Andrea Joy Cook, a Canadian actress, is famous for playing Supervisory Special Agent Jennifer “JJ” Jareau on the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds (2005–2020, 2022–). She has also acted in The Virgin Suicides (1999), Higher Ground (2000), Ripper (2001), Out Cold (2001), Final Destination 2 (2003), and Tru Calling (2003–2004). Andrea Joy Cook, born in Oshawa, Ontario, grew up in Whitby and attended Anderson Collegiate Vocational Institute. She has three siblings: Nathan, Paul, and Angela.

In second grade, she was declared legally blind due to severe astigmatism, needing contacts and thick glasses. Her childhood was challenging, as she struggled to see and learn. People initially thought she had a learning disability, but it was her vision that was the issue. In 2007, she had a surgical lens implant to correct her vision.

Cook started dancing at the age of four, focusing on jazz, tap, and ballet. Dance kept her engaged since she didn’t need to read. She competed in dance for many years but transitioned to acting at 16. and also taught dance and mentioned that if she hadn’t become an actress, she might have opened a dance studio. She still enjoys tap dancing.

Career

Andrea Joy Cook began her career with a McDonald’s commercial in 1997. She then appeared in the TV series “Goosebumps” and had roles in TV movies like “In His Father’s Shoes” and “Elvis Meets Nixon.” In 1999, she made her feature film debut in “The Virgin Suicides” as one of the Lisbon sisters.

In the same year, she starred in the TV series “Higher Ground” as Shelby Merrick, a troubled teenager at a wilderness school. The series ran for one season and concluded with a romance between Shelby and Hayden Christensen’s character, Scott.

After “Higher Ground,” A.J. Cook starred in the 2000 TV movie “The Spiral Staircase” alongside Kandyse McClure from “Higher Ground.” She also played leading roles in several films like “Out Cold” as Jason London’s love interest, “Ripper,” “I’m Reed Fish,” and “Final Destination 2.” In 2003, she made a guest appearance in “Dead Like Me” and had a role in the first season of “Tru Calling” as Lindsay Walker.

From September 2005, she played Jennifer “J.J.” Jareau in the CBS drama “Criminal Minds.” Her contract wasn’t initially renewed for the sixth season due to reported budget cuts, but she returned for two episodes to conclude her character’s storyline following a fan-driven campaign. Cook also returned for one episode during Paget Brewster’s departure from the series. Former “Criminal Minds” executive producer Ed Bernero claimed that CBS executives asked him to remove Cook and Brewster, with Brewster revealing they were replaced by actresses who were paid double their salaries.

In April 2011, it was reported that A.J. Cook signed on to appear in two more seasons of “Criminal Minds.” However, she and her co-star Kirsten Vangsness had been paid considerably less than some of their male co-stars like Matthew Gray Gubler and Shemar Moore. In 2013, they negotiated for salary raises but didn’t achieve full pay parity.

In 2017, both Cook and Vangsness held out on signing new contracts until they secured equal pay with Gubler. They eventually succeeded and closed new deals to return. Cook continued to star in “Criminal Minds” until it concluded in 2020 after 15 seasons. After the show ended, Cook took a break from acting. In 2022, she made a guest appearance on the show “9-1-1.” It was also announced that she would be returning for the “Criminal Minds” revival.

Everything I do is me. I don’t like taking ideas from people unless they’re the G.O.A.T.

A Boogie wit da Hoodie

Other ventures

In 2013, she made headlines when she signed on as a spokesperson for Proactiv. The following year, she graced the pages of Maxim magazine in its January/February 2014 issue, earning a spot on Maxim’s Hot 100 list, ranking at number 88 in 2014. Then, in a different role altogether, she was honored to serve as the Grand Marshal for the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia on April 3, 2016.

Cook’s background reveals a connection to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), although she no longer actively practices this faith. Her career in acting was not confined to roles aligned with LDS Church beliefs.

She married her long-time boyfriend, Nathan Andersen, on August 3, 2001. They initially crossed paths while taking a film class at Utah Valley University, which led her to move to Salt Lake City, Utah, to be with him. Presently, they call Los Angeles, California, their home and are the parents of two sons.

Their first son, Mekhai Allan, was welcomed into the world in September 2008 and even made appearances as Henry LaMontagne in the Criminal Minds series. Their second son, Phoenix Sky, was born in July 2015. His name carries a meaningful story, as he arrived unexpectedly despite earlier beliefs that they couldn’t have more children. Phoenix also had an acting role in Criminal Minds as Jareau’s second son, Michael.

A. J. Cook, whose full name is Andrea Joy Cook, is a Canadian actress known for her roles in various film and television productions. Some of her famous works include:

1. Criminal Minds (TV Series): A. J. Cook is perhaps best known for her role as Jennifer “JJ” Jareau in the long-running TV series “Criminal Minds.” She was a prominent cast member and portrayed the character for many seasons, earning her a dedicated fan following.
2. Final Destination 2 (2003): Cook had a significant role in this popular horror film as Kimberly Corman, one of the main characters. The film is part of the “Final Destination” film series.
3. Ripper: Letter from Hell (2001): In this horror film, she played the lead role of Molly Keller, a young woman targeted by a serial killer.
4. The Virgin Suicides (1999): Cook had a supporting role in this drama film, which was directed by Sofia Coppola. She played Mary Lisbon, one of the Lisbon sisters.
5. Bringing Ashley Home (2011): A. J. Cook starred in this TV movie as Ashley Phillips, a woman searching for her missing sister. The film is based on a true story.
6. Least Among Saints (2012): Cook acted in this drama film as Jolene, a character who helps a troubled war veteran.

These are some of the notable works in A. J. Cook’s career. She has also made appearances in other TV shows and films over the years, contributing to her reputation as a talented actress in the industry.