A. J. Cook
Andrea Joy Cook (born July 22, 1978) is a Canadian actress. She is best known for her role as Supervisory Special Agent Jennifer "JJ" Jareau on the CBS crime drama "Criminal Minds" (2005–2020)"." Cook has also appeared in "The Virgin Suicides" (1999), "Higher Ground" (2000), "Ripper" (2001), "Out Cold" (2001), "Final Destination 2" (2003), and "Tru Calling" (2003–2004). Early life. Cook was born in Oshawa, Ontario. She spent most of her early life in nearby Whitby, where she attended Anderson Collegiate Vocational Institute. She has three siblings: Nathan, Paul, and Angela. Cook was declared legally blind in  the second grade because of severe astigmatism, but wore contacts and thick glasses to correct her vision. In 2007 she underwent surgery during which a lens implant corrected the impairment. 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. 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. Career. Cook's first job was in a McDonald's commercial in 1997. She graduated to series work with a guest role on the television series "Goosebumps", and parts in two television movies, "In His Father's Shoes" and "Elvis Meets Nixon". Cook launched her feature film career as one of five suicidal Lisbon sisters in 1999's "The Virgin Suicides". Also that year, she took a starring role in the TV series "Higher Ground", in which Cook played Shelby Merrick, a teenage girl dealing with abuse and heartache at a wilderness school for struggling kids. "Higher  Ground" lasted one season, ending with a romance between Shelby and Hayden Christensen's character, Scott. After "Higher Ground", Cook appeared in the 2000 TV movie "The Spiral Staircase" (alongside "Higher Ground" alum Kandyse McClure), and then captured leading roles in several films, including "Out Cold" (as Jason London's love interest), "Ripper", "I'm Reed Fish", and "Final Destination 2". In 2003, Cook guest starred in "Dead Like Me". She was also in Season One of "Tru Calling" as Lindsay Walker. Beginning in September 2005, she starred as Jennifer "J.J." Jareau in the CBS drama "Criminal 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, 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. She also returned for one episode for the departure of Paget Brewster from the series. On April 16, 2011, it was reported that she had signed to reappear for two more seasons of the show. Cook would continue to star in the series until it  ended in 2020 after 15 seasons. Other ventures. In 2013, it was announced she was hired as a spokeswoman for Proactiv. She appeared in the January/February 2014 issue of "Maxim" magazine. She was ranked at 88 on the Maxim Hot 100 2014 list. She was the Grand Marshal for the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia on April 3, 2016. Personal life. Cook is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but she does not limit her acting solely to roles reflecting her beliefs. On August 3, 2001, she married her long -time boyfriend, Nathan Andersen. The two met in a film class at Utah Valley University, and she later moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, to be with him. They reside in Los Angeles, California, with their two sons. In September 2008, their first son, Mekhai Allan, was born. He appeared as Henry LaMontagne throughout the "Criminal Minds" series. The couple's second son, Phoenix Sky, was born in July 2015. He also appeared in "Criminal Minds", as JJ's second son, Michael.