Whatever Happened To Bridgit Mendler? Here's What She's Doing Today

Bridgit Mendler began her Disney Channel journey as the recurring character Juliet on "Wizards of Waverly Place" in 2009. In 2010, she landed a lead role on "Good Luck Charlie," and she starred in her first Disney Channel Original Movie "Lemonade Mouth" in 2011. Like many Disney stars, Mendler also ventured into the music industry, releasing her debut album in 2012. In time, though, Mendler took a big step back from the limelight.

The former Disney Channel star threw herself into her studies, pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University of Southern California and advanced degrees at both Harvard and M.I.T. While thriving in the world of academia, Mendler's personal life didn't get pushed to the wayside. She got married at the age of 26 and started a family a few years later. In 2024, Mendler surprised fans by announcing her newest venture: an impressive company she founded and for which she serves as CEO.

Through it all, she stayed close with her Disney co-stars and continues to impress the world with her many talents. In truth, Bridgit Mendler has come far since her days on the Disney Channel.

Bridgit Mendler is one of those celebrities who has always used her platform to bring awareness to those in need. She was charitable even while working for Disney, teaming up with the nonprofit First Book in 2010, then raising money for UNICEF and Disney's World Wild Life Conservation fund in 2011. "I remember when I was younger, my parents would tell me that in my lifetime I should do something to make the world a better place," the actor shared with Vice in 2016.

After Mendler's show "Good Luck Charlie" wrapped in 2014, the actor joined forces with Save the Children as an artist ambassador. Mendler helped launch a volunteer program called #BabySitIn, in which teens would babysit and instead of getting paid for their services, the money would go toward Save the Children. "It's an easy way for kids to help little ones everywhere get a healthy start and an opportunity to learn just by doing something they do most weekends anyway," Mendler explained (via PR Newswire).

What's more, Mendler's participation in the charity began after she visited Guatemala and California's Central Valley to see Save the Children's health and nutrition programs at work. She continued her work with the organization, and in 2016 she attended the Save the Children Illumination Gala, rocking the red carpet in a $25 Forever 21 dress. At the event, the actor spoke about about finding new and creative ways to give back. "I think it's really cool to appreciate the modern ways people are having genuine impact and leaving a huge footprint," she told E! News.

Between charity work, acting gigs, and making music, Bridgit Mendler also found time to continue her studies. She enrolled at the University of Southern California (USC) in 2013 and majored in anthropology, but it wasn't exactly her first choice. "It was an accident," the actor admitted on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in 2016. "I put down like five different things that I would potentially want to be in as a major, and I got my acceptance letter and it's like, 'You're in anthropology,'" Mendler explained. But anthropology proved to be an interesting topic of study for Mendler, as she noted it wasn't too far afield from acting, as both required an understanding of people.

Another unique aspect of Mendler's college experience was that she attended USC at the same time as her mother, Leah Mendler. Although the two were not classmates, as Leah was enrolled in an architecture doctorate program, Mendler did get to have her as a tour guide. "She was the one that showed me around campus the first time," she told Jimmy Kimmel. As for whether Mendler enjoyed attending the same school as her mom, she joked, "I think it gives both of us street cred."

In 2012, Bridgit Mendler released her debut album, "Hello My Name Is ... " which included the hit singles "Hurricane" and "Ready or Not." Mendler had always enjoyed writing music, but her style skewed a bit jazzier until she saw "High School Musical" and was inspired to try her hand at crafting a pop song. It turned out she had a real knack for pop music, and her album was a success.

After graduating from her Disney Channel acting gigs on "Wizards of Waverly Place" and "Good Luck Charlie," Mendler was ready to bring a new level of maturity to her music. In 2016, she released her album "Nemesis," which had a decidedly more grown-up vibe. "The music just had more complexity at this phase of life ... maybe more alternative sounds, more abstract lyrics, more dark subject matter," Mendler told Vice.

As for the album's title, Mendler revealed that "Nemesis" was actually a name she was considering performing under, but ultimately decided to stick with her own name. Nevertheless, the album title held a lot of meaning for the artist, embodying what Mendler took away from the experience of making the album. "The concept of 'Nemesis' kind of just came up because this whole project has been about conquering fear," Mendler shared with Pop Crush.

After her stint as Teddy Duncan on "Good Luck Charlie," Bridgit Mendler made a few TV appearances here and there, including on the reality series "David's Vlog," and the miniseries "The Sixth Lead." But in 2015, she returned to the small screen in a big way, starring as Candace on the NBC sitcom "Undateable." Mendler joined the series as a regular for the show's second season, and confessed she hadn't watched it before she landed the part. "I binged on it after I found out. And I genuinely, like, wanted to keep watching episodes of it!" the actor told TV Line in 2015.

For Mendler, playing the part of Candace was a departure from her squeaky-clean Disney days, as it was her first time starring on a series geared toward adults. But taking on the role was not a conscious effort on Mendler's part to distance herself from her earlier acting gigs; it was more a decision based on good timing and instinct. "I feel like I generally go off of just the gut feeling that something's right," Mendler explained.

"Undateable," which also starred comedian Chris D'Elia, Brent Morin, Ron Funches, and Bianca Kajlich, provided more than just an opportunity for Mendler to prove that she had matured over the years into a solid comedic actor. Her musical chops came in handy as well, when Mendler wrote and performed a song called "Undateable" as a promo for the show, along with starring in a video featuring the whole cast.

Due to her extensive charity work, it's safe to say that Bridgit Mendler is willing to put herself out there in order to protect those in need. In 2018, she found herself in a position to speak out on behalf of her aunt, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who opened up about having been sexually assaulted by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Ford testified at Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing that he had sexually assaulted her when the two attended high school together. Ford alleged that Kavanaugh, who was 17 at the time of the incident, pinned her down and attempted to undress her while drunk at a party. Ford was 15 at the time, and she attested to the fact that she was frightened of him and what he might do to her. While many rallied around Ford, a psychologist and professor, her accusations led to backlash and death threats.

Mendler and her family penned a letter in support of Ford, in order to lend credibility to her claims and give some insight into her character. Mendler posted the letter in its entirety on X (formerly known as Twitter), with the caption, "Dr Christine Blasey Ford, or Aunt Chrissy as I know her is the person who patiently helped me with my college application, she was the first to give me a hug when I saw my family on vacation," adding, "Please remember her humanity." Despite Mendler and others speaking out in Ford's defense, Kavanaugh was elected to the Supreme Court where he holds a lifetime appointment.

2019 was a better year for Bridgit Mendler, as that was when she married her longtime love, Griffin Cleverly. Cleverly, an engineer with degrees from UCLA and John Hopkins University, proposed to Mendler in April of 2019, and Mendler took to Instagram to show off her ring and gush about her new fiancé. "Griff you are a deep thinker, a steadfast companion, a cheerleader and a challenger, and the biggest goof I know," the actor captioned the post. "Looking forward to holding [your] hand forever."

The happy couple tied the knot later that year in November during a beautiful beach ceremony. "It was magical," Mendler told Extra when asked about her nuptials. She shared that, in addition to a gorgeous sunset, the couple was treated to a stranger building an impressive sandcastle while they were exchanging their vows. "People thought that we, like, hired him," Mendler said. "Because he made a professional sandcastle."

A gorgeous wedding photo of the newlyweds was shared on Instagram by Mendler, who expressed her excitement and her gratitude. "Thank you to everyone for the abundance of love that you showered on Griff and I. We are so excited for this new chapter," she captioned the post.

After appearing in the sitcom "Undateable," which ran until 2016, Bridgit Mendler seemed to take a step back from the spotlight, at least when it came to acting. She took on several roles that flew under the radar, such as the 2017 TV movie "Thin Ice" and the 2018 film "Father of the Year." But in 2019, Mendler once again returned to her TV comedy roots in the Netflix Original Series "Merry Happy Whatever," starring Ashley Tisdale and Dennis Quaid. Tisdale is nearly unrecognizable without her signature blonde locks, but Mendler and her fellow Disney alum had the opportunity to bond during their time on the show. The series also reunited Mendler with her former "Undateable" co-star Brent Morin, who played her boyfriend in the sitcom.

According to Mendler, filming the series kept her on her toes, as show creator Tucker Cawley was tight-lipped when it came to the characters' storylines. "I think there is something to that approach ... if you don't know what's coming ahead of your character, then you can only be in the moment," Mendler shared with Collider. She went on to speak about her TV dad, Dennis Quaid, who is more known for his dramatic roles. Quaid is no stranger to tragedy – in fact, he once struggled with addiction – but his open-minded approach to comedy left an impression on Mendler. "He just went in on it, and I really respect that fearlessness," she said.

Bridgit Mendler showed her studious side when she attended USC to study anthropology, and she continued her education at some seriously prestigious institutions. In 2020, Mendler began studying for her doctorate in philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), something she was still working toward as of March 2024. In a post on X, the actor-musician explained why she hadn't yet completed her degree, amid some confusion regarding her LinkedIn profile. "When I moved to California last summer and decided that for family reasons we would stay on the west coast, it had to go on pause," Mendler wrote.

In May of 2024, Mendler celebrated a different educational milestone when she graduated from Harvard Law School, which she began attending in 2021. Working on two different degrees in two different disciplines from two different schools (Harvard and M.I.T., no less) must have been challenging for Mendler, but she embraced the opportunity, carefully weighing her priorities. "I enjoy pushing the boundary of the possible and saying yes to more things but also it is important to flex the muscle of prioritization and discernment," Mendler shared on X.

As Bridgit Mendler moved through her career, taking on new acting roles, making more evolved music, and pursuing higher education, she never forgot her Disney Channel roots. In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the cast of "Good Luck Charlie" reunited via Zoom for a virtual interview. The reunion started with Mendler reaching her arms out and calling for a group hug with her former castmates, which included Mia Talerico, Bradley Steven Perry, Leigh-Allyn Baker, Eric Allan Kramer, and Jason Dolley.

It appeared that the cast was still super close and had met up before the official reunion. "We were actually doing our own just, like, family Skype a couple of weeks ago," Mendler told Entertainment Tonight. A year prior, in 2019, Mendler even posted an Instagram photo of herself and some of her "Good Luck Charlie" castmates celebrating her engagement to Griffin Cleverly.

During the reunion with ET, Mendler spoke about why the show was such a hit with viewers, explaining, "You know, the creators really wanted it to be an ensemble and have each character have something to say," adding, "I'm just so grateful for that opportunity as a young actress to, like, be able to spend so much time developing a character."

Throughout the years, Bridgit Mendler has shown the world that she is not only a talented actor and musician but a dedicated student, wife, and charitable figure. In 2022, Mendler took on yet another role — perhaps the most important of her life. The multitalented actor made a very special announcement on X that she had become a mother, something she called "the biggest gift and most defining experience there is."

Mendler revealed that she had adopted a 4-year-old boy, for whom she had been a foster mom since 2021. Mendler said that the adoption took place around Christmas of 2022, which must have been a wonderful gift for her and her newly expanded family.

Since her simple and lovely announcement, Mendler has been pretty private about her child, likely because she is well-acquainted with fame, having been in the public eye herself from a relatively young age. But it was clear that Mendler was over the moon about her son, sharing in her post, "I'm so lucky."

In 2024, Bridgit Mendler made headlines when she took on yet another impressive endeavor. She announced that she had launched a startup called Northwood Space, for which she would take on the role of CEO. As for what the new company does, Mendler explained it in layman's terms while speaking to CNBC in 2024: "The vision is a data highway between Earth and space." Mendler founded Northwood Space with her husband Griffin Cleverly and Shaurya Luthra, both former engineers for aerospace and defense company Lockheed Martin.

It was during the doldrums of the COVID-19 pandemic that the idea for the startup came to Mendler and the other Northwood co-founders. "While everybody else was making their sourdough starters, we were building antennas out of random crap we could find at Home Depot ... and receiving data from [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] satellites," she told CNBC. In fact, the company's name comes from the lake in New Hampshire where Mendler and her family were holed up during that time.

The aim of Mendler's new venture is to build ground stations that connect to satellites in space. "For me, why the ground-side matters is because it actually is about bringing the impacts of space home to people," Mendler explained.