a youth and into adulthood he kept surfing and skateboarding as anchor activities. 

• Punk Rock Legacy – Still connected to the music scene, he has occasionally rejoined live performances and keeps a hardcore-punk ethos alive.

• Recovery Advocacy – Having battled addiction in his teens, Cruz now speaks publicly about sobriety and mental wellness.

• Simple Living – His publicly available net worth and lack of high-luxury fanfare suggest a modest lifestyle rather than extravagant ostentation.

Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis

The public estimate of Brandon Cruz’s net worth comes to around $2 million, per Celebrity NetWorth. Below is a simplified breakdown of how that figure might be composed (note: figures are estimates):

While the figure is modest compared to many contemporaries, the significance lies in how Cruz diversified his career—from child actor to punk frontman to editor/consultant—and maintained relevance across decades. The net-worth number may reflect limited mainstream blockbuster income but underscores a steady, resilient journey.

Public Image, Legacy & Influence

Brandon Cruz’s narrative strands more than just fame: they encompass reinvention, authenticity and resilience. From his earliest screen presence as the charming Eddie Corbett, to his gritty punk persona, to advocacy for recovery, his public image is rich with transformation. 

His legacy in entertainment is two-fold. In television, he remains remembered for his role on The Courtship of Eddie’s Father. In music, his contributions to the punk scene bring him a niche but loyal following. Additionally, his commitment to sober living and mentorship gives him a platform beyond show business.

Among fans and industry watchers, Cruz is viewed as an example of a child star who found a second and third act—not always easy in Hollywood. His influence extends into mentorship and the punk rock community, and his story resonates with themes of survival and self-redefinition.

Conclusion

Brandon Cruz has crafted a distinctive life story: one that begins as a child actor born on May 28, 1962, shifts into the raw energy of punk rock, and evolves into a figure of recovery and transformation. His estimated net worth, about $2 million, reflects a career that prioritized authenticity over blockbuster earnings. His long-term marriage, children, and evolution of roles show a personal life and public persona that emphasize durability over spectacle.

When reflecting on Brandon Cruz’s birthday and birthdate, we see not just a date on the calendar—but a marker of a journey crossing decades, mediums, and roles. His story serves as a reminder that reinvention is possible, authenticity is powerful, and legacy comes not just from how much we earn—but how we evolve.