A. J. Cook
Born: 1978-07-22 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Known For: Acting
Biography
Andrea Joy "A.J." Cook (born July 22, 1978) is a Canadian actress best known for her role as Supervisory Special Agent Jennifer "JJ" Jareau in the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds. She has also appeared in several Hollywood films including The Virgin Suicides, Out Cold, and Final Destination 2. Cook was born in Oshawa, Ontario, and spent most of her life growing up in Whitby, where she attended Anderson Collegiate Vocational Institute. Her father, Mike, is a teacher, and her mother, Sandra, works as a psychiatrist.She has three siblings, Nathan, Paul, and Angela. Cook is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.A dancer from age four,Cook began taking jazz, tap and ballet lessons. She danced competitively for many years, before deciding at the age of 16 that she wanted to try acting. On August 3, 2001, Cook married her long-time boyfriend, Nathan Andersen, whom she met in a film class at Utah Valley University. She later moved to Salt Lake City, Utahto be with him and currently resides in Los Angeles, California.In March 2008, it was reported that Cook and Andersen would be expecting their first child in October.Their son, Mekhai Allan Andersen, was born on September 13, 2008. Cook said "He's such a good baby. I feel so lucky that he's mine. My husband and I feel very blessed!"Mekhai made a brief appearance as Henry LaMontagne in Criminal Minds in Season 5 when Cook's character Jennifer Jareau was in a pharmacy buying children's medicine which leads to a breakthrough in the case the BAU was currently trying to solve.[13] He reprised the role of Henry in the Criminal Minds two-hour season seven finale in 2012. Cook and Andersen are also the owners of a Yorkshire Terrier named Zara.Cook was considered legally blind at an early age because of a severe astigmatism, but wore contacts to correct her vision. She eventually underwent surgery where a lens implant was used to correct the impairment.Cook is best friends with actress Meghan Ory. Description above from the Wikipedia article A. J. Cook (actress), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
2019
- Back Fork as Nida
2018
- 9-1-1 as Kira
2013
- Wer as Kate Moore
2012
- Least Among Saints as Cheryl
2011
- Bringing Ashley Home as Libba
2010
- Misconceptions as Mranda Bliss
- Mother's Day as Vicky Rice
2007
- Night Skies as LIlly
- I'm Reed Fish as Theresa
2006
- Vanished as Hope
2005
- Criminal Minds as Jennifer Jareau
- Bloodsuckers as Fiona
2003
- Dead Like Me as Charlotte
- Final Destination 2 as Kimberly Corman
- Tru Calling as Lindsay Walker
- Bits and Pieces: Bringing Death to Life as Self
2002
- The House Next Door as Lori Peterson (as AJ Cook)
2001
- Out Cold as Jenny
- Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell as Diana Collins
- Ripper: Letter from Hell as Molly Keller
2000
- The Virgin Suicides as Mary Lisbon
- Higher Ground as Shelby Merrick
- The Spiral Staircase as Local Girl
1999
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Debbie Shields
- Blue Moon as Alison
- Teen Sorcery as Dawn
1998
- First Wave as Lindsay Tilden
1997
- Laserhawk as Pretty Girl #1
- Elvis Meets Nixon as Hippie Chick
1995
- Goosebumps as Kim
1988
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark as AJ Cook