Is 50% Norwegian; her father is from Norway. Her mother is of Italian ancestry.
Payments
Earned $100,000 per episode (2013-2014) from Criminal Minds (2005)
Who is Kirsten Vangsness?
Kirsten Simone Vangsness was born on 7 July 1972, in Pasadena, California USA, of part-Norwegian descent, and is a writer and actress, best known from starring in the TV drama series “Criminal Minds”, playing the role of FBI Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia.
The Net Worth of Kirsten Vangsness
How rich is Kirsten Vangsness? As of mid-2018, sources estimate a net worth that is over $3 million, earned through a successful career in acting. She reprised her role of Penelope Garcia in the spin-off TV series “Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior”, and as she continues her career, it is expected that her wealth will also continue to increase.
Early Life and Acting Beginnings
Kirsten’s family moved to Porterville, California where she was raised, then later to Cerritos, California, where she attended Cerritos High School. After matriculating in 1990, she enrolled at Cypress College, but transferred to California State University, Fullerton, from which she would graduate in 1995. Even before completing her studies, she was already highly active with acting particularly on stage.
She initially forayed into acting to help overcome her shyness, but soon her performances on stage would gain attention, leading to several awards including the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award, the Best Emerging Comic Actress, and the Golden Betty Award. This would lead her to find work in front of the camera; one of her first on-screen appearances was in an episode of “Phil of the Future”, then she played a recurring role in the series “LAX”. In 2005, she got her big break when she became a permanent cast member in the television series “Criminal Minds”.
Image source
Criminal Minds
The series is a police procedural show that airs on CBS, and focuses on a group of behavioral profilers who work for the FBI comprising a section called the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), whose work is to profile the criminal instead of just investigating the crime. While the show focuses on the team as they work various cases, it has also shown aspects of the characters’ personal lives. She is a part of the original line-up of the show which featured Shemar Moore, Thomas Gibson, and Mandy Patinkin. Later on, other characters would be introduced played by actors such as Daniel Henney and Jennifer Love Hewitt.
The show has gained a lot of critical acclaim for its acting, writing, fast pace and direction. It continues to be one of the big rating hits for the network, with the success of the show even led to a South Korean adaptation. The show is set to air its 14th season in October 2018. Concurrently, she was also involved in numerous film projects, mainly in small roles, but including being cast in the film “A-List”, in which she played the role of Blue.
Spin-Offs and Other Films
In 2011, Vangsness was cast in the spin-off show “Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior”, reprising her role of Penelope, with new stars of the show including Forest Whitaker and Janeane Garofalo. This new team was based in Quantico, Virginia, but the show was short-lived, only running for one season. She also had other film work during this time, including “In My Sleep” in which she had a cameo role. She also had a support role in the film “The Chicago 8”, then in 2015, she was one of the stars of the comedy film “Kill Me, Deadly” based on a 2009 play of the same name.
… And more readings….
Posted by Kirsten Vangsness on Friday, March 1, 2013
In 2016, Vangsness became a special guest in another “Criminal Minds” spin-off, entitled “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders”., which focuses on agents who are members of the fictional International Response Team (IRT), dealing with cases that involve Americans who are in other parts of the world. A few of her recent projects include appearances in the films “Dave Made a Maze” and “Axis”, both released in 2017.
Personal Life
For her personal life, it is known that Kirsten was in a relationship with Melanie Goldstein from 2006 to 2013. Two years later, it was announced that she had become engaged to boyfriend Keith Hanson. She has never commented on her sexuality, though it was presumed during her relationship with Melanie that she was a lesbian, so surprised many when she became engaged to a man.
Image source
She also made headlines when she underwent a big transformation through dramatic weight loss. In 2014, she returned to “Criminal Minds” following a big 50-pound weight loss which was very noticeable. She credits her improvement to a weight loss program created by Renee Stephen who has been noted for helping women overcome weight loss. Kirsten continued to lose more weight over the next few years, though she doesn’t really give any specifics about her weight loss plan
General Info
Full Name
Kirsten Vangsness
Date Of Birth
July 7, 1972
Height
1.7 m
Profession
Television producer, Writer, Actor
Education
Cerritos High School, California State University, Fullerton
Nationality
American
Family
Parents
Errol Leroy Vangsness, Barbara Mary Vangsness
Accomplishments
Movies
Kill Me, Deadly, In My Sleep, The Chicago 8, Tranny Mcguyver, Remember To Breathe
TV Shows
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, Criminal Minds
Social profile links
Salary
Quotes
#
Quote
1
I am always sort of delightedly surprised when someone recognizes me because as far as I’m concerned, I’m just going to work and getting paid to act and that alone is fantastic, I forget people watch it too. [Interview with Style Bible, September 2010.]
Facts
#
Fact
1
Co-wrote the Criminal Minds (2005) episode Criminal Minds: Nelson’s Sparrow (2015), which features the (off-screen) murder of Jason Gideon, the character Mandy Patinkin played in seasons one and two, and the first two episodes of season three.
2
Graduated from California State University Fullerton Theatre & Dance Dept.
3
Is 50% Norwegian; her father is from Norway. Her mother is of Italian ancestry.
4
Was updated as a featured performer in the 2006 season of Criminal Minds (2005).
5
In 2005, she won the LA Drama Critics Circle Natalie Schafer Award for Best Emerging Comedic Actress. The award was given to her on March 21, 2005, at the Coronet THeatre.
6
She is a member of Theatre of NOTE in Los Angeles, California, and continues to perform there.
7
She is a solo performer and her writing has been published in the Los Angeles Times Magazine.
8
Her day jobs included substitute teacher, child counselor, restaurant hostess, personal assistant, grant writer, and murder mystery dinner theater actress. Her first paid acting job was a Diet Dr. Pepper commercial.
Pictures
Movies
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Axis
2017
post-production
Heather (voice)
Stuck
2017/I
post-production
Sunny
Criminal Minds
2005-2017
TV Series
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders
2016-2017
TV Series
Penelope Garcia
Dave Made a Maze
2017
Jane
Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse
2016
Fawn
Baby X
2016
Short
Xpert (voice)
Kill Me, Deadly
2015
Mona Livingston
Agent Carter
2015
TV Series
Ruby
Shelf Life
2013
TV Series
Freaky Squeaky
Remember to Breathe
2013/II
Short
Vocals for Young Alice (voice)
Good Job, Thanks!
2011-2013
TV Series
Therapist
Acquainted
2012
Short
Ms. Hope
Pretty the Series
2010-2012
TV Series
Meredith Champagne
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior – Alternate Reality: The New Criminal Minds
2011
Video short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior – House of Corpses
2011
Video short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior – Inside the Red Cell
2011
Video short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior – Loved Ones
2011
Video short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior – The Profiler
2011
Video short
Penelope Garcia
Second City This Week
2011
TV Series
Celebrity Guest
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
2011
TV Series
Penelope Garcia
The Chicago 8
2011
Sketch Artist
Sarina’s Song
2011
Short
Party Guest
Vampire Mob
2010
TV Series
Laura Anderson (2010)
In My Sleep
2010
Madge
Scream of the Bikini
2009
Interior Decorator
Tranny McGuyver
2008
Short
TV news reporter
A-List
2006
Blue
LAX
2004
TV Series
Stephanie / Ticket Agent #1
Phil of the Future
2004
TV Series
Veronica
Annie Unleashed
2004
TV Movie
Teresa O’Malley
Don’t Make Me Laugh
2003
Short
Kate
Sometimes Santa’s Gotta Get Whacked
1998
Short
Tooth Fairy
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Kill Me, Deadly
2015
executive producer / producer
Pretty the Series
2011
TV Series executive producer – 3 episodes
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Criminal Minds
2015-2017
TV Series written by – 3 episodes
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Criminal Minds
2013
TV Series performer – 1 episode
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Criminal Minds – Season 11: The Dirty Eleven
2016
Video short
Herself
Criminal Minds – Season 11: To Derek, with Love
2016
Video short
Herself
Neil Gaiman: Dream Dangerously
2016
Documentary
Herself
From the Mouths of Babes
2014-2016
TV Series documentary
Herself
Home & Family
2013-2016
TV Series
Herself / Herself – Guest
Hollywood Today Live
2016
TV Series
Herself
Steampunk’d
2015
TV Series
Herself – Judge
Criminal Minds: Season 10 – Origin Story
2015
Short
Herself
Criminal Minds: Season 10 – Criminal Minds Top Ten
2015
Short
Herself
Extra
2014
TV Series
Herself – Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds: Season 9 – Eyes Only
2014
Video documentary short
Herself
Take My Bitcoins
2014
TV Series
Herself – Guest Co- Host
The Talk
2011-2014
TV Series
Herself – Guest
Criminal Minds: Season 8 – The Killing Season
2013
Video short
Herself
Marie
2012
TV Series documentary
Criminal Minds Season 7: Fireside Chat with Matthew Gray Gubler
2012
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 7: Minds’ Eye – Bloodlust
2012
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 7: Minds’ Eye – Devil Inside
2012
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 7: Minds’ Eye – Implosion
2012
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 7: Minds’ Eye – The Fall
2012
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 7: Minds’ Eye – Too Big to Fail
2012
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 7: Minds’ Eye – Twisted
2012
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 7: Seven Stories
2012
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 7: Wedding Toasts
2012
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
80th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade
2011
TV Movie
Herself
Criminal Minds Season 6: Crime Scene – Death Cab
2011
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 6: Crime Scene – Devil in the Details
2011
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 6: Crime Scene – Love Is Explosive
2011
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 6: Crime Scene – The Deep End
2011
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 6: From Script to Screen – Agent Down
2011
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 6: Secrets – Making of Criminal Minds
2011
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
CBS Cares
2007-2011
TV Series
Herself
Criminal Minds Season 5: Case Files – Break
2010
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 5: Case Files – Dante
2010
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 5: Case Files – Darkness
2010
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 5: Case Files – Deserted
2010
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 5: Case Files – Grim
2010
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 5: Case Files – Subjects Unknown
2010
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 5: Material Witness
2010
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 5: Celebrating 100
2010
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 5: Fear the Reaper
2010
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Criminal Minds Season 5: Gubler Direct
2010
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Swan… One Man’s Journey
2010
Documentary
Herself
Working the Scene: A Look Behind the Scenes of ‘Criminal Minds Season 4’
2009
Video documentary short
Herself / Penelope Garcia
23rd Annual Genesis Awards
2009
TV Special
Herself
Criminal Minds Season 3: Killer Roles
2008
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
From Script to Screen: True Night
2008
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Profile: Rossi/Mantegna
2008
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
Shemar Moore: Criminal Minds’ Wild Ride
2008
Video documentary short
Penelope Garcia
The Criminal Element: The Making of ‘Criminal Minds, Season 3’
