Kirsten Vangsness

Kirsten Vangsness Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: July 7, 1972

Age: 51 years old

Birth Place: Pasadena, California

Many who discovered Kirsten Vangsness from her colorfully iconic character on the series "Criminal Minds" (CBS, 2005-) may find it hard to believe that the boisterous actor was once extremely shy. Vangsness was in eighth grade when her mother persuaded her to take a drama class. Much to her own surprise, she excelled at it, helping her to become more outgoing and expressive. She would continue to act in school plays and local theater, eventually graduating from California State University, Fullerton with a degree in theater. The California native then began appearing with Los Angeles theater troupes, developing a particularly strong relationship with L.A.'s Theatre of NOTE. She would also pursue a TV and film career, making her first paid on-screen appearance in a Dr. Pepper ad. Vangsness was cast on "Criminal Minds" as iconoclastic tech genius Penelope Garcia in 2005. By the next year, she was promoted to series regular, taking home the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Natalie Schafer Award for Best Emerging Comedic Actress. She would continue to act on stage, however, winning acclaim for her performance in Neil Labute's "Fat Pig" at the Geffen Playhouse in 2007, and staging a one-woman-show entitled "Mess" in 2011. Vangsness also proved herself as a writer, publishing articles in the Los Angeles Times Magazine.

Credits

Amish Stud: The Eli Weaver StoryStream

Actor
Barb Raber
Movie
2023

Baby X

Actor
Show
2020

Stuck

Actor
Sunny
Movie
2019

ATV Aktuell: Die Woche

Actor
Penelope Garcia
Show
2018

Megyn Kelly Today

Guest
Talk
2017

Dave Made a Maze

Actor
Jane
Movie
2017

Criminal Minds: Beyond BordersStream

Guest Star
Series
2016
25%

Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse

Actor
Fawn
Movie
2016

Steampunk'd

Judge
Reality
2015

Kill Me, Deadly!

Actor
Mona Livingston
Movie
2015

Kill Me, Deadly!

Executive Producer
Movie
2015

Hollywood Today Live

Guest
Show
2014

Home & Family

Guest
Talk
2012

Criminal Minds: Suspect BehaviorStream

Actor
Penelope Garcia
Series
2011
42%

The Marilyn Denis Show

Guest
Show
2011

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

In My Sleep

Actor
Madge
Movie
2009

Tranny McGuyver

Actor
TV news reporter
Movie
2008

Criminal MindsStream

Actor
Penelope Garcia
Series
2005

Criminal MindsStream

Guest Star
Penelope Garcia
Series
2005

Criminal MindsStream

Writer
Series
2005

Canada AM

Guest
Show
1972

News aboutKirsten Vangsness

Kirsten Vangsness and Aisha Tyler at the Actors and Writers Strike

‘Criminal Minds’ Stars Kirsten Vangsness & Aisha Tyler on Actors & Writers Strikes: ‘People’s Livelihoods Are At Stake’

Paget Brewster in 'Criminal Minds: Evolution'
Q&A

‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Boss Reveals Prentiss Storyline We Wouldn’t See Until Series Ends

Aisha Tyler, Joe Mantegna, Kirsten Vangsness, Paget Brewster, and Nicholas D'Agosto in 'Criminal Minds: Evolution'

‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Sneak Peek: Where are JJ & Luke After Explosion? (VIDEO)

A.J. Cook, Adam Rodriguez, and Kirsten Vangsness

‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Stars Promise ‘Crazy’ End to Season (VIDEO)

Adam Rodriguez, AJ Cook, Kirsten Vangsness and Paget Brewster of 'Criminal Minds: Evolution'

‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Stars Pick Their UnSub Names (VIDEO)

Aisha Tyler, Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, and Kirsten Vangsness in 'Criminal Minds: Evolution'
Spoiler Alert

‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ IDs Garcia’s Informant, Plus Voit’s Rules Are Tested (RECAP)

Adam Rodriguez, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Paget Brewster, and Joe Mantegna in 'Criminal Minds: Evolution'
Preview

Why ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Is Digging Into the Personal Lives of Both the BAU and UnSub

Aisha Tyler, AJ Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Adam Rodriguez, Paget Brewster, and Joe Mantegna in 'Criminal Minds: Evolution'
Spoiler Alert

‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Stars on Tara’s Relationship, Garcia’s Decision & Threats to the BAU

Criminal Minds: Evolution - Joe Mantegna and Kirsten Vangsness

See the ‘Evolution’ of the ‘Criminal Minds’ Cast, Then & Now (PHOTOS)

Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis, A.J. Cook as Jennifer 'JJ' Jareau, Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez, Kristen Vangsness as Penelope Garcia, Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss and Joe Mantegna as David Rossi in Criminal Minds Evolution
Preview

‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Stars Tease Rossi’s Trauma, Garcia’s ‘New Energy’ & Manipulative UnSub

Joe Mantegna and A.J. Cook in 'Criminal Minds: Evolution'

‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Trailer: The BAU vs. Zach Gilford’s Serial Killer Network (VIDEO)

Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis, A.J. Cook as Jennifer 'JJ' Jareau, Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez, Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia, Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss and Joe Mantegna as David Rossi in Criminal Minds Evolution

The BAU Is Back in First ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Episodes (PHOTOS)

Joe Mantegna on Criminal Minds set, Paget Brewster

Wheels Up! Go Behind the Scenes of ‘Criminal Minds’ Revival (PHOTOS)

Criminal Minds - Chameleon - Joe Mantegna

10 Little-Known Facts About ‘Criminal Minds,’ Now 15 Years Old

Criminal Minds Final Season Cast Memories AJ Cook Joe Mantegna Kirsten Vangsness

Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook & Kirsten Vangsness Look Back on the Bingeable ‘Criminal Minds’

Kirsten Vangsness - Criminal Minds - Series Finale Garcia Leaves BAU
Finale

Kirsten Vangsness Talks Garcia & Luke and Her ‘Criminal Minds’ Ending

Truth or Dare

‘Criminal Minds’: JJ’s ‘True Feelings’ & 3 More Details About the Final Season

CM cast changed

See How the ‘Criminal Minds’ Cast Has Changed Since Their First Seasons (PHOTOS)

CM S15 romances

Where Are the ‘Criminal Minds’ Romances Going Into the Final Season? (PHOTOS)

Truth or Dare

‘Criminal Minds’ Cast Gets Glammed Up for Final Season Shoot (PHOTO)

D6CqKxwUEAAm7ID

‘Criminal Minds’ Wraps Filming: The Cast Says Goodbye Ahead of Final Season (PHOTOS)

Criminal Minds - 300 - Joe Mantegna as David Rossi
Preview

‘Criminal Minds’ EP Erica Messer Calls Episode 300 a ‘Love Letter to Fans’