Kirsten Vangsness
Kirsten Vangsness | |
|---|---|
| File:Kirsten Vangsness @ SXSW 2019 (47300390192) (cropped).jpg Vangsness in 2019 | |
| Born | July 7, 1972 |
| Alma mater | California State University, Fullerton (BA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1998–present |
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Kirsten Vangsness (born July 7, 1972)[1] is an American actress and writer best known for her role as FBI Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia on CBS's Criminal Minds, as well as the spin-off, Suspect Behavior[2] and Beyond Borders.
Early life
[edit | edit source]Vangsness attended Cypress College in Cypress, California.[3] She later graduated from California State University, Fullerton in 1996.[4][5]
Career
[edit | edit source]Acting
[edit | edit source]Vangsness became involved in acting as a child to help overcome shyness[6] and got her first big break in the theatre, where she won several awards, including the 15 Minutes of Female Best Actress Award, the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Best Emerging Comic Actress, and the Golden Betty Award.[4]
Writing
[edit | edit source]Vangsness' work has been published in the Los Angeles Times. Since 2014, Vangsness has co-written four episodes of Criminal Minds. In 2014, she co-wrote "Nelson's Sparrow" with executive producer, Erica Messer.[7] In 2015, she co-wrote "A Beautiful Disaster" once again with Messer[8] and in 2016 she co-wrote "Spencer" with Messer. The Criminal Minds series finale (before the revival) was also co-written by Vangsness and Messer.[9]
Personal life
[edit | edit source]In a 2011 interview, Vangsness described herself "as queer as a purple unicorn singing Madonna".[10] She was in a seven year relationship with editor Melanie Goldstein, to whom she was engaged, until 2013.[11]
In 2015, she announced her engagement to Keith Hanson. Though she has been engaged to both a man and a woman, Vangsness says she doesn't identify as bisexual. "...If I were straight, I would say I was, but I don't totally understand it myself. I don't want to have an answer to something that I don't really have an answer to."[12] Since then however, she has referred to herself as bisexual in social media posts.[13][14][15][16]
Other ventures
[edit | edit source]Vangsness serves as a spokesperson, volunteer and advocate for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, an organization that encourages children to fundraise and spread awareness of pediatric cancer by running their own lemonade stands.
Filmography
[edit | edit source]Film
[edit | edit source]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Sometimes Santa's Gotta Get Whacked | Tooth Fairy | Short |
| 2006 | A-List | Blue | |
| 2008 | Tranny McGuyver | TV News Reporter | Short |
| 2009 | Scream of the Bikini | Interior Decorator | |
| 2010 | In My Sleep | Madge | |
| 2011 | Sarina's Song | Party Guest | Short |
| The Chicago 8 | Sketch Artist | ||
| 2012 | Remember to Breathe | Vocals for Young Alice | Short |
| 2015 | Kill Me, Deadly | Mona Livingston | |
| 2016 | Diane & Devine Meet the Apocalypse | Fawn | |
| 2017 | Axis | Heather (voice) | |
| Dave Made a Maze | Jane |
Television
[edit | edit source]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Phil of the Future | Veronica | Episode: "Age Before Beauty" |
| LAX | Ticket Agent / Stephanie | 3 episodes | |
| 2005–present | Criminal Minds | Penelope Garcia | Main role |
| 2010 | Vampire Mob | Laura Anderson | |
| 2010–2012 | Pretty the Series | Meredith Champagne | Recurring role |
| 2011 | Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior | Penelope Garcia | Main role |
| Second City This Week | Herself | 1 episode | |
| 2011–2013 | Good Job, Thanks! | Therapist | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Shelf Life | Freaky Squeaky | 6 episodes, webseries |
| 2016–2017 | Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders | Penelope Garcia | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Amish Stud: The Eli Weaver Story | Barb Raber | Television film |
| 2024–present | Wizards Beyond Waverly Place | Bigelow McFigglehorn | Recurring role |
References
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- ^ "'Criminal Minds' Star Kirsten Vangsness Is Engaged: 'He's the Perfect Partner'". People.
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External links
[edit | edit source]
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