Bio
A.J. Cook is a Canadian actress best known for her roles in the feature films The Virgin Suicides (1999) and Final Destination 2 (2003), and for her role as Jennifer 'JJ' Jareau in the television drama series Criminal Minds.
Cook's television credits include Dead Like Me, Tru Calling, Higher Ground, Bluemoon, PSI Factor, Goosebumps, Elvis Meets Nixon, In His Father's Shoes, Laser Hawk and the television movie Island Heat.
She has appeared in the feature films Blood Suckers, Final Destination II, The House Next Door, Out Cold, Ripper, The Virgin Suicides, Kisses and The Tinker.
Cook was raised in Whitby by her father Mike who is a school teacher and her mother, Sandra, who is a psychiatrist. She grew up with her other siblings Angela, Nathan and Paul.
She was raised as a Mormon or a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and only does roles that are not against her belief and the teachings of the Mormon Church.
As a child she took up tap dancing, ballet and jazz lessons. She had been in many dance competitions but it was not until she reached 17 years of age before she decided to try acting. The film Dirty Dancing starring Patrick Swayze inspired her to be an actress.
In August 2001, Cook married her long-time boyfriend Nathan Andersen, whom she met in a film class at Utah Valley University. The couple have a son, Mekhai Allan Andersen, born on 13 September, 2008.
She currently lives in Los Angeles.