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Brande Roderick

Brande Nicole Roderick (born June 13, 1974) is an American actress, model, producer, and author best known for her role as lifeguard Leigh Dyer on the television series from 2000 to 2001 and as Playboy's Playmate of the Month for April 2000, followed by her selection as Playmate of the Year in 2001. Born in , Roderick grew up in and attended with initial aspirations in . She began her career in modeling, appearing in various publications and special editions before her breakthrough as a . Her success propelled her into acting opportunities, including guest roles on shows like Joey and , and she joined the cast of during its final seasons in . Roderick's acting credits extend to films such as (2004), where she played Heather, (2007) as Tanya, and Dracula II: Ascension (2003). She has also competed on , including Celebrity Apprentice, and expanded into producing, writing, and directing with projects like the 2024 thriller Wineville, in which she starred as Tess Lott while serving as director, writer, and producer. As a businesswoman and author, she has pursued diverse endeavors, including recent involvement as a for Playboy's Great Playmate Search in 2025. In her personal life, Roderick was married to former NFL linebacker from 2007 to 2017, with whom she shares two sons, Keaton and Kannon. She has since focused on supporting her family as a and maintains an active presence in , teasing multiple new projects as of 2025.

Early life

Childhood and family background

Brande Nicole Roderick was born on June 13, 1974, in . She grew up in a middle-class family in , where her father, Walter Roderick, worked as a diesel mechanic and former U.S. Navy serviceman, and her mother, Debbie Roderick, was employed in appliance repair. Roderick has a younger brother named Jason, and the family resided in working-class communities such as Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park, emphasizing strong moral values in a supportive home environment. When Roderick was 16 years old, her family relocated to in Sonoma County, a move that allowed her to skip a grade by taking additional classes. This upbringing, amid the region's suburban landscapes, provided a stable foundation that nurtured her early creative inclinations. From onward, Roderick engaged in school classes, where she discovered a passion for performance that would shape her future aspirations in . She also enjoyed and staging homemade shows for neighbors, reflecting her outgoing personality and interest in the spotlight during her formative years.

Education

Roderick graduated from Healdsburg High School in , in 1991, on her 17th birthday, where she served as a varsity cheerleader. Following high school, she attended (SRJC) in , majoring in elementary education with a minor in theater. Her interest in performance had roots in earlier school drama classes during , which laid the groundwork for her college aspirations. At SRJC, Roderick enrolled in courses aligned with her personal interests, including a class on serial killers that later informed her work in directing thriller projects.

Career

Modeling and Playboy

Brande Roderick began her modeling career in the late 1990s by working as a spokesmodel at industry conventions, representing brands such as Nintendo, EarthLink, and Budweiser. These promotional appearances provided her early exposure in the entertainment and advertising sectors, where she engaged with audiences to showcase products and build brand visibility. Her breakthrough came in 2000 when she was selected as Playboy's Playmate of the Month for April, featuring in a nude pictorial spread that highlighted her as an aspiring actress from . The feature emphasized her transition from a rural background to the glamour of , capturing her in various artistic poses that aligned with Playboy's signature aesthetic. Building on this success, Roderick was named Playboy's Playmate of the Year in 2001, an honor that included additional magazine appearances and recognition as one of the publication's top models of the era. Throughout her Playboy tenure, Roderick's pictorials often noted personal details such as her tattoos—a on her right ankle and another on her belly—which added to the intimate, character-driven narratives in the features. These appearances solidified her status within the franchise, leading to further nude spreads and promotional events tied to the brand. During this period, developed a romantic relationship with founder , serving as his primary girlfriend for about a year around 2000–2001, which deepened her association with the Playboy Mansion and its social circle. This connection enhanced her prominence within the ecosystem, though she later reflected on it fondly amid public discussions of Hefner's legacy. Her Playboy exposure also paved the way for subsequent acting opportunities in television.

Acting roles

Roderick transitioned from modeling to acting following her Playboy appearances, which opened doors to auditions for on-screen roles. Her breakout came with a starring role as lifeguard Leigh Dyer on the television series Baywatch, where she appeared from 2000 to 2001 opposite Jason Momoa as Jason Ioane. Despite the show's popularity, Roderick later reflected that a common misconception was its guaranteed long-term career boost; after its cancellation, she faced a "rude awakening" in sustaining momentum. In film, Roderick took on supporting parts in several projects, including (2004) as the character Heather, Dracula II: Ascension (2003) as Danielle, and (2007) as Tanya. Other minor film roles encompassed Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror (2006), Club Wild Side 2 (2006), Bunny Whipped (2007), Out of Control (2003), Project Legion (2022), and Wineville (2024). These appearances highlighted her versatility in genres ranging from action-comedy to . On television, beyond , Roderick made guest appearances on series such as (2000), Just Shoot Me! (2003), Joey (2005), and (2004). She also competed as a contestant on the reality series Celebrity Apprentice during seasons 4 (2011) and 5 (2012), reaching the final four in the latter. Over her career, Roderick accumulated nearly two dozen acting credits, primarily in supporting and guest capacities that built on her initial modeling fame.

Producing and directing

Roderick made her directorial debut with the 1970s-set horror thriller Wineville, which she also produced and co-wrote with Richard Schenkman. The film, inspired by her college coursework on the psychology of serial killers and loosely based on the real-life Wineville Chicken Coop Murders, unfolds at a California vineyard owned by a friend who granted access for filming at the historic Galleano Winery. Released theatrically on September 6, 2024, and on video on demand September 10 by Dark Star Pictures, Wineville explores themes of family secrets and abuse in a rural setting, marking Roderick's full immersion in independent horror production. Prior to directing, Roderick established herself as a through several films, including the 2022 thriller Twisted Vines, a vineyard-set murder mystery; the sci-fi Project Legion (2022), where she handled alongside her duties; and the Ace and the Christmas Miracle (2021). These projects reflect her hands-on approach to financing and logistics, often self-funding elements like location shoots to bring stories to fruition. Her background provided foundational skills in and collaboration, enabling a seamless shift to creative control in low-budget features. Roderick's evolution into continued with her production involvement in the 2025 action-drama The Pony, an adrenaline-fueled story of sisters, which wrapped in November 2025. Through these endeavors, she has built a portfolio emphasizing genre-driven independent cinema, prioritizing narrative depth and practical production challenges over high-budget spectacles.

Other business ventures

In recent years, Brande Roderick has expanded her entrepreneurial pursuits through digital content creation, joining in August 2022 to provide exclusive content including behind-the-scenes glimpses from her and Baywatch eras. She has described the platform as a "wonderful outlet" that grants her full control over her image, akin to her experiences during her tenure, while serving as a vital financial resource for supporting her family as a . Roderick ventured into artificial intelligence applications in July 2025 by partnering with OhChat to create an , enabling fans to interact with a virtual representation of her from her 2001 Playmate of the Year era. She expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, noting it as an innovative way to connect nostalgically with audiences through technology that revives her past persona. In August 2025, was appointed as an official judge for Playboy's Great Playmate Search, a global digital casting call aimed at selecting the 2026 Playmate of the Year, with winners receiving prizes such as professional photo shoots, cash awards, and features in the magazine. This role leverages her legacy as a former Playmate to evaluate entrants alongside other notable alumni. As of April 2025, Roderick teased her involvement in three upcoming projects. Beyond these digital endeavors, Roderick has pursued authorship and broader interests, including her 2010 Bounce, Don't Break: Brande's Guide to Life, Love, and Success, published by Running Press, which offers personal insights on and . She has also established herself as a founder through her , She-Ra Productions Inc., focusing on entrepreneurial branding and market strategies.

Personal life

Relationships and marriage

Roderick began a high-profile relationship with founder in 2000, which lasted until 2001 and coincided with her prominence as a . The romance drew media attention due to Hefner's status and Roderick's recent appearance, though it ended amicably as she pursued acting opportunities. In the early 2000s, Roderick was romantically linked to former quarterback , with the pair vacationing together in around 2000. Their connection was brief and overlapped with her transition from modeling to television roles, but it garnered tabloid interest given McNown's sports career. Roderick's most significant long-term partnership was with retired NFL linebacker Glenn Cadrez, whom she began dating in 2003 after meeting while she auditioned for a role in the film Hood of Horror through his production company. The couple became engaged in August 2006 and married in June 2007 in a private ceremony. Their marriage lasted a decade, during which they relocated from Los Angeles to La Jolla, California, in 2014, seeking a quieter coastal lifestyle that aligned with Cadrez's post-retirement interests. The union ended in divorce, finalized on October 6, 2017, following a filing earlier that year in County Superior Court. Post-divorce, Roderick has publicly stated that she received no financial support from Cadrez, which influenced her career decisions in subsequent years.

Family and children

Brande Roderick gave birth to her first son, Keaton Roderick-Cadrez, on March 4, 2010, at the age of 35. The child weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces and measured 20 inches at birth. Her second son, Kannon Roderick-Cadrez, was born on June 17, 2011, when Roderick was 37 years old. Following her divorce from in 2017, has raised her two sons as a . In raising Keaton and Kannon, she emphasizes teaching them self-security and , encouraging them to feel confident in themselves and to appreciate beauty in others regardless of shape, size, or color. To support her family without financial assistance from their father, has relied on income from her platform, describing it in 2024 as a vital resource for covering all household needs as a of two boys.

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