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A.J. Cook is one of the finest Canadian actresses that we have got in Hollywood. She shot to fame after landing the role of Special Agent Jennifer “JJ” Jareau on the long-running CBS crime drama Criminal Minds. She joined the crime drama during its inaugural season and has been playing her part ever since.
In addition, the gorgeous actress has been a part of various acclaimed projects like The Virgin Suicides (1999), Higher Ground (2000), Ripper (2001), Final Destination 2 (2003), and Tru Calling (2003–2004). With a career spanning over two decades, her versatility in film and television makes her one of the most respected actors in Hollywood. So, who is A. J. Cook? Here is everything you need to know about the budding actress.
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A. J. Cook Biography
A. J. Cook was born on July 22, 1978, in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. She is 46 years old as of 2025.
| Full Name | Andrea Joy Cook |
| Birth Date | July 22, 1978 |
| Birth Place | Oshawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Age | 46 |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Ethnicity | English, Scottish, and Northern Irish |
| Profession | Actress |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Nathan Andersen |
| Children | 2 |
Family Background
A.J. Cook is one of four children to Michael Cook, a teacher and electronics worker, and Sandra Cook, a psychiatrist. She grew up with her three siblings: two brothers, Nathan and Paul, and a sister, Angela. She’s of English, Scottish, and Northern Irish descent.
Education
For her education, she studied at Anderson Collegiate Vocational Institute in Whitby, Ontario. Following high school, she enrolled at the Utah Valley State College, which is now called Utah Valley University. She honed her acting skills at the university. She’s trained in competitive dancing, specializing in jazz, tap, and ballet. She started to focus on acting in her late teens.
A. J. Cook Husband
Cook met her husband Nathan Andersen at Utah Valley University while she was studying acting. He was also enrolled in the acting program there.
Shortly after getting into a relationship with Nathan, she moved to Salt Lake City to live with him. The couple tied the knot on August 3, 2001, which was relatively a small wedding affair. they have two children together, sons Mekhai (b. 2008) and Phoenix Sky (b. July 2015). Both her sons have acted together with Cook in Criminal Minds.
Body Statistics
| Height | 5 feet 5.5 inches or 166 cm |
| Body Build | Slim |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Sexuality | Straight |
Career Overview
A.J. began her acting career in the late 1990s, making her film debut in Laserhawk in 1997. She quickly carved a niche for herself in the entertainment industry with roles in Out Cold (2001), The Virgin Suicides (1999), and Final Destination 2 (2003).
Her major breakthrough came in 2005 when she took on the role of Jennifer “J.J.” Jareau in the CBS drama Criminal Minds. She played as a series regular until season six and the showrunners decided to drop her from the series due to budget constraints. But after they received thousands of letters and petitions from fans asking them to retain her on the show, they ultimately changed their minds and she returned in season 7, becoming one of the show’s core faces. She has also directed a few episodes of the show.
A. J. Cook Net Worth
Without a doubt, she has made her way to the hearts of millions of fans across the world. She is a household name in the United States. The renowned Celebrity Net Worth has estimated Cook’s net worth to be around $5 million, as of 2025.
Facts
She was a competitive dancer before she got into acting. Starting from the age of four, she has been involved in competitive dancing, and at 16, she shifted her focus towards acting.
She first appeared in a McDonald’s commercial in 1997.
Cook’s first acting role was in a 1997 TV movie In His Father’s Shoes in which she played a character named Lisa.
She was ranked #88 on Maxim’s “Hot 100” of 2014 list.
She is a huge fan of the L.A. Kings.
Cook served as the Grand Marshal for the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia on April 3, 2016.
She has directed a 2019 episode of Criminal Minds.
Cook has over 1.4 million followers on her Instagram account, @ajcook.