Who is ‘Criminal Minds’ Star Kirsten Vangsness?
Kirsten Simone Vangsness is an American actress and writer. She is best known for her portrayal of F.B.I. Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia on the C.B.S. drama series Criminal Minds.
She portrayed the same character in the spin-off series Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior.
| Full Name | Kristen Vangsness |
| Profession | Actress |
| Popular For | Criminal Minds |
Birthday and Zodiac
| Age (As of 2023) | 51 years old |
| Date of Birth | July 7, 1972 |
| Zodiac sign | Cancer |
| Birth Place | Porterville, California, America |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | N/A |
Education
| School/University | California State University, Cerritos High School, Cypress College |
Physical Stats
| Height | 5 feet, 6 inches |
| Eye Color | N/A |
| Weight | N/A |
Net Worth
| Estimated Net Worth | $3 million |
Family and Relationship
| Father | Errol Leroy Vangsness |
| Mother | Barbara Mary Vangsness |
| Husband or Boyfriend | N/A |
| Children | N/A |
| Siblings | N/A |
Social Media
Biography Timeline
Kirsten Vangsness is an American actress best known for her role as Penelope Garcia on the television show “Criminal Minds.” She was born on July 7, 1972, in Pasadena, California. Here is a detailed timeline of her life and career.
- July 7, 1972: Kirsten Vangsness is born in Pasadena, California.
- 1991: Vangsness graduates from Cerritos High School and attends Cypress College.
- 1995: She graduated from California State University Fullerton with a degree in theatre.
- 1998: Vangsness makes her acting debut in the short film “Sometimes Santa’s Gotta Get Whacked.”
- 2000: She appears in the film “Dropping Out” and begins her recurring role on the television show “Phil of the Future.”
- 2005: Vangsness is cast as Penelope Garcia on the television show “Criminal Minds.”
- 2011: She appears in the film “In My Sleep” and begins writing episodes of “Criminal Minds.”
- 2014: Vangsness stars in the play “Clever Little Lies” in Los Angeles.
- 2015: She receives a Saturn Award nomination for her role on “Criminal Minds.”
- 2017: Vangsness co-writes and stars in the play “Mess” in Los Angeles.
- 2019: She reprised her role as Penelope Garcia in the short-lived spin-off series “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.”
Kirsten Vangsness has become a familiar face on television screens thanks to her long-running role on “Criminal Minds.” In addition to acting, she has also explored her talents as a writer and playwright. Her work in both fields has earned her critical acclaim and a loyal fan base. Her career will remain successful and inspiring as she continues taking on new roles and creative projects.
Age, Height, Birthday, Parents
Kristen Vangsness was born on July 7, 1972, A.D, in Pasadena, California. She is the daughter of Errol Leroy Vangsness, of Norwegian descent, and wife of Barbara Mary (née Marconi), of Italian descent. Kristen Vangsness celebrated her 51st birthday on July 7, 2023.
She was raised in Porterville, California, and later moved to Cerritos, California. She graduated from Cerritos High School in June 1990 and attended Cypress College in Cypress, California. She later graduated from California State University, Fullerton, in 1996.
Personal Life, Relationships
When asked about the marital status of Kristen Vangsness, she described herself as” as queer as a purple unicorn singing Madonna”. She was in a seven-year relationship with editor Melanie Goldstein 2013, to whom she was engaged.
In November 2015, it was reported that Vangsness became engaged to actor and writer Keith Hanson. There was a rumour that Shemar Moore and Kirsten Vangsness are friends and getting married. But they are good friends. Shemar is dating Shawna Gordon, and he says they met in 2014. So, there is no question of marriage between Shemar and Kristen.
Career
Vangsness got involved in acting like a child to help overcome shyness 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.
Regarding her writing career, 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’ss Sparro” with executive producer Erica Messer; in 2015, she co-wrote”A Beautiful Disaster” once again with Messer, and in 2016, she co-wrote” Spence” with Messer. Vangsness and Messer also co-wrote the Criminal Minds series finale.
Net Worth
Her approximate net worth of Kristen is about 3 million dollars.
Fun Facts
- Kristen was timid in her early years; her mother insisted she take drama to help her talk to people.
- Before her big break, she worked as a substitute teacher, child counsellor, restaurant hostess, personal assistant, and grant writer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirsten Vangsness is an American actress and writer known primarily for her role as Penelope Garcia on the CBS drama “Criminal Minds.”
She is best known for portraying Penelope Garcia in “Criminal Minds” and its spin-offs.
Yes, Kirsten Vangsness identifies as bisexual.
Kirsten Vangsness was on “Criminal Minds” from its inception in 2005 until it ended in 2020.
Kirsten Vangsness was born on July 7, 1972. She is 51 years old as of 2023.
She is a citizen of the U.S.A. (United States of America)
Vangsness was born in Pasadena, California.
She was born on July 7, 1972, A.D.
She is the daughter of Errol Leroy Vangsness, of Norwegian descent, and wife of Barbara Mary (née Marconi), of Italian descent.
She is unmarried.
Yes, they are good friends. Shemar is dating Shawna Gordon, and he says they met in 2014. And with pictures that went viral on the internet, it looks like they are pretty happy with each other, and there is no question of marriage between Shemar and Kristen.
Kristen Vangsness is 5ft 6 inches.
Before losing weight, Kirsten’s body weight was around 200 pounds. But after losing 50 pounds, her weight became about 150 pounds.
She has worked in films like SometimesSanta’s Gotta Get Whacked, In My Sleep, Remember to Breathe, and television shows like Phil of the Future, Criminal Minds, and Second City This Week.
Kirsten Vangsness engaged actor and writer Keith Hanson in November 2015.
Kirsten Vangsness makes $100,000 per episode.
As of now, Kirsten Vangsness is not engaged in any projects.
Kirsten has an estimated net worth of $4 million.
Kirsten Vangsness’s birthday was on July 7, 1972.
Kirsten Vangsness has done some side jobs besides acting and is now writing for the show she stars in.
Kirsten Vangsness attended Cerritos High School in Los Angeles and enrolled at Cypress College.
In addition to acting, Kirsten Vangsness co-wrote some episodes of “Criminal Minds” with executive producer Erica Messer.
Kirsten Vangsness was born in Pasadena, California, and grew up in Porterville, California.