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A.J. Cook

A.J. Cook

Actor · Born July 22, 1978 (48) · Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Andrea Joy "A.J." Cook (born July 22, 1978) is a Canadian actress best known for her role as Supervisory Special Agent Jennifer "JJ" Jareau in the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds. She has also appeared in several Hollywood films including The Virgin Suicides, Out Cold, and Final Destination 2. Cook was born in Oshawa, Ontario, and spent most of her life growing up in Whitby, where she attended Anderson Collegiate Vocational Institute. Her father, Mike, is a teacher, and her mother, Sandra, works as a psychiatrist.She has three siblings, Nathan, Paul, and Angela. Cook is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.A dancer from age four,Cook began taking jazz, tap and ballet lessons. She danced competitively for many years, before deciding at the age of 16 that she wanted to try acting. On August 3, 2001, Cook married her long-time boyfriend, Nathan Andersen, whom she met in a film class at Utah Valley University. She later moved to Salt Lake City, Utahto be with him and currently resides in Los Angeles, California.In March 2008, it was reported that Cook and Andersen would be expecting their first child in October.Their son, Mekhai Allan Andersen, was born on September 13, 2008. Cook said "He's such a good baby. I feel so lucky that he's mine. My husband and I feel very blessed!"Mekhai made a brief appearance as Henry LaMontagne in Criminal Minds in Season 5 when Cook's character Jennifer Jareau was in a pharmacy buying children's medicine which leads to a breakthrough in the case the BAU was currently trying to solve.[13] He reprised the role of Henry in the Criminal Minds two-hour season seven finale in 2012. Cook and Andersen are also the owners of a Yorkshire Terrier named Zara.Cook was considered legally blind at an early age because of a severe astigmatism, but wore contacts to correct her vision. She eventually underwent surgery where a lens implant was used to correct the impairment.Cook is best friends with actress Meghan Ory. Description above from the Wikipedia article A. J. Cook (actress), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 22, 1978 (48)
From
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Works as
Actor
Titles
23 on MovieCove · 32 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 16% in 30 days

What are A.J. Cook's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Genres

Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 12th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
36%
Morality
18%
Bonds
18%
Self
13%
Society
7%
Ideas
5%
Power
4%
Survival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 1 · Dark 7

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 8 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 5 · Intense 5

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 6 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 3

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 5 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

11 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 9 of 11 analyzed roles.

Hero
9 of 11
Ally
2 of 11
Show the 11 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Dread
8
Thrilling
6
Joyful
4
Melancholic
3
Other
9

How their films linger

Feel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet7
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch A.J. Cook's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 23 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for A.J. Cook's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

32 credits, 23 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Back Fork(2019)

    as Nida

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • 9-1-1(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Kira

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Wer(2013)

    as Kate Moore

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Least Among Saints (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Cheryl

  • Bringing Ashley Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Libba

  • Mother's Day(2010)

    as Vicky Rice

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Misconceptions(2008)

    as Mranda Bliss

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • I'm Reed Fish(2006)

    as Theresa

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Night Skies(2007)

    as LIlly

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Vanished (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Hope

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 344 episodes · Director · as Jennifer Jareau

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Bloodsuckers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Fiona

  • Tru Calling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 20 episodes · as Lindsay Walker

  • Dead Like Me(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlotte

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Final Destination 2(2003)

    as Kimberly Corman

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The House Next Door(2002)

    as Lori Peterson (as AJ Cook)

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Out Cold(2001)

    as Jenny

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell(2001)

    as Diana Collins

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Ripper(2001)

    as Molly Keller

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Virgin Suicides(1999)

    as Mary Lisbon

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Spiral Staircase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Local Girl

  • Higher Ground(2000)

    Show 22 episodes · as Shelby Merrick

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Teen Sorcery(1999)

    as Dawn

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Debbie Shields

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Blue Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Alison

  • First Wave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Lindsay Tilden

  • Elvis Meets Nixon(1997)

    as Hippie Chick

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Goosebumps: Don't Wake Mummy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Kim

  • Laserhawk(1997)

    as Pretty Girl #1

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Goosebumps(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Kim

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Live with Kelly and Mark(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as AJ Cook

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 32 titles from 1988 to 2019; peak year 2002.

Biggest box office

Final Destination 2 (2003)

$91M worldwide

Highest rated

Higher Ground (2000)

Midcredits 92nd

Most popular right now

Criminal Minds (2005)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19882019

Peak 2002 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 5 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting32 of 32: 31 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score49thDirecting1 of 32: 0 only directing, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s9 · acting2000s15 · 15 acting · 1 crew2010s7 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 30% of 10 roles
0005

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do A.J. Cook's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 32nd percentile, the median of all 15; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 18th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

18thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 23 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Misconceptions (2008)

92nd percentile spread · 44% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Higher Ground (2000)

Midcredits 92nd · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 51/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 67, detractors 29. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is A.J. Cook's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles37–90 · median 78 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles23–51 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 41 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 46 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles37–84 · median 79 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does A.J. Cook work with?

People who share at least 2 of A.J. Cook's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John A. Curtis shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors

Producers