Sam Brody Jenner was born on Aug. 21, 1983 in Los Angeles, CA. He was the son of 1976 Olympic decathlon gold medalist, Bruce Jenner, and actress-songwriter, Linda Thompson. Jenner was part of one of Hollywood’s largest extended families, often referred to by the press as a real life modern-day “Brady Bunch.” Thru his parents, he had one brother named Brandon. He also had a half-brother named Burt and a half-sister named Casey from his father’s first marriage to Chrystie Crownover. In 1991, Jenner gained three stepsisters – Kourtney, Kimberly and Khloe – as well as stepbrother Robert after his father married Kris Kardashian (nee Houghton). The Jenner-Kardashian union bore two more daughters – Kendall and Kylie – the reality star’s half-sisters.
Before he became a recurring guest star on other reality programs, Jenner starred in his own short-lived Fox series, “The Princes of Malibu” (2005). The show followed the self-proclaimed slacker and his equally freeloading brother Brandon while they lived at a 22-acre Malibu estate with their biological mother and stepfather, award-winning composer David Foster. Jenner’s best friend Spencer Pratt, who later became his manager and publicist, also appeared on the show. After just two episodes aired, the network cancelled “The Princes of Malibu” in July 2005 due to Thompson filing for divorce from Foster. The remaining episodes aired on the Fox Reality channel.
Ironically, Jenner’s career took off after his TV show was cancelled. However, it was not for any acting skills he may have possessed. Jenner became a celebrity for dating other reality stars, a calculated career move which he never denied. “This whole scene, this whole town – it’s all so fake,” Jenner told Details magazine. His first high-profile relationship was with Kristin Cavallari, who starred on the MTV reality series, “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County” (MTV, 2004- ), in September 2005. After the couple split in August 2006, Jenner moved on to Hollywood socialite and “The Simple Life” (Fox, 2003-07) star, Nicole Richie. The pair dated for two months before Jenner moved on to the queen bee of teen reality stars, Lauren Conrad.
Tabloids and online gossip sites had a field day after Jenner was spotted courting Conrad, Cavallari’s “Laguna Beach” nemesis and star of its spin-off series, “The Hills.” The real-life drama that played out between Jenner and his feuding girlfriends fueled buzz surrounding the show. As Conrad’s love interest, Jenner found a new home on “The Hills.” It was rumored Jenner and his sidekick Pratt joined “The Hills” to become famous, a plan that successfully worked. Pratt, who dated (and later wed) Conrad’s friend, Heidi Montag, turned into the show’s villain, while Jenner was the series resident flirt and heartthrob. In November 2006, less than a month after they began dating, Jenner and Conrad split but the two remained friends on and off camera.
The success of “The Hills” took its toll on Jenner’s friendship with Pratt, who started a controversial sex tape rumor about Conrad. Jenner sided with his ex-girlfriend while Pratt milked his reality bad guy reputation all the way to the bank. Cutting ties both personally and professionally with Pratt prompted Jenner to do what any reality star would do – create a TV show. In 2008, Jenner executive-produced and starred in a “Hills” spin-off, the aptly titled “Bromance” (MTV), where he searched for a new best friend. Nine males competed in various challenges to win a chance to be a part of Jenner’s entourage. Luke Verge, a 24-year-old Massachusetts native, was picked as the winner.
While his dating life and friends were the focus of “The Hills” and “Bromance,” the Ryan Seacrest-produced reality series “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” centered on Jenner’s extended family, the ex-wife and children of power attorney and former O.J. Simpson lawyer, Robert Kardashian. Even though the show followed the exploits of the wild and crazy Kardashian sisters, Jenner often made guest appearances, including the 2007 episode “Brody in the House” where he looked after his younger half-sisters, Kendall and Kylie.
In April 2009, Jenner returned to “The Hills” for its fifth season, along with girlfriend Jayde Nicole, the 2008 Playboy Playmate of the Year. His reality TV exposure also paved the way for a modeling career. Jenner appeared in a national advertising campaign for OP clothing company. He was also nominated for Choice TV Male Reality/Variety star at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards for his work on “Bromance.”