Kirsten Vangsness

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Kirsten Vangsness
Kirsten Vangsness @ SXSW 2019 (47300390192) (cropped).jpg
Vangsness in 2019
Born (1972-07-07) July 7, 1972 (age 53)
Alma mater California State University, Fullerton (BA)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • writer
Years active1998–present

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 .

Contents

Early life

Vangsness attended Cypress College in Cypress, California. [3] She later graduated from California State University, Fullerton in 1996. [4] [5]

Career

Acting

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

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 was also co-written by Vangsness and Messer. [9]

Personal life

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

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

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998Sometimes Santa's Gotta Get WhackedTooth FairyShort
2006A-ListBlue
2008Tranny McGuyverTV News ReporterShort
2009 Scream of the Bikini Interior Decorator
2010 In My Sleep Madge
2011Sarina's SongParty GuestShort
The Chicago 8 Sketch Artist
2012Remember to BreatheVocals for Young AliceShort
2015 Kill Me, Deadly Mona Livingston
2016Diane & Devine Meet the ApocalypseFawn
2017 Axis Heather (voice)
Dave Made a Maze Jane

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004 Phil of the Future VeronicaEpisode: "Age Before Beauty"
LAX Ticket Agent / Stephanie3 episodes
2005–present Criminal Minds Penelope Garcia Main role
2010Vampire MobLaura Anderson
2010–2012Pretty the SeriesMeredith ChampagneRecurring role
2011 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior Penelope GarciaMain role
Second City This WeekHerself1 episode
2011–2013Good Job, Thanks!Therapist2 episodes
2013Shelf LifeFreaky Squeaky6 episodes, webseries
2016–2017 Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders Penelope Garcia2 episodes
2023Amish Stud: The Eli Weaver StoryBarb RaberTelevision film
2024– Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Bigelow McFigglehornRecurring role

References

  1. ↑ Vangsness, Kirsten (July 24, 2007). "Kirsten's Blog". CBS. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  2. ↑ "Criminal Minds' Kirsten Vangsness Joins Spin-Off as a Series Regular". TV Guide.
  3. ↑ Cypress College Public Information Office (May 4, 2012). "Cypress College @Cypress Newsletter" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Actress Kirsten Vangsness Helps Solve Cases on Television Show". California State University, Fullerton. April 13, 2010.
  5. ↑ Arrey, Taylor. "Cracking the Code on 'Criminal Minds'". Titan - The Digital Magazine of Cal State Fullerton. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  6. ↑ "The nerd who got heard". Matt Pomroy. March 6, 2008. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  7. ↑ "CRIMINAL MINDS Season 10 – 1013. Nelson's Sparrow – Press Release". Criminal Minds Round Table. January 8, 2015.
  8. ↑ "CRIMINAL MINDS Season 11 – 1118. A Beautiful Disaster – Press Release". Criminal Minds Round Table. March 17, 2016.
  9. ↑ Sharon, Keith (February 18, 2020). "Kirsten Vangsness goes from starring in and co-writing the 'Criminal Minds' finale to new creative ventures". Orange County Register.
  10. ↑ Anderson-Minshall, Diane (November 2011). "The Purple Unicorn". The Advocate . p. 42.
  11. ↑ Waldon, Dave (September 23, 2008). "Kirsten Vangsness Thrives on 'Criminal Minds'". AfterEllen . Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved October 6, 2008.
  12. ↑ "'Criminal Minds' Star Kirsten Vangsness Is Engaged: 'He's the Perfect Partner'". People.
  13. ↑ "Post on X". X.com (formerly Twitter).
  14. ↑ "Post on X". X.com (formerly Twitter).
  15. ↑ "Post on Instagram". www.instagram.com.
  16. ↑ "Post on Instagram". www.instagram.com.
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