Printable Biography of A. J. Cook

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She has appeared in several Hollywood films and television shows including The Virgin Suicides, Out Cold, Final Destination 2 and Criminal Minds.

Cook was born in Oshawa, Ontario and spent most of her life growing up in Whitby. Her father, Mike, is a teacher and her mother, Sandra, is a sheriff and works for a psychiatrist.[1] She has three siblings named Nathan, Paul and Angela. Cook is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[2] As a devout Mormon, she accepts only roles that don't go against her faith. At four years old, Cook began taking jazz, tap and ballet lessons. She danced competitively for many years before deciding at the age of 17 that she wanted to try acting.

Cook's first job was in a McDonald's commercial in 1997. She had a guest role on the television series Goosebumps, and appeared in two television movies, In His Father’s Shoes and Elvis Meets Nixon. Cook made her feature film debut in 1999's The Virgin Suicides. Also that year she got a recurring in the TV series Higher Ground.

Cook starred in the 2000 TV movie The Spiral Staircase, and then appeared in several films, including Out Cold and Final Destination 2. She currently stars as Jennifer "J.J." Jareau in the CBS drama Criminal Minds.

In September 2001, Cook married her long-time boyfriend Nathan Anderson, whom she met in a film class at Utah Valley State College (UVSC). She later moved to Salt Lake City, Utah to be with him and currently resides in Los Angeles, California.