A.J. Cook

Acting

A.J. Cook

Born
(age 48)
Birthplace
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Credits
33 titles

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.

Signature work

Known For

Acting credits 33

YearTitleRole
2019 Back Fork Film Nida
2018 9-1-1 TV Kira (1 ep)
2013 Wer Film Kate Moore
2012 Least Among Saints Film Cheryl
2011 Bringing Ashley Home Film Libba
2010 Mother's Day Film Vicky Rice
2010 Misconceptions Film Mranda Bliss
2007 I'm Reed Fish Film Theresa
2007 Night Skies Film LIlly
2006 Vanished Film Hope
2005 Criminal Minds TV Jennifer Jareau (344 ep)
2005 Bloodsuckers Film Fiona
2003 Tru Calling TV Lindsay Walker (20 ep)
2003 Dead Like Me TV Charlotte (1 ep)
2003 Final Destination 2 Film Kimberly Corman
2003 Bits and Pieces: Bringing Death to Life Film Self
2002 The House Next Door Film Lori Peterson (as AJ Cook)
2001 Out Cold Film Jenny
2001 Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell Film Diana Collins
2001 Ripper: Letter from Hell Film Molly Keller
2000 The Virgin Suicides Film Mary Lisbon
2000 The Spiral Staircase Film Local Girl
2000 Higher Ground TV Shelby Merrick (22 ep)
1999 Teen Sorcery Film Dawn
1999 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit TV Debbie Shields (1 ep)
1999 Blue Moon Film Alison
1998 First Wave TV Lindsay Tilden (1 ep)
1997 Elvis Meets Nixon Film Hippie Chick
1997 Goosebumps: Don't Wake Mummy Film Kim
1997 Laserhawk Film Pretty Girl #1
1996 Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal TV (2 ep)
1995 Goosebumps TV Kim (1 ep)
1988 LIVE with Kelly and Mark TV AJ Cook (1 ep)

Crew credits 1

YearTitleJob
2005 Criminal Minds TV Director (4 ep)
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