Alex Mercer

Alex is one of the main protagonists of the Netflix series Julie and the Phantoms. He is portrayed by Owen Patrick Joyner. He is the drummer and was one of the original Sunset Curve members including Luke who is played by Charlie Gillespie and Reggie who is played by Jeremy Shada.

Luke Patterson (Best friend/Bandmate/ex boyfriend)

Reggie (Best friend/Bandmate)

Julie Molina (Friend/Bandmate)

Willie (Friend/Crush)

Trevor Wilson/Bobby (Former bandmate/Former friend)

Biography
Alex was 17 years old in 1995 when he died. Not much is known about Alex's past.

Alex’s parents became distant when he came out as gay (according to Luke in S1E02 Bright). They remained unreconciled at the time of his death.

Sometime in the 1990s, Alex formed the band Sunset Curve with close friends Luke, Reggie, and Bobby.

One night in 1995, Sunset Curve was due to play at The Orpheum, a popular Hollywood venue known for kickstarting numerous musical careers (Luke S1E01 Wake Up "We're playing the Orpheum. I can't even count how many bands have played here and then ended up being huge”). After soundcheck, Luke, Reggie, and Alex leave the venue to get “street dogs” before the show while Bobby stays behind to talk to a pretty girl named Rose who works there (allegedly Julie Molina’s mom). The three, however, never return. After biting into his hotdog, Alex states “that’s a new flavor”, to which Reggie replies “street dogs haven’t killed us yet” (S1E01). Within the hour, the three teenagers are dead, and Sunset Curve never plays the Orpheum.

Personality
Alex is a sarcastic person with his friends and likes making little snarky comments towards them in a way to show affection. He is also a very anxious and nervous person. He started playing drums when he was young to cope with his anxiety. He is very kind hearted, and of the group is the most level headed personality. Alex can be seen letting go a bit throughout season one as he develops relationships with Julie and Willie, and he and the boys learn more about their existence as ghosts. He has an underlying passion for dance, exhibited when he dances on stage with minor-antagonist Carrie and her musical group “Dirty Candy”.

Physical Appearance
Alex has green eyes and blonde hair, cut short on the sides and back, but longer in front with a flip of hair over his right eye. He can usually be seen wearing a pink top or jumper with a denim jacket and black pants. He also always wears a gold chain and usually a black fanny pack over his left shoulder. Alex is 5 feet, 11 inches tall.

Trivia

 * He plays the drums in Julie and the Phantoms
 * He is the first open LGBT character to be featured in a Kenny Ortega production. (Ryan Evans was confirmed gay in 2020, but it was never stated throughout the HSM series)
 * Alex meets Willie when the skateboarder crashes into him while Alex is taking a walk to clear his head. When Willie takes off his cracked helmet, Alex is smitten.
 * He enjoys dancing.
 * He started playing drums to help with his anxiety.
 * Lots of his iconic lines were improvised by his actor Owen Patrick Joyner such as, “Girls am I right?” “Yeah” “no ''
 * Alex carries a black fanny pack almost everywhere—fan speculation as to what's inside has ranged from the practical 'inhaler,' and 'an epipen' (due to Joyner's own nut allergy), to the less likely, 'a braincell.'
 * Owen Patrick Joyner and Charlie Gillespie have both said they're into the idea of Alex and Luke being ex-boyfriends, but this isn't canon yet.

Quotes
"Put me back in coach."

"I knew she was gonna come in here, but nobody listens to me."

”I don’t think you can call what we have ‘a life’.”

"Don't tell me how to ghost!"

"I've been crying for 25 years! How is that possible?"

"DON'T TOUCH ME!"

"It's not me, it's my feet."

"I wish I couldn't see you."

"You know what else is so 90s? Being rude, get woke these are sensitive times. Learnt that from my ghost friend (Reggie: Woke what a cool word what does it mean?). No clue."

Reggie: "Girls am I right" Luke: "Yeah" Alex: "No"

"Come on Reginald."

"He looks like a substitute teacher."

"Making me blush."

"You should never say ooze again but I agree."