This is an accepted version of this page
A. J. Cook | |
|---|---|
 Cook in 2010 | |
| Born | Andrea Joy Cook (1978-07-22)July 22, 1978 (age 46) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active |
|
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Andrea Joy Cook[1] (born July 22, 1978[2]) is a Canadian actress. She is best known for her role as Supervisory Special AgentJennifer "JJ" Jareau on theCBS crime dramaCriminal Minds (2005–2020, 2022–). Cook has also appeared inThe Virgin Suicides (1999),Higher Ground (2000),Ripper (2001),Out Cold (2001),Final Destination 2 (2003), andTru Calling (2003–2004).
Cook was born inOshawa,Ontario. She spent most of her early life in nearbyWhitby, where she attendedAnderson Collegiate Vocational Institute. She has three siblings: Nathan, Paul, and Angela.
Cook was declared legally blind in the second grade because of severeastigmatism, but wore contacts and thick "Coke bottle" glasses to correct her vision. Talking about her childhood, Cook recalled how other kids were "cruel" and that she "really couldn't see" and "everything looked like a smear of colour with no shapes". She also said that at the time of her diagnosis, she was not doing well in school. At first, people thought she had a learning disability because she could not read. In reality, she could not see the board, which affected her ability to recognize letters and know the sounds they made.[3] In 2007, a surgical lens implant corrected the impairment.[4]
A dancer from age four,[5] Cook began takingjazz,tap andballet lessons. She said that dance kept her engaged growing up as she did not have to recite or read anything.[6] She danced competitively for many years, before deciding at the age of 16 that she wanted to try acting. Cook also taught dance when she was younger and has stated that if she hadn't become an actress, she would most likely have set up a small dance studio somewhere. In an interview, she said that she still tap dances.
Cook's first job was in aMcDonald's commercial in 1997. She graduated to series work with a guest role on the television seriesGoosebumps and parts in two television movies,In His Father's Shoes andElvis Meets Nixon. Cook launched her feature film career as one of five suicidal Lisbon sisters in 1999'sThe Virgin Suicides. Also that year, she took a starring role in the TV seriesHigher Ground, in which Cook played Shelby Merrick, an adolescent girl dealing with abuse and heartache at a wilderness school for struggling teens.Higher Ground lasted one season, ending with a romance between Shelby andHayden Christensen's character Scott.
AfterHigher Ground, Cook appeared in the 2000TV movieThe Spiral Staircase (alongsideHigher Ground alumKandyse McClure), and then captured leading roles in several films, includingOut Cold (asJason London's love interest),Ripper,I'm Reed Fish, andFinal Destination 2. In 2003, Cook guest starred inDead Like Me. She was also in Season One ofTru Calling as Lindsay Walker.
Beginning in September 2005, she starred asJennifer "J.J." Jareau in theCBS dramaCriminal Minds. On June 14, 2010, it was announced that her contract option would not be picked up for season six as a series regular reportedly due to budget cuts on the show,[7] but she returned for two episodes to wrap up her character's storyline due to thousands of letters and petitions written to the show's producers.[8][9] She also returned for one episode for the departure ofPaget Brewster from the series.[10] Former executive producer of ''Criminal Minds'', Ed Bernero, later claimed that CBS executives called him one day and asked him to get rid of Cook and Brewster.[11] Brewster also mentioned in a separate interview that someone from CBS called Bernero and said they wanted "new women" which led to their firing. She said that it was not due to budget cuts as their replacement was paid twice what they were paid.[12]
.jpg)
In April 2011, it was reported that Cook had signed to reappear for two more seasons of the show.[13] In 2013, Cook and herCriminal Minds co-star Kirsten Vangsness managed to negotiate salary raises but not parity after years of being paid less than half the salary of fellow co-stars Matthew Gray Gubler and Shemar Moore. In 2017, both women held out on signing new contracts as they sought pay parity with Gubler. They eventually succeeded and closed new deals to return.[14] Cook would continue to star in the series until it ended in 2020 after 15 seasons.[15] After the show wrapped, Cook decided to take a break from acting and in 2022, she guest-starred on the show9-1-1. It was also announced that she would be returning for theCriminal Minds revival.[16]
In 2013, it was announced she was hired as a spokeswoman forProactiv.[17] She appeared in the January/February 2014 issue ofMaxim magazine.[18]She was ranked at 88 on the Maxim Hot 100 2014 list.[19] She was the Grand Marshal for theSTP 500 atMartinsville Speedway inMartinsville, Virginia on April 3, 2016.[20]
Cook was raised inthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church),[21] although she is no longer a practicing member.[22] She also did not limit her acting solely to roles reflecting LDS Church beliefs.[23] On August 3, 2001, she married her long-time boyfriend, Nathan Andersen. The two met in a film class atUtah Valley University, and she later moved toSalt Lake City, Utah,[24] to be with him. They reside inLos Angeles, California, with their two sons.[5]
In September 2008, their first son, Mekhai Allan, was born.[25][26] He appeared as Henry LaMontagne throughout theCriminal Minds series.[27] The couple's second son, Phoenix Sky, was born in July 2015.[28] Cook and her husband named him Phoenix because they were told that they couldn't have any more children but Phoenix was a surprise and "just rose up".[29] He also appeared inCriminal Minds, as Jareau's second son, Michael.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Laserhawk | Pretty Girl #1 | |
| 1999 | The Virgin Suicides | Mary Lisbon | |
| Teen Sorcery | Dawn | Direct-to-video | |
| 2001 | Ripper | Molly Keller | |
| Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell | Diana Collins | Direct-to-video | |
| Out Cold | Jenny | ||
| 2002 | The House Next Door | Lori Peterson | |
| 2003 | Final Destination 2 | Kimberly Corman | |
| 2006 | I'm Reed Fish | Theresa | |
| 2007 | Night Skies | Lilly | |
| 2008 | Misconceptions | Miranda Bliss | |
| 2010 | Mother's Day | Vicky Rice | |
| 2012 | Least Among Saints | Cheryl | |
| 2013 | Wer | Kate Moore | |
| 2019 | Back Fork | Nida |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Elvis Meets Nixon | Hippie chick | TV film |
| In His Father's Shoes | Lisa | TV film | |
| Goosebumps | Kim | Episode: "Don't Wake Mummy" | |
| Psi Factor | Jill Starling | Episode: "Second Sight/Chocolate Soldier" | |
| 1998 | Psi Factor | Lee Mason | Episode: "Hell Week" |
| 1999 | Blue Moon | Alison | TV film |
| 2000 | The Spiral Staircase | Local Girl | TV film |
| Higher Ground | Shelby Merrick | Main role | |
| First Wave | Lindsay Tilden | Episode: "The Flight of Francis Jeffries" | |
| 2003 | Dead Like Me | Charlotte | Episode: "Sunday Mornings" |
| Tru Calling | Lindsay Walker | Main role in season one; 20 episodes | |
| 2005 | Bloodsuckers | Fiona | TV film |
| 2005–2020 2022–present | Criminal Minds | Jennifer Jareau | Main role: seasons 1–5, 7–present Recurring: season 6 334 episodes |
| 2006 | Vanished | Hope | TV film |
| 2011 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Dr. Debbie Shields | Episode: "Mask" |
| Bringing Ashley Home | Libba | TV film | |
| 2022 | 9-1-1 | Kira | Episode:"Boston" |
| Year | Title | Episode |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Criminal Minds | Season 14 Episode 13: "Chameleon" |
| 2023 | Season 16 Episode 8: "Forget Me Knots" | |
| 2024 | Season 17 Episode 2: “Contagion” |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
