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Paget Brewster
Paget Brewster
Brewster performing at the Thrilling Adventure Hour comedy radio show
Born
Paget Valerie Brewster

(1969-03-10) March 10, 1969 (age 55)
Concord, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1993–present
Spouse(s)Steve Damstra (m. 2014)

Paget Valerie Brewster (/ˈpæɪt ˈbrstər/;[1] born March 10, 1969) is an American actress and singer. She was first recognized for her recurring role as Kathy on the fourth season of the NBC sitcom Friends. Her breakthrough role came as FBI Supervisory Special Agent Emily Prentiss on the crime drama Criminal Minds, on which she appeared regularly from 2006 to 2012, and then returned to for guest appearances, before returning regularly in 2016. Her other roles include voicing Elise and Mr. Mumbles on Dan Vs., Frankie Dart on the final season of Community, the voice of Birdgirl in Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, Sara Kingsley on the Fox sitcom Grandfathered, and voicing Donald Duck's twin sister Della in the 2017 series of DuckTales, marking the first animated appearance of the character.

Early life[]

Brewster was born on March 10, 1969, in Concord, Massachusetts.[2] Her mother, Hathaway Brewster (née Tew), worked as a government official, and her father, Galen Brewster, worked as a school administrator.[2][3][4]

Brewster grew up in Massachusetts and moved to New York City to attend Parsons School of Design.[citation needed] During her first year, she made her acting debut and eventually dropped out of design school[citation needed] to pursue her acting career.[5] In the mid 1990s, Brewster moved to San Francisco and enrolled in acting classes.

Career[]

Between 1994 and 1995, Brewster hosted a late-night talk show in the San Francisco Bay Area called Paget for 65 episodes at KPIX-TV.[6] She first came to prominent attention in her recurring role as Kathy in the fourth season of NBC's Friends. She appeared in Andy Richter Controls the Universe and Huff. On film she played Ms. Indestructible, the female lead in James Gunn's low-budget superhero comedy The Specials (2000). She played Amy Pierson, a calculus teacher afraid of the water, in the independent film The Big Bad Swim, which premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival.

In 2005, she began voice work as Judy Sebben/Birdgirl, a recurring character on the animated series Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law (and later played a similar guest character on American Dad!).

The cast seated in director's chairs

Brewster (front center) with the cast of Criminal Minds

Brewster had a long run with the show Criminal Minds, playing multilingual Supervisory Special Agent Emily Prentiss until the show's sixth season, when she and A. J. Cook were released from their contracts by CBS in a cost-cutting move. Owing to complaints from fans, both she and Cook were rehired and kept for the following season. In February 2012, Brewster announced via Deadline that she was leaving Criminal Minds at the end of the season to pursue a possible career in comedy television.[7] Brewster reprised her role as Emily Prentiss in season nine for the 200th episode, and season 11 as a special guest star.[8] In 2016, Brewster returned to Criminal Minds once again as a series regular.

Brewster subsequently portrayed bureau chief PDA Paula Foster in the Public Integrity Unit of the District Attorney's office on NBC's long-running police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Her character handled the case against SVU commanding officer Captain Donald Cragen (Dann Florek), suspected of murder after awakening next to a dead woman in the 13th-season finale.[9][10][11]

Brewster is a regular on The Thrilling Adventure Hour, a staged production in the style of old-time radio that is recorded monthly at Largo in Los Angeles. She plays the recurring character of Sadie Doyle, the alcoholic socialite who can communicate with the supernatural alongside her husband, Frank (Paul F. Tompkins), in the "Beyond Belief" segments. In early April 2013, Brewster appeared in Modern Family as Trish in episode 20, "Flip Flop," playing an art expert who is dating Gloria's ex-husband, Javier. In August 2013, Brewster appeared in episode 106 of the Drunk History television series on Comedy Central. In January 2015 Brewster began appearing on Community. In February 2014, it was announced that she had been cast in a new ABC comedy called St. Francis. In August 2016, it was announced that she would be reprising her role as Emily Prentiss on Criminal Minds and would once again be a series regular. Brewster also regularly appears on Will You Accept This Rose, a Nerdist podcast hosted by Arden Myrin about The Bachelor franchise.

Personal life[]

On the March 30, 2006 episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Brewster revealed that she had received a handwritten note indicating Hugh Hefner would like her to pose for Playboy. She seriously considered the offer, but even though she said that she admired Playboy more than magazines such as Maxim and FHM and her parents gave her their blessing, she eventually turned it down.[12]

She has volunteered as an actress with the Los Angeles Young Storytellers Program.[13]

On March 17, 2013, Brewster became engaged to Steve Damstra. She made the announcement via Twitter by posting a photograph of the jade engagement ring on her finger.[14][15] Damstra is in the bands Folded Light and Whirlwind Heat. Brewster and Damstra were married on November 28, 2014, in Los Angeles, California, in a ceremony officiated by Criminal Minds co-star Matthew Gray Gubler, their best friend.[16][17] They reside in Los Angeles.[18]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Let's Talk About Sex Michelle
1999 Desperate But Not Serious Frances
2000 The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Jenny Spy
The Specials Emily Tilderbrook/Ms. Indestructible
2001 Agent 15 Agent 15 Short film
Hollywood Palms Phoebe
Skippy Julie Fontaine
2002 Now You Know Lea
2003 Brainwarp Lipstikk Short film
2004 Eulogy Aunt Lily
2005 Man of the House Binky Beauregard
My Big Fat Independent Movie Julianne
2006 Cyxork 7 Bethany Feral
The Big Bad Swim Amy Pierson
Kidney Thieves Melinda Short film
Unaccompanied Minors Valerie Davenport
2007 Sublime Andrea Direct-to-video
2012 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Lana Lang (voice)
2014 Gumshoe Stiletto (voice) Short film
2015 Justice League: Gods and Monsters Lois Lane (voice)
Uncle Nick Sophie
Welcome to Happiness Priscilla
2017 Axis Dr. Lynch (voice)
Batman and Harley Quinn Poison Ivy (voice) Direct-to-video
2018 The Witch Files Detective Strauss Also producer

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
1997–98 Friends Kathy 6 episodes, Guest role (Season 4)
1998 Ghost Cop Anette Episode: "Pilot"
Max Q Rena Winter Television film
1998–2001 Godzilla: The Series Audrey Timmonds (voice) Seasons 1–2 (11 episodes)
1999 The Expert Dr. Jo Hardy Episode: "Pilot"
1999–2000 Love & Money Allison Conklin Season 1 (13 episodes)
2000 Star Patrol Rachel Striker Pilot
One True Love Tina Television film
2000–01 The Trouble With Normal Claire Garletti Season 1 (13 episodes)
2001 DAG Patti Donovan Episode: "Prom"
Raising Dad Gracie Episode: "Sex Ed"
2002 George Lopez Ginger Episode: "The Wedding Dance"
2002–03 Andy Richter Controls the Universe Jessica Green Seasons 1–2 (19 episodes)
2003 The Snobs Pilot
Time Belt Col. Jocelyn Anchor Episode: "Oh. shirt. Zombies."
2004 Rock Me, Baby Debbie Episode: "Look Who's Talking"
2004–06 Huff Beth Huffstodt Seasons 1–2 (25 episodes)
2005 Two and a Half Men Jamie Eckleberry Episode: "A Lungful of Alan"
Duck Dodgers Rona Vipra (voice) Episodes: "Good Duck Hunting/Consumption Overruled", "Bonafide Heroes"
Amber Frey: Witness for the Prosecution Carol Carter Television film
2005–07 Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law Birdgirl (voice) 9 episodes, Recurring role (Seasons 3–4)
2005–20 American Dad! Various voices Seasons 1–4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 & 17 (24 episodes)
2005–2006 Stacked Charlotte Episodes: "Pilot", "Poker", "The Headmaster"
2006 Drawn Together Child Services (voice) Episode: "Captain Girl"
A Perfect Day Allyson Harlan Television film
2006–12, 2014, 2016–20 Criminal Minds Emily Prentiss Seasons 2–7, 9, 11, 12–15 (194 episodes)
2007, 2012 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Sheila Tierney / ADA Paula Foster Episodes: "Scheherazade", "Lost Reputation", "Above Suspicion"
2008 Lost Behind Bars Lauren Wilde Television film
2009 King of the Hill Myrna (voice) Episode: "Lucky See, Monkey Do"
2011–13 Dan Vs. Elise / Various voices Seasons 1–3 (53 episodes)
2011 My Life As an Experiment Stacie Wilder Pilot
2013 Modern Family Trish Episode: "Flip Flop"
Spy Erica Pilot
The Birthday Boys Keri Episode: "Going All the Way"
2013, 2015 The Venture Bros. Amber Gold / Various voices Episodes: "O.S.I. Love You", "Bot Seeks Bot", "All This and Gargantua-2"
2013–19 Drunk History Herself / Emma Folsom Seasons 1–6 (8 episodes)
2014–15 Community Debra Chambers / Francesca "Frankie" Dart Seasons 5–6 (14 episodes)
2014 The Boondocks Various voices Episode: "The New Black"
Saint Francis Stephanie Quinlan Pilot
Key and Peele Det. Sally Ferguson Episode: "Sex Detective"
2014, 2016 Adventure Time Viola (voice) Episodes: "Ocarina", "Summer Showers"
2015 Down Dog Amanda Asher Pilot
Kroll Show Bobby's Mom Episode: "The In Addition Tos"
Moonbeam City Charisma Miller, Sophistica Miller (voice) Episode: "Lasers & Liars"
W/ Bob & David Charlene Boyeur Episode: "Episode 1"
Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles Lois Lane (voice) Episode: "Bomb"
2015–18 Another Period Dodo Bellacourt Seasons 1–3 (22 episodes)
2015–16 Grandfathered Sara Kingsley Season 1 (22 episodes)
2016 Family Guy Gretchen Mercer (voice) Episode: "Take a Letter"
Future-Worm! Mrs. Claus (voice) Episode: "Lost in the Mall"
2017 Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders Emily Prentiss Episode: "Type A"
2018 Mighty Magiswords Veronica Victorious Episode: "Mall of Shame"
2018–present DuckTales Della Duck (voice) All Seasons
Nominated—Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program
2019 Mom Veronica Stone Season 7 (3 episodes)
2019–20 BoJack Horseman Paige Sinclair 4 episodes
2020 Hollywood Tallulah Bankhead 2 episodes
TBA Birdgirl Judy Ken Sebben / Birdgirl (voice) Announced

References[]

  1. Interview with Paget Brewster on TVLine, 2017-07-25. Michael Ausiello (the interviewer) says Brewster's name at 0:04 in the interview.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Paget Brewster Biography (1969–)". FilmReference.com.
  3. Social Register, Volume 101. Social Register Association. 1981. https://books.google.com/books?id=qTUrAQAAIAAJ&q=Hathaway+Tew+Galen+Brewster.  via Google Books.
  4. "Hathaway Tew, 1966 Debutante, Engaged to Wed; Bradford Student and Galen Brewster to Marry in Summer". The New York Times. April 9, 1967. https://www.nytimes.com/1967/04/09/archives/hathaway-tew-1966-debutante-engaged-to-wed-bradford-student-and.html. 
  5. "Things You Might Not Know About Criminal Minds Star Paget Brewster". Fame10. 2017-04-17. {{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. Rubin, Sylvia (September 12, 1999). "Fall TV Preview / Paget Brewster Puts Her Money on 'Love'". San Francisco Chronicle. SFGate.com. Retrieved 2014-03-03. {{cite web}}:
  7. Brewster, Paget [@pagetpaget] (April 23, 2012). "That's a wrap. To everybody at Criminal Minds, thank you for the best 6 years of my life. I love you. I always have, I always will" (Tweet). Retrieved November 22, 2017 – via Twitter. {{cite web}}:
  8. Eng, Joyce (February 4, 2014). "Paget Brewster on Criminal Minds 200th Episode Return: "It Was Bittersweet"". TV Guide. TVguide.com. {{cite web}}:
  9. O'Connell, Michael (July 18, 2012). "Paget Brewster to Guest on 'Law & Order: SVU' Season 14 Premiere (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/paget-brewster-law-order-svu-season-premiere-criminal-minds-351148. Retrieved July 20, 2012. 
  10. Daniels, Janice (July 20, 2012). "Paget Brewster to Guest Star on 'Law & Order: SVU' — Her Next Role Possibly?". Hollywood TV Critics. http://hollywoodtvcritics.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/paget-brewster-to-guest-star-on-law-order-svu/. Retrieved July 20, 2012. 
  11. Raftery, Liz (July 20, 2012). "Criminal Minds' Paget Brewster Lands Guest Spot on SVU". TV Guide. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Criminal-Minds-Paget-1050097.aspx. Retrieved July 18, 2012. 
  12. "Paget Brewster Interview, Page 2". Archived from the original on November 1, 2007. {{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. "Paget Brewster". {{cite web}}:
  14. Brewster, Paget [@pagetpaget] (March 16, 2013). "It's jade. And he's the best..." (Tweet). Retrieved March 19, 2013 – via Twitter. {{cite web}}:
  15. Bustos, Kristina (March 17, 2013). "'Criminal Minds' star Paget Brewster reveals engagement". DigitalSpy. {{cite web}}:
  16. "had the unique pleasure of getting to officiate the marriage of 2 of my best friends and now i have minister fever" (Tweet). December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2017 – via Twitter. {{cite web}}: ; {{Cite tweet}}: |date= / |number= mismatch (help)
  17. Brewster, Paget [@pagetpaget] (July 15, 2014). "Maybe I should have said one of those "sexy men" is gonna be my sexy husband November 28th. Hands off, ladies !!" (Tweet). Retrieved October 28, 2020 – via Twitter. {{cite web}}: ; {{Cite tweet}}: |date= / |number= mismatch (help)
  18. "Paget Brewster". {{cite web}}:

External links[]

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