A.J. Cook

Date of birth: July 22, 1978
Astrological Zodiac sign: Cancer
Age: 34

Andrea Joy Cook is a Canadian actress more commonly known as A. J. Cook. She has appeared in several Hollywood films and television shows including The Virgin Suicides, Out Cold, and Final Destination 2. Currently she plays Special Agent Jennifer "JJ" Jareau in 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, works for a psychiatrist. She has three siblings named Nathan, Paul, and Angela. Cook is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a devout Mormon, she accepts only roles that do not conflict with her faith. At four years of age, 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 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 captivating suicidal 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 rough-around-the-edges 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 3.

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 University (UVU). She later moved to Salt Lake City, Utah to be with him and currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

In March 2008, it was reported that Cook and Anderson would be expecting their first child in October. The couple welcomed son Mekhai Allan Anderson on Saturday, September 13th. Weighing in at 7 lbs, 10 oz and 20 inches long, Mekhai was born at 8:50 p.m. A.J. said "He's such a good baby. I feel so lucky that he's mine. My husband and I feel very blessed!"

See also:  Actress,  Criminal Minds,  Canadian,  The Virgin Suicides,  Out Cold,  Final Destination 2,  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,  McDonald's,  Higher Ground