Blake Jenner
| Blake Jenner | |
|---|---|
|
Jenner in 2013 | |
| Born |
Blake Alexander Jenner August 27, 1992 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Spouse(s) | Melissa Benoist (m. 2015) |
Blake Alexander Jenner (born August 27, 1992)[1] is an American actor and singer. He is best known for winning the second season of the Oxygen reality competition series The Glee Project and his portrayal of Ryder Lynn in the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. In 2016, he had the lead role in the comedy film Everybody Wants Some!!
Early life
Jenner was born and raised in Miami, Florida, the oldest of four brothers. His father is American and his mother is Cuban.[2]
Jenner grew up interested in music and film and began playing drums at age nine.[3] He attended Felix Varela High School, where he joined the school's drama society Troupe 6162 and played varsity football and wrestling. Stating that he was "in love with improv and comedy"[4] he began improvisation lessons[5] and participated in stage productions at the Roxy Performing Arts Center. In 2008, he became a member of "Impromedy", a sketch comedy improv group based in Miami.[6]
Career
Eager to pursue a career in acting, Jenner left Miami and moved to Los Angeles after graduating high school a year early, with just $2,500.[2][2][7] While residing in California, he took on many jobs including a waiter, clothing store associate, and parrot salesman while auditioning for acting roles.[2][8] He continually attended improv classes at The Groundlings, and eventually did a guest show with said company two years later.[9][10]
By 2011, he was cast in the short films Wurlitzer and The Truth In Being Right and the horror film Cousin Sarah. He also made a guest appearance on ABC Family's sitcom Melissa & Joey as Miller Collins.[11]
In 2012, he was selected through industry channels to audition as one of 14 contestants on the second season of The Glee Project, a television reality show for which the prize was a guaranteed seven-episode arc on the following season of Glee. He was one of three finalists and ultimately won.[1] After appearing as Ryder Lynn on the fourth season of Glee, he was later nominated and won the Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Breakout Star.[12] Jenner, along with co-stars Jacob Artist, Becca Tobin, Alex Newell, and Melissa Benoist, was promoted to series regular status for the fifth season.[13]
In the summer of 2013, Jenner wrote the screenplay for Billy Boy. He and Benoist went on Kickstarter to ask fans to help fund the project's production; as of December 11, 2013, the project has reached its $100,000 goal. Jenner was subsequently cast in the horror film Within.[14] In late 2015, Jenner was cast in a recurring role as Adam Foster on Supergirl, playing opposite his wife Melissa Benoist, who stars as the series' title character. His first appearance aired on January 25, 2016.[15]
In 2016, Jenner starred as Jake Bradford in Richard Linklater's comedy film Everybody Wants Some!!, which was released on March 30, and played Hailee Steinfeld's character's brother in the coming-of-age drama The Edge of Seventeen.[16]
In April 2016, he was announced to have joined the cast of Shawn Christensen's drama film Sidney Hall.[17]
Personal life
Jenner began dating his Glee co-star Melissa Benoist in 2012, and they became engaged in July 2013.[18][19] They were married in late March 2015.[20]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Fresh 2 Death | Connor | Short film |
| 2011 | Wurlitzer | Alexander Moore | Short film; also producer |
| 2011 | Cousin Sarah | Brett Marks | |
| 2012 | The Truth In Being Right | Jeffrey | Short film |
| 2014 | Love at First Site | Sydney Reynolds | Short film |
| 2016 | Everybody Wants Some!! | Jake Bradford | |
| 2016 | The Edge of Seventeen | Darian | |
| 2016 | Within | Tommy | |
| 2017 | Billy Boy | Billy Forsetti | Completed; also writer and producer |
| 2017 | Sidney Hall | Brett Newport | In post-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Melissa & Joey | Miller Collins | Episode: "A House Divided" |
| 2012 | The Glee Project | Himself | Season 2; 12 episodes |
| 2012–15 | Glee | Ryder Lynn | 32 episodes |
| 2013 | Master Chef | Himself | Episode: "Top 14 Compete" |
| 2016 | Supergirl | Adam Foster | 2 episodes |
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Breakout Star | Glee | Won |
Discography
References
- 1 2 Goldberg, Lesley (August 15, 2012). "Winner Blake Jenner: 'I'd Love to Be a Finn-Type Character". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 Barroso, Gina (January 10, 2013). "TV Martí Noticias — Blake Jenner: un joven cubanoamericano de Miami triunfa en Hollywood". YouTube. TV Martí Noticias (in Spanish). Retrieved November 5, 2014.
- ↑ Marr, Madeleine (August 10, 2012). "Local singer/actor Blake Jenner wins The Glee Project!". Miami.com.
- ↑ Gajewski, Ryan (August 27, 2013). "Glee Project's Blake Jenner Wanted To Be A Stand-Up Comic". Wetpaint.
- ↑ Slezak, Michael (August 17, 2012). "Glee Project Champ Blake Jenner". TVLine.
- ↑ Morales, Claudia (October 3, 2012). "Blake Jenner: A Varela alumnus' journey to 'Glee'". The Viper Vibe.
- ↑ Harrington, Amy and Nancy (August 21, 2012). "Five Things You Don't Know About Blake Jenner". Yahoo!.
- ↑ Douglass, Beth (August 16, 2012). "Glee Project 2 Winner Blake Jenner on His Hopes for Glee Season 4". Wetpaint.
- ↑ Groundlings [groundlings] (August 24, 2012). "Blake Jenner learned the importance of comedic timing from improv classes with The Groundlings" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ↑ Groundlings (2012). "Performers: Blake Jenner". The Groundlings.
- ↑ "Who Is Glee's Blake Jenner?". Wetpaint. November 9, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
- ↑ Derschowitz, Jessica (August 11, 2013). "Teen Choice Awards 2013: List of winners". CBS News.
- ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (June 29, 2013). "'Glee' Promotes Five to Series Regulars (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ Walkuski, Eric (March 25, 2014). "Crawlspace cast grows with Glee star Blake Jenner". JoBlo.com. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ↑ Ausiello, Michael (November 18, 2015). "Supergirl Stages Glee Reunion, Casts Blake Jenner as Kara's [Spoiler]". TVLine. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
- ↑ A. Lincoln, Ross (October 6, 2015). "Blake Jenner Joins Hailee Steinfeld In STX Coming-Of-Age Drama". Deadline.com. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
- ↑ Kroll, Justin (April 25, 2016). "Blake Jenner, Margaret Qualley and Tim Blake Nelson Join 'Sidney Hall' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
- ↑ Chen, Joyce (July 11, 2013). "Blake Jenner, Melissa Benoist Engaged: Glee Costars Set to Tie the Knot". Us Weekly. US Magazine. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
- ↑ Malkin, Marc (August 20, 2013). "Glee's Melissa Benoist and Blake Jenner Reveal Wedding Plans". E! Online. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
- ↑ McRady, Rachel (July 13, 2015). "Melissa Benoist, Blake Jenner Are Married! Details on the Glee Costars' Secret Wedding". Us Weekly. Retrieved August 20, 2015.