Biography
A capable and likeable presence, as well as a talented singer, Blake Jenner rose quickly from reality show contestant on "The Glee Project" (Oxygen, 2011-12) to starring roles in "Everybody Wants Some!!" (2016) and "Edge of Seventeen" (2016). Born August 27, 1992 in Miami Florida, he was the youngest of four brothers by American and Cuban parents. He developed an interest in both music and performing at an early age: Jenner played drums and acted in plays throughout his middle school and high school years. He decided to pursue a career in acting shortly after graduating from Felix Varela High School, and headed to Los Angeles; there, he held down a variety of odd jobs while auditioning for roles and training in improvisation with the Groundlings troupe. By 2011, he had landed his first television appearance on "Melissa and Joey" (ABC Family, 2010-15) and several short films. The following year provided him with his breakthrough as a contestant on "The Glee Project," a reality series that provided the winner with a seven-episode story arc on the popular musical series. Jenner made it to the finals on the program before being declared the winner; he was subsequently cast as football player Ryder Lynn, who decides to turn around his declining grades by joining the glee club, in the show's fourth season. The following year, he, along with fellow recurring player Melissa Benoist, were promoted to series regulars, and remained with "Glee" until its final episode in 2015. Jenner and Benoist also became an off-screen couple that same year, and married in late March. When she was cast as the lead in "Supergirl" (CBS/The CW, 2015- ), Jenner appeared in a recurring role as a potential love interest for Benoit's Kara Danvers/Supergirl. The following year saw Jenner take the lead in Richard Linklater's college comedy "Everybody Wants Some!!" and took a supporting role as Hailee Steinfeld's combative brother in the critically praised "Edge of Seventeen." Though neither were box office smashes, and Jenner's marriage to Benoist unraveled in 2016, his career continued on an upward path in 2017 with character turns in the horror film "Within" (2017) and the thriller "Sidney Hall," as well as his debut as writer, producer and star in the independent drama "Billy Boy" (2018), which was retitled "Juvenile" prior to its release.
