Dexter Holland

Bryan Keith Holland was born in Garden Grove, California, on December 29, 1965. He attended Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, graduating as class valedictorian in 1984. He was the best student in his year at mathematics, which he found "just as exciting as punk rock". He acquired the nickname "Dexter" for his academic prowess, taken from the slang term "Poindexter". Holland attended the University of Southern California, where he earned a B.S. in biology and an M.S. in molecular biology. He suspended his studies to focus on music when the Offspring found success in 1994, but later resumed and earned a PhD in molecular biology in May 2017. He defended his thesis, "Discovery of mature microRNA sequences within the protein-coding regions of global HIV-1 genomes: predictions of novel mechanisms for viral infection and pathogenicity", under doctoral advisors Suraiya Rasheed and Bob Baker.

Holland met hair stylist Kristine Luna in 1992, and they were married in 1995. She co-wrote the Offspring song "Session" and appeared in the music video for "I Choose". They divorced in 2012. He married Amber Sasse in 2013. His daughter from a previous relationship, Alexa (born 1986), is also a musician and goes by the stage name Lex Land. Holland also has two children from his current marriage. A licensed aircraft pilot, Holland completed a 10-day solo flight around the world in November 2004. He also enjoys surfing and collecting postage stamps from the Isle of Man.