Blake Alexander Jenner Bio
Blake Alexander Jenner (born August 27, 1992) is an American actor and singer from Miami, Florida. He first gained national attention after winning Oxygen’s The Glee Project, which led to the role of Ryder Lynn on the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. Jenner has since worked across stage, film, and streaming television with notable appearances in Everybody Wants Some!!, The Edge of Seventeen, American Animals, and the Netflix series What/If.
Early Life and Background
Blake Alexander Jenner was born in Miami, Florida, to Mitzy and Richard Vernon Jenner on August 27, 1992. He is the youngest of four sons and grew up in a household that included music and performance; his mother is of Cuban descent with family roots in Santiago de Cuba.
Jenner began playing drums at age nine and participated in local theater and improv while attending Felix Varela High School, where he joined the school’s drama society and took part in varsity football and wrestling. He moved to Los Angeles after graduating high school a year early to pursue acting and supported himself with a variety of jobs while training in improvisation with The Groundlings.
Path to Celebrity
Jenner built early experience in short films and guest television roles, and by 2012 he was selected to audition for the second season of The Glee Project. He won the season and earned a multi-episode arc on Glee, which served as his national breakthrough and introduced him to a wider television audience.
Following his Glee breakthrough, Jenner expanded into feature films and continued training in improvisation and stagecraft. He has written and helped develop projects for production, demonstrating a range of interests beyond on-screen performance.
Blake Alexander Jenner Career
Early Career (2010–2012)
After relocating to Los Angeles, Jenner appeared in short films and took on small roles that helped him gain on-set experience and build a reel. Early credits include short films such as Wurlitzer and The Truth In Being Right and a role in the horror film Cousin Sarah, as well as a guest appearance on ABC Family’s Melissa & Joey.
During this period he continued to study improv and stage performance, performing with local groups and training with The Groundlings. That foundation in comedy and improvisation informed his audition work and prepared him for the competitive environment of television casting.
Glee Breakthrough (2012–2015)
In 2012 Jenner competed on Oxygen’s The Glee Project and won the second season, earning a guaranteed multi-episode arc on Glee. He debuted on Glee as Ryder Lynn and was later promoted to series regular status alongside several co-stars for the fifth season, establishing him as a recognizable face on network television.
Jenner’s performance on Glee earned industry recognition, including a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Breakout Star. The role provided regular television exposure and opportunities to work within an ensemble cast on a high-profile musical series, allowing him to develop both dramatic and musical performance skills.
While on Glee, Jenner also pursued writing and independent projects, contributing a screenplay titled Billy Boy and supporting its fundraising through Kickstarter. He continued to appear in genre films and pursued stage opportunities while maintaining television work.
Film and Television Breakthrough (2016–2019)
Jenner broadened his profile with supporting and ensemble roles in feature films released in 2016, including Richard Linklater’s comedy Everybody Wants Some!! and the coming-of-age drama The Edge of Seventeen. Those roles marked a transition into feature films and work with established directors and ensemble casts.
He appeared in Shawn Christensen’s The Vanishing of Sidney Hall, which premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, and was part of the cast of Bart Layton’s American Animals, which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and received a theatrical release. Jenner also returned to television with a recurring role as Adam Foster on Supergirl, appearing opposite then-wife Melissa Benoist.
In 2019 Jenner starred as Sean in the Netflix anthology thriller What/If, furthering his presence on streaming platforms. That period consolidated his film and television credits across indie drama, comedy, and thriller genres.
Recent Work Era (2018–Present)
Jenner continued to work across stage and screen, performing in a Goodspeed Musicals production of Cyrano at the Norma Terris Theatre in 2018 and participating in films that premiered at major festivals. He had been announced as a cast member for Richard Linklater’s Merrily We Roll Along, a film intended to be shot over many years, though his role was later recast in 2023.
Across stage appearances, independent films, and streaming projects, Jenner has maintained a presence in both mainstream and indie productions. He has continued to develop material and collaborate with peers, balancing acting work with writing and producing interests.
Acting Style and Strengths
Jenner’s training in improvisation and stage work informs an adaptable on-screen presence that suits both ensemble comedy and dramatic roles. He brings rhythmic timing from music and percussion background to character work, and his range includes musical performance, comic improvisation, and grounded dramatic turns.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Jenner’s career include winning The Glee Project, promotion to series regular on Glee, a Teen Choice Award recognition, and appearances in Sundance-premiering films such as The Vanishing of Sidney Hall and American Animals. He has also written and helped produce independent projects, demonstrating a multi-faceted approach to his career.
Blake Alexander Jenner Family
Family Background and Acting Lineage
Blake Jenner is the son of Mitzy and Richard Vernon Jenner and is the youngest of four brothers. His mother’s Cuban heritage and the family’s cultural background in Miami contributed to his early exposure to music and performance.
Personal Life
Jenner became engaged to fellow actor Melissa Benoist in 2013 and the pair were reported to have married by 2015; Benoist filed for divorce in December 2016 and the divorce was finalized in December 2017. Their relationship and separation have been part of public reporting regarding both actors.
In 2019 Melissa Benoist published a personal account describing experiences of domestic violence during their relationship, including an injury to her eye in 2015. In January 2020 Jenner posted on social media acknowledging that he caused the eye injury and addressing the history of abuse in the relationship; he characterized aspects of the violence as mutual in his statement. These accounts and Jenner’s subsequent response are part of the public record and have been widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
Looking toward 2025, Jenner’s career profile remains rooted in a mix of independent film, stage work, and streaming television. Publicly available information indicates he has participated in development projects and collaborations, and his filmography includes festival premieres and serialized television roles that support continued casting opportunities.
Jenner was previously announced for Richard Linklater’s long-term project Merrily We Roll Along, a production intended to be shot over many years; an update in January 2023 reported his replacement in that project. As of the 2025 outlook, Jenner’s trajectory points toward further acting and creative development work rather than a single signature franchise, with potential for additional festival and streaming projects.