Bridgit Mendler facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bridgit Mendler
Mendler in October 2024
Born	Bridgit Claire Mendler (1992-12-18) December 18, 1992 (age 32) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Education	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS) Harvard University (JD)
Occupation	Actress singer songwriter entrepreneur
Years active	2004–present
Works	Discography songs recorded concert tours filmography
Title	CEO and Co-Founder of Northwood Space
Spouse(s)	Griffin Cleverly ​ (m. 2019)​
Children	1
Relatives	Christine Blasey Ford (aunt)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Pop R&B alt pop
Instruments	Vocals guitar keyboard keytar
Labels	Hollywood Black Box

Bridgit Claire Mendler (born December 18, 1992) is an American entrepreneur. She was also a well-known actress and singer-songwriter. She first became famous as a child actress. Her acting career continued into adulthood, overlapping with her music career in the 2010s. After studying at MIT and Harvard from 2017 to 2024, she started a successful company. This company, called Northwood Space, focuses on satellite data.

Mendler's early acting roles included films like Alice Upside Down (2007) and The Clique (2008). She also appeared in Labor Pains (2009). In 2009, she joined Disney Channel. She played Juliet van Heusen on Wizards of Waverly Place (2009–2012). She became very popular for her main role as Teddy Duncan on Good Luck Charlie (2010–2014). She also starred in the Disney Channel movie Lemonade Mouth (2011). After Good Luck Charlie ended, she appeared on the TV shows Undateable (2015–2016), Nashville (2017), and Merry Happy Whatever (2019).

Mendler started her music career by singing songs for the Lemonade Mouth soundtrack in 2011. She signed with Hollywood Records that same year. Her first album, Hello My Name Is... (2012), reached number 30 on the Billboard 200 chart. It included popular songs like "Ready or Not" and "Hurricane". She then went on two concert tours: Live in Concert (2012) and Summer Tour (2013–2014). Later, she released an extended play called Nemesis (2016) with Black Box. This EP reached number 46 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart. She then went on the Nemesis Tour (2016–2017).

From 2010 to 2012, Mendler was an ambassador for First Book. This group helps children by encouraging reading and providing books. She also worked with Give with Target to raise money for schools. She was a student and researcher at the MIT Media Lab from 2017 to 2023. In 2024, she became the CEO and co-founder of Northwood Space. This company works with satellite data. She also earned a law degree from Harvard Law School. As of 2025, Northwood Space has raised over $30 million.

Early Life and Education

Bridgit Claire Mendler was born on December 18, 1992, in Washington, D.C.. When she was eight, her family moved to Mill Valley, California. There, she became interested in acting and started performing in plays. She was the youngest performer at the San Francisco Fringe Festival. At age 11, she hired an agent to help her find acting jobs. Her aunt is psychologist Christine Blasey Ford.

In the 2010s, Mendler studied anthropology at the University of Southern California (USC). She took one class at a time to balance her studies with her career. She wanted to learn about subjects outside of entertainment. In 2013, she studied Medieval Visual Culture and medical anthropology. She left USC in 2016. In May 2017, she was chosen as one of the 2017 MIT Media Lab's Director's Fellows.

In May 2018, she announced she started a graduate program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her focus was on making social media better. She felt there could be a more kind way to connect with fans. In 2020, she earned a Master of Science degree from MIT. Her master's paper was about using technology to help people resolve disagreements. She also started working on her PhD at MIT. In 2022, she was studying at both Harvard Law School and MIT. In May 2024, she received her law degree from Harvard Law.

Career Highlights

Acting Roles

In 2004, Mendler had her first voice acting role in the animated Indian film The Legend of Buddha. She voiced young Buddha. In 2005, she voiced Thorn in the video game Bone: Out from Boneville. When she was 13, she had a guest role on the TV show General Hospital. She also voiced Thorn again in the video game Bone: The Great Cow Race. In 2007, Mendler made her film debut in Alice Upside Down. She played Pamela, a rival to the main character.

In 2008, Mendler played Kristen Gregory in the film The Clique. She also worked on the film Labor Pains with Lindsay Lohan. This film was released on TV in 2009. It was popular with female viewers. She also had a small role in Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel. In 2009, Mendler joined the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place. She played Juliet Van Heusen, a vampire who falls in love with Justin Russo. She appeared in eleven episodes until 2012.

In 2010, Mendler became the star of the Disney Channel series Good Luck Charlie. She played a teenage girl who makes video messages for her baby sister. The show was very popular. In 2011, she starred as Olivia White in the Disney Channel Original Movie Lemonade Mouth. Over 5.7 million people watched it on its first night. Mendler confirmed there would not be a sequel to Lemonade Mouth. She said the story felt complete. In 2011, she also voiced Appoline in Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2. She starred in the Disney Channel movie Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas! in 2011. In 2012, she guest-starred in the TV series House as a homeless teenager. She also voiced Arrietty in the English version of The Secret World of Arrietty.

On November 25, 2014, Mendler joined the main cast of the NBC comedy series Undateable. She played Candace, an optimistic waitress. In 2015, NBC renewed the show for a third season, which was performed live. Mendler's character, Candace, got engaged in this season. The show was later canceled.

In October 2016, Mendler was cast in the fifth season of the CMT series Nashville. In 2017, she was cast in a TV pilot called Thin Ice, but it was not picked up. She appeared in the Netflix comedy film Father of the Year in 2018. In November 2019, Mendler appeared in the Netflix comedy series Merry Happy Whatever.

Music Career

Mendler sang many songs for the Lemonade Mouth soundtrack, released in April 2011. The song "Somebody" reached number 89 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Another song, "Determinate", reached number 51. Mendler recorded "This Is My Paradise" for Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2. In March 2011, she signed with Hollywood Records to work on her first album. She also co-wrote and sang "I'm Gonna Run to You" for Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!. Mendler also co-wrote and sang "We Can Change the World" for Disney's Friends for Change Games. For The Secret World of Arrietty, she recorded the song "Summertime".

Mendler performing on her debut tour, Live in Concert, in 2012

In summer 2012, Mendler announced her first official single, "Ready or Not". She co-wrote the song. It was released in August 2012. "Ready or Not" reached number 49 in the U.S. and number seven in the UK. It earned platinum certification in the U.S. and Canada. Mendler went on her first tour, Bridgit Mendler: Live in Concert, to support her album. Her debut album, Hello My Name Is..., was released on October 22 by Hollywood Records. Mendler helped write all 12 songs on the standard version. The album reached number 30 on the Billboard 200.

On February 12, 2013, her second single, "Hurricane", was released. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. In June, Mendler started her second tour, the Summer Tour, in the U.S. She also released an extended play called Live in London in April. In November 2013, a music video for an acoustic version of "Top of the World" was released. In June 2014, Mendler started the second part of her Summer Tour in Canada. She sang new songs like "Fly to You" and "Deeper Shade Of Us".

Mendler performing at South by Southwest (SXSW) in 2017, for the Nemesis Tour

In 2016, Mendler started working on new music. She announced her new single, "Atlantis", featuring Kaiydo, which was released on August 26, 2016. She released another single, "Do You Miss Me at All", in November. Both songs were on her EP Nemesis, released on November 18. She said she poured a lot of herself into this project. To support the EP, she went on the Nemesis Tour from 2016 to 2017. In February 2017, Mendler released her single "Temperamental Love" featuring Devontée. In August 2017, Mendler released "Diving" with the group RKCB.

Entrepreneurship

Logo for Mendler's company Northwood Space

In 2023, Mendler and her husband started Northwood Space, a company that works with satellite data. She is the CEO of this company, which is based in El Segundo, California. The company plans to make many satellite ground stations. Mendler explained that the idea for the company came to her during the COVID-19 lockdowns. She said they built antennas from things they found at a hardware store. She believes that ground stations are important for bringing the benefits of space to people.

Mendler explained her career change in an interview. She felt a disconnect from entertainment and wanted to explore research. Visiting the MIT Media Lab made her feel like it was a great place to make a different kind of impact. She said music is her first love, but she felt lonely in the artistic community.

Northwood Space started with $6.3 million in funding from investors. In 2025, Mendler reported that Northwood had raised $30 million.

Other Activities

Helping Others

Mendler visiting a school in Baltimore, Maryland, to donate $25,000 for Target's campaign in 2012

In 2010, Mendler became an ambassador for First Book. This group helps children learn to read by providing books. In 2011, she joined Disney's Friends for Change, a program that encourages people to help the environment. As part of this, she released the song "We Can Change the World," which raised $250,000 for conservation. She also participated in the Disney's Friends for Change Games, helping to raise money for UNICEF. In 2012, Mendler won an award from Common Sense Media as "Role Model of the Year" for her work against bullying. She also attended a UNICEF concert in New York to raise donations. In July 2012, Mendler became an ambassador for the Give With Target campaign. This campaign aimed to raise money to improve schools in the U.S. Target invested $5 million and gave $25,000 grants to 100 schools.

Mendler with children-in-need in Baltimore, in 2012

In March 2013, Mendler was part of a campaign called "Delete Digital Drama" with Seventeen magazine. This campaign aimed to stop cyberbullying. She said that being bullied is not fun and that words online can be very hurtful. She also worked with Acuvue, mentoring a contest winner. In October 2013, Mendler hosted a We Day event for the Free The Children Foundation. This group helps build schools for children in need.

In November 2013, Mendler participated in a marathon for the Save the Children Foundation. This charity helps children with health problems. In March 2014, Mendler traveled to Guatemala to help with another Save the Children project. She also launched "Baby Sit In," encouraging teens to help parents and give babies a healthy start. Carolyn Miles, the president of Save the Children, publicly thanked Mendler for her humanitarian work.

Endorsements

In 2012, Mendler partnered with Target to release a clothing line inspired by her character Teddy Duncan from Good Luck Charlie. The "D-Signed by Teddy Duncan" collection included clothes and accessories for girls. In 2014, she partnered with Clean & Clear skincare products. She appeared in commercials and campaigns for real beauty.

Artistic Style

Musical Influences

Mendler has cited Bob Dylan (left), Florence and the Machine (center) and Feist (right) as her musical influences.

Mendler has said that Bob Dylan is her biggest musical influence. She admired how he wrote songs that were playful but also important. She also mentioned Etta James, Elvis Presley, B. B. King, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday. She liked their soulful voices. Other influences include Elvis Costello, The Delfonics, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Van Morrison. She also mentioned the hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa.

She said the hip hop trio Fugees greatly influenced her music, especially the song "Ready or Not." For her album Hello My Name Is..., Mendler was inspired by indie pop singers Ingrid Michaelson and Feist. Among pop artists, she liked Maroon 5, No Doubt, Destiny's Child, Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, and Bruno Mars. She also looked up to Jamie Foxx for having a career in both acting and music.

Mendler is influenced by British neo-soul music. She listed Ellie Goulding, Florence and the Machine, Marina Diamandis, Lily Allen, and Lianne La Havas as British influences. She also mentioned Natasha Bedingfield, Broken Bells, Mark Ronson, and Amy Winehouse. In 2013, Mendler admired Adele's unique musical style. She also liked Canadian artists Feist and Tegan and Sara. In 2014, she mentioned Nelly Furtado, Joni Mitchell, Coldplay, and Little Dragon as influences for her second album.

In her acting career, Mendler has mentioned Jamie Foxx, Natalie Portman, and Rachel McAdams as influences. She admired McAdams for playing many different roles and not seeking public attention. She also respected Christian Bale's dedication to acting.

Songwriting and Themes

Mendler's songs are not childish, unlike some other artists from Hollywood Records. Her songs have been compared to those by Jessie J and Taylor Swift. Mendler said that writing songs comes easily to her because she uses her own experiences. Her song "Ready or Not" is about being confident and taking charge. She sees herself as someone who waits for the world and then goes for what she wants. Her first album talked about relationships, breakups, feeling alone, self-confidence, and friendship.

Mendler said that writing is something she loves to do. She wants to make timeless music, not just commercial songs. She wants her music to last and grow as an artist. She remembers how certain songs had a big impact on her.

Music and Voice Style

Mendler is a mezzo-soprano singer. She plays guitar, keyboard, and keytar. Her voice has been described as strong and sweet, with a unique "metallic tone" for a young singer. Her music is mostly pop and reggae fusion. It also includes elements of R&B, funk, and hip hop soul. She prefers to avoid traditional pop and dance-pop. She likes to add other musical styles. Her voice and style have been compared to Cher Lloyd and Lily Allen. She was also compared to Miley Cyrus, but Mendler stated she is her own person.

Personal Life

Mendler performing with her then-boyfriend, Shane Harper, in 2011

From May 2011 to November 2015, Mendler dated her former co-star Shane Harper. In October 2019, Mendler announced on Instagram that she married Griffin Cleverly. In February 2024, Mendler shared that she and Cleverly adopted a 4-year-old boy around Christmas 2022. They had started fostering him in 2021.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video Games

• Bone: Out from Boneville (2005) as Thorn
• Bone: The Great Cow Race (2006) as Thorn

Discography

• Hello My Name Is... (2012)

Tours

• Live in Concert (2012)
• Summer Tour (2013–2014)
• Nemesis Tour (2016–2017)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Bridgit Mendler para niños