Finneas O’Connell

Finneas O’Connell Bio

Finneas Baird O’Connell, born July 30, 1997, in Los Angeles, California, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor. He first drew wide attention for his work behind the scenes with his younger sister, the singer Billie Eilish, helping shape the sound of contemporary pop music. Beyond his collaborations, Finneas O’Connell has built a respected solo catalog and a growing list of film and television credits, earning major industry recognition along the way.

Finneas O’Connell is often described as one of the most influential producers of his generation. He co-wrote and produced all of Billie Eilish’s studio albums, including When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, Happier Than Ever, and Hit Me Hard and Soft. His songwriting for the James Bond film No Time to Die earned him the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Original Song, adding to a long list of Grammy wins and nominations that highlight his impact on modern popular music.

Early Life and Background

Finneas Baird O’Connell was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, the son of actress and screenwriter Maggie Baird and actor Patrick O’Connell. Both parents are also musicians, and the family environment encouraged creative work from an early age. Finneas O’Connell is of Irish and Scottish descent, a background that has shaped part of his family identity.

Growing up in a household of performers, Finneas O’Connell was exposed to acting and music at a young age. In 2010, when he was twelve years old, he took a songwriting class with his mother, Maggie Baird, and began writing and producing songs of his own. This early training laid the foundation for his later career as a producer and songwriter.

He developed his instrumental skills on vocals, guitar, bass, and piano, often practicing in informal home settings before entering professional studios. By his early teens, Finneas O’Connell had begun forming his own bands and writing original material, setting the stage for his transition into the entertainment industry.

Path to Acting

Finneas O’Connell’s path into entertainment began with small on-screen appearances while he was still developing as a musician. He played a student in the 2011 comedy film Bad Teacher, marking his first credited film role. Two years later, he co-starred in the independent film Life Inside Out, which was written by and starred his mother Maggie Baird and directed by Jill D’Agnenica. The film gave him early experience on a dramatic set.

Alongside his film work, Finneas O’Connell built his stage experience as the lead singer and songwriter of the band The Slightlys. The group played the Warped Tour in 2015, exposing him to live audiences across the country. He balanced these touring commitments with auditions for television, eventually earning a recurring guest role on the American sitcom Modern Family and later appearing in the series Aquarius.

His biggest early television break came in 2015, when he was cast as Alistair in the final season of the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. The role let him combine his singing background with on-camera performance. These early projects helped him transition from local film and theatre work into the broader film and television industry, where he has continued to appear in select projects alongside his music career.

Finneas O’Connell Career

Early Career (2011–2015)

Finneas O’Connell’s first notable work came in 2011 with a small role in the comedy film Bad Teacher, followed by a co-starring role in the 2013 independent film Life Inside Out. These early performances helped him earn attention within Los Angeles casting circles. During the same period, he continued writing songs and fronting his band, which built a strong live following and led to a slot on the Warped Tour in 2015.

By 2015, Finneas O’Connell had expanded into television with a recurring role on Modern Family and a guest part on Aquarius. That same year, he joined the final season of Glee as Alistair, a part that required both acting and singing. These roles marked the move from local independent work to nationally broadcast projects and laid the groundwork for his later film and television appearances.

Breakthrough (2015–2020)

The same year that Finneas O’Connell appeared in Glee, he wrote and produced the song “Ocean Eyes” for his sister Billie Eilish. The track, originally written for his own band, was shared on SoundCloud and quickly drew praise. He went on to help Eilish sign with the artist development company Platoon, marking the start of a long-running creative partnership.

Finneas O’Connell co-wrote and produced Eilish’s debut EP Don’t Smile at Me in 2017, which peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard 200. He then co-wrote and produced her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, which debuted atop the US and UK charts in 2019. His production work on that album brought him widespread industry recognition.

At the 2020 Grammy Awards, Finneas O’Connell won Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, becoming the youngest act ever to take home that prize. He also won Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “Bad Guy,” plus Album of the Year and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?. These wins cemented his reputation as a defining producer of his era.

Notable Works and Milestones

Finneas O’Connell’s signature work remains his songwriting and production partnership with Billie Eilish, spanning the albums When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, Happier Than Ever, and Hit Me Hard and Soft. He is also known for writing the title song for the James Bond film No Time to Die, which earned him the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Original Song in 2022. His solo albums Optimist (2021) and For Cryin’ Out Loud! (2024), along with his debut EP Blood Harmony (2019), have established him as a respected artist in his own right.

Finneas O’Connell Award Nominations

Finneas O’Connell has received a wide range of major award nominations throughout his career, including at the Grammy Awards, the Academy Awards, and the Golden Globes. He has been recognized for his production work, his songwriting, and his solo recordings, reflecting his standing across both pop music and film.

Finneas O’Connell Awards Won

Finneas O’Connell has won multiple Grammy Awards, including Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, in 2020. He also won the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Original Song for “No Time to Die” in 2022. Together, these honors place him among the most decorated producers and songwriters of his generation.

Finneas O’Connell Family

Finneas O’Connell comes from a family of performers. His mother, Maggie Baird, is an actress, screenwriter, and musician, while his father, Patrick O’Connell, is an actor and musician. His uncle Brian Baird is also part of the family’s artistic circle.

He is best known publicly as the older brother of Billie Eilish, the chart-topping singer he has written and produced for throughout her career. The siblings share a close working relationship that has shaped much of his professional path.

Personal Life

Finneas O’Connell lives in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. He has been in a relationship with YouTuber and actress Claudia Sulewski since September 2018, and the couple announced their engagement on social media on September 24, 2025. His single “Claudia” was written after the night the two first met.

He was raised vegetarian before later becoming vegan. Beyond music, Finneas O’Connell has been publicly involved in social and political causes, including advocacy for Palestinian human rights and support for the Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign.