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IMDbPro

Kirsten Vangsness

  • Actress
  • Producer
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Joanna DeGeneres Photography
Dave, an artist who has yet to complete anything significant in his career, builds a fort in his living room out of pure frustration, only to wind up trapped by the fantastical pitfalls, booby traps, and critters of his own creation.
Play trailer1:53
Dave Made a Maze (2017)
75 Videos
99+ Photos
Kirsten Vangsness has been widely known as the bespectacled-brainy-tech-kitten Penelope Garcia on the CBS hit drama "Criminal Minds" (and its spin-off "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" and "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders"). She has long been a fan favorite, beloved for her vibrant personality and quirky style. Most recently "Criminal Minds" was re-imagined for Paramount+ and picked up for its second season on the streamer, making that a grand total of 17 seasons and counting for the iconic series. Kirsten has been a staple in homes across the world for over 18 years. Alongside starring in the series, she has co-written five episodes for the procedural series, including the series finale, alongside show runner Erica Messer.

Kirsten was selected to present her one-woman show, "MESS," and ensemble production of "Cleo, Theo and Wu" on the international stage at the prestigious 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe as part of her FEMPIRE series. Her collection of shows cultivate power within the feminine self on a stage, and empower others to find their light and create opportunities for all women to shine.

Kirsten can be heard as part of the voice cast for the sci-fi comedy podcast, "Voyage to the Stars." Set in the year 2263, the series follows a misfit space crew tasked to investigate what lurks behind a wormhole. Kirsten voices a lesbian space alien who falls into a love triangle with members of the space crew.

In features, Kirsten has been seen at the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah for the world premiere of the adventure comedy film; "Dave Made A Maze". Directed by Bill Waterson, the feature re-imagines the classic 80's adventure film, with a modern fantastical edge. Kirsten was also seen at the Film Noir festival in Paris for the premiere of the spoof "Kill Me, Deadly", a feature she both starred in and produced. Based on Bill Roben's critically acclaimed play of the same name, Kirsten plays the torch-singing femme fatale.

In September 2016, Kirsten and her two business partners opened Blinking Owl Distillery, the very first craft distillery to open in Orange County. Based in Santa Ana, Blinking Owl exploded onto the scene, receiving numerous positive reviews and accolades since the grand opening. They are now helping supply multiple businesses with their signature hand sanitizer; Dirty Bird.

She has enjoyed a long and varied career, which includes being a longtime member and former president of Hollywood's Theatre of Note's Artistic Board. Her stage work has garnered the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Natalie Schafer Award for best emerging comic actress, the 15 Minutes of Fem Best Actress Award, and a Garland Award for best actress for the West Coast premiere of Neil LaBute's Fat Pig at the Geffen Playhouse.

Kirsten is originally from Porterville, CA and graduated from California State University, Fullerton. She currently resides in Los Angeles, and can currently be seen weekly on her Youtube show; Kirsten's Agenda.
BornJuly 7, 1972
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornJuly 7, 1972
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Awards
    • 2 nominations

Photos149

Joe Mantegna and Kirsten Vangsness
Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, A.J. Cook, Adam Rodriguez, Aisha Tyler, and Kirsten Vangsness in Criminal Minds (2005)
Joe Mantegna and Kirsten Vangsness in Criminal Minds (2005)
Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, and Kirsten Vangsness in Criminal Minds (2005)
Amy Rosoff, Sebastian Sozzi, Kirsten Vangsness, and Chris Dougherty in Criminal Minds (2005)
Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, A.J. Cook, Adam Rodriguez, Aisha Tyler, Matthew Gray Gubler, Kirsten Vangsness, and Daniel Henney in Criminal Minds (2005)
Kirsten Vangsness in Criminal Minds (2005)
A.J. Cook, Aisha Tyler, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Kirsten Vangsness in Criminal Minds (2005)
Kirsten Vangsness in Criminal Minds (2005)
Aisha Tyler, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Kirsten Vangsness in Criminal Minds (2005)
Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, A.J. Cook, Adam Rodriguez, Aisha Tyler, Matthew Gray Gubler, Kirsten Vangsness, and Daniel Henney in Criminal Minds (2005)
Kirsten Vangsness and Daniel Henney in Criminal Minds (2005)

Known for

Criminal Minds (2005)
Criminal Minds
8.1
TV Series
  • Penelope Garcia
Gary Sinise, Alana De La Garza, Tyler James Williams, Daniel Henney, and Annie Funke in Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (2016)
Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders
6.1
TV Series
  • Penelope Garcia
Jennifer Elise Cox, Dee Freeman, Melissa Peterman, Terri Simmons, Kirsten Vangsness, Michael Taylor Gray, and David Robert May in Pretty the Series (2010)
Pretty the Series
8.2
TV Series
  • Meredith Champagne
Janeane Garofalo, Forest Whitaker, Michael Kelly, Beau Garrett, and Matt Ryan in Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (2011)
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
6.2
TV Series
  • Penelope Garcia

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actress

  • Criminal Minds (2005)
    Criminal Minds
    • Penelope Garcia
    • TV Series
    • 2005–2023
  • Curtains (2020)
    Curtains
    • Narrator
    • Short
    • 2020
  • Baby S
    • (voice)
    • Short
    • 2019
  • Heather Matarazzo in Stuck (2018)
    Stuck
    • Sunny
    • 2018
  • Emmett Hughes in Axis (2017)
    Axis
    • Heather (voice)
    • 2017
  • Gary Sinise, Alana De La Garza, Tyler James Williams, Daniel Henney, and Annie Funke in Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (2016)
    Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders
    • Penelope Garcia
    • TV Series
    • 2016–2017
  • Dave Made a Maze (2017)
    Dave Made a Maze
    • Jane
    • 2017
  • Gabriel Diani and Etta Devine in Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse (2016)
    Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse
    • Fawn
    • 2016
  • Baby X (2016)
    Baby X
    • Xpert (voice)
    • Short
    • 2016
  • Lesley-Anne Down, Joe Mantegna, Shemar Moore, Paul F. Tompkins, Dean Lemont, Kirsten Vangsness, and Darrett Sanders in Kill Me, Deadly (2015)
    Kill Me, Deadly
    • Mona Livingston
    • 2015
  • Hayley Atwell in Agent Carter (2015)
    Agent Carter
    • Ruby (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 2015
  • Shelf Life (2011)
    Shelf Life
    • Freaky Squeaky
    • TV Series
    • 2013
  • Remember to Breathe (2013)
    Remember to Breathe
    • Vocals for Young Alice (voice)
    • Short
    • 2013
  • Good Job, Thanks! (2011)
    Good Job, Thanks!
    • Therapist
    • TV Series
    • 2011–2013
  • Marie (2012)
    Marie
    • TV Series
    • 2012

Producer

  • Honestly Charlotte: The Series (2018)
    Honestly Charlotte: The Series
    • associate producer
    • TV Series
    • 2018
  • Lesley-Anne Down, Joe Mantegna, Shemar Moore, Paul F. Tompkins, Dean Lemont, Kirsten Vangsness, and Darrett Sanders in Kill Me, Deadly (2015)
    Kill Me, Deadly
    • executive producer
    • producer
    • 2015
  • Jennifer Elise Cox, Dee Freeman, Melissa Peterman, Terri Simmons, Kirsten Vangsness, Michael Taylor Gray, and David Robert May in Pretty the Series (2010)
    Pretty the Series
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2011

Writer

  • Curtains (2020)
    Curtains
    • Writer
    • Short
    • 2020
  • Criminal Minds (2005)
    Criminal Minds
    • written by
    • TV Series
    • 2015–2020

Videos75

Criminal Minds
Clip 0:45
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds
Clip 0:50
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds
Clip 0:32
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds
Clip 1:41
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds
Clip 0:44
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds
Clip 0:57
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds
Clip 0:48
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds
Clip 0:42
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds
Clip 0:52
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds
Clip 1:37
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds
Clip 1:05
Criminal Minds
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:05
Official Trailer

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Cameo
    • Instagram
  • Height
    • 5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
  • Born
    • July 7, 1972
    • Los Angeles County, California, USA
  • Parents
      Errol Leroy Vangsness
  • Other works
    Plays `Maroo Montrose' in Fan Maroo(named outstanding performance by an actress in a lead role by reviewplays.com)
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Interviews
    • 2 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    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.
  • Quotes
    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.]
  • Salary
    • Criminal Minds
      (2005)
      $100,000 per episode (2013-2014)

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