Bridget Marquardt

Bridget Christina Sandmeier (born September 25, 1973), better known as Bridget Marquardt, is an American television personality, glamor model, and actress. She is best known for her role on the reality television series The Girls Next Door with Holly Madison and Kendra Wilkinson, all girlfriends of Playboy magazine publisher Hugh Hefner.

Biography

Marquardt was born in Tillamook, Oregon after her family moved there from Lodi, California. Shortly after her birth, Marquardt's mother moved the family back to California, where Marquardt was raised. Her parents eventually divorced and later her mother remarried when she was in the fifth grade. Marquardt lived with her mother and younger brother Edward on their stepfather's ranch. Her mother and stepfather had daughter Anastacia. Marquardt attended Galt High School for her freshman and sophomore years and then transferred to Lodi High School from which she graduated in 1990 .

Marquardt graduated from San Joaquin Delta College with an Associate Degree. She matriculated to California State University, Sacramento and graduated in 1998 with a B.A. in communications and an emphasis on public relations. In 2001 she earned her Master's Degree in Communications from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California . She later took a graduate level course in broadcast journalism through UCLA Extension, which was shown on the first season of The Girls Next Door (most notably when she had to walk out of her first Playboy shoot to attend a class).

Personal life

Bridget married Chad Christopher Marquardt on August 2, 1997. In the September 17, 2007 issue of Star magazine, Marquardt stated that she is married, but separated and has been the entire time she has lived in the Playboy mansion (since October 2002). According to the interview, her husband Chad Marquardt supported her move to LA and they have remained friends, and are in the process of divorcing .

Career

On the advice of friends who suggested she pose for Playboy magazine, Marquardt sent a letter to Playboy inquiring how to become a Playmate before enrolling at San Joaquin Delta College. In 1998 at the age of 25, Marquardt entered Playboy's Millennium Playmate search. She had a successful photo shoot and was sent to the Playboy Mansion for another test shoot. In 2001, Marquardt moved to Los Angeles and quickly got local modeling jobs and small acting roles. According to Bunny Tales by former Hefner girlfriend Izabella St. James, Bridget worked as a dancer at Spearmint Rhino before becoming one of Hefner's girlfriends. After testing twice unsuccessfully for Playboy, she was invited to the Playboy Mansion and soon became a regular there. In October 2002, after more than a year of visiting the Mansion, she was invited to move in and become one of Hefner's girlfriends.

In media

at LA Direct Magazine's "Remember to Give" Holiday Party on December 13, 2007 in Hollywood.

Marquardt is featured on the E! TV show The Girls Next Door, and appeared in a cover pictorial in Playboy magazine's November 2005 issue as well as cover spreads in the September 2006 and March 2008 issues. She has appeared in several films as well including the horror/comedy Kottentail in which she portrays a scientist doing genetic research on rabbits. She appeared in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm as herself along with Holly Madison and Hefner in 2005. She also appeared as herself along with Madison and Wilkinson in the Entourage episode "Aquamansion". The episode's final act takes place at the Playboy Mansion. Hefner also plays himself in the episode.

Marquardt appeared in an episode of Celebrity Paranormal Project which aired on November 19, 2006. In the episode, she had the strongest connection with ghosts of anyone else in the group. She also claimed to have taken an online paranormal course because of her interests in paranormal activity.

Marquardt appeared in an episode of The Man Show in a search to find new juggies in 2002.

Marquardt makes an appearance in the video game Playboy: The Mansion as one of Hugh Hefner's playmates.

On June 1, 2007, Marquardt started her Bridget & Wednesday Friday Show on Sirius Radio's Playboy station.

In August 2007 , Marquardt also appeared in Nickelback's music video for their top ten international hit song "Rockstar (Nickelback song)." She, as well as Kendra Wilkinson and Holly Madison show up as the lead singer mentions Playboy Bunnies. Many other celebrities took part in the video as well.

In October 2007, Marquardt appeared as a contestant on the Fox Reality cable show show The Search for the Next Elvira. She was one of the final six out of 20 contestants.

On July 1, 2008, Marquardt and the rest of the Girls Next Door appeared on NBC’s new show Celebrity Family Feud. They will compete against Vincent Pastore of Sopranos fame. The winner will donate the winnings to their favorite charity .

In June 2008, Marquardt landed her own TV series, Bridget's Beaches, which will air on the Travel Channel .

Filmography

Films

• The House Bunny (2008) - Herself
• Black Friday (2008) - Maria Hillburg (pre-production)
• Scary Movie 4 (2006) - Herself
• Tomorrow's Yesterday (2006) - Crystal
• Kottentail (2004) - Scarlet Salenger
• Intolerable Cruelty (2003) - Santa Fe Tart

Television

• The Girls Next Door - (2005 - present) - Herself
• Curb Your Enthusiasm - episode: "The Smoking Jacket" (2005) - Bridget
• Entourage - episode: "Aquamansion" (2005) - Playmate
• Robot Chicken - episode: "Drippy Pony" (2006) - Herself
• Celebrity Paranormal Project - episode: "Tanner's Ghost" (2006) - Herself
• The Apprentice: Los Angeles - episode: "Pink is the New Black" (2007) - Herself
• Identity (2007)
• General Hospital (August 29, 2007)
• The Tyra Banks Show (2007) - Herself
• The Ellen Degeneres Show (2007) - Herself
• The Search for the Next Elvira (2007) - Herself
• Phenomenon (2007) - Herself
• WWE Raw (November 5, 2007) - Herself
• Celebrity Family Feud (July 1, 2008) - Herself

External links

• Official Site of Bridget Marquardt
• Bridget Marquardt at IMDb
• Template:Myspace
• Marquardt's page at Playboy.com