Mendenhall was born in Oceanside, California. He has a younger sister, Marissa. Mendenhall began his acting career at the age of four. In 1979, he auditioned for and won the role of Mike Webber on the soap opera General Hospital. He remained with the series until 1986. During that time, Mendenhall started acting in feature films. Mendenhall made his film debut in the 1983 space Western, Space Raiders, produced by Roger Corman. Notable television appearances during the 80s also included playing Elaine Nardo's son on Taxi on three episodes, and playing a 12-year-old drug dealer in “The Reporter”, a very special episode of the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes. The episode featured a guest appearance by then-First Lady Nancy Reagan.
At age 15, Mendenhall portrayed Sylvester Stallone’s son in the 1987 sport drama Over the Top, about a long haul truck driver who tries to win back his alienated son while becoming a champion arm wrestler. That same year, he appeared in the comedy Going Bananas with Dom DeLuise and Jimmie Walker. In 1989, Mendenhall worked on The Secret of the Ice Cave with Sally Kellerman, which was shot in Chile. All three movies were produced by Cannon Films. In 1989, Mendenhall starred opposite Christina Applegate in the drama Streets, once again working with Roger Corman, who produced. On television, Mendenhall had a recurring role for two seasons on the NBC drama Our House, starring Wilford Brimley.
Mendenhall has since worked at the legal departments of several entertainment companies, including NBCUniversal Television Group, and Buena Vista Home Entertainment.[citation needed] From 2007-08, he was the clearance coordinator for the NBC television program Deal or No Deal.[citation needed] Afterwards he worked in the prize department on GSN Live for the Game Show Network, and later as a prize producer for shows on NBC and Fox.[citation needed]
