Paget Brewster

Paget Brewster
Brewster in 2009
Born
Paget Valerie Brewster

(1969-03-10) March 10, 1969 (age 55)
OccupationActress
Years active1990–present
Known for
Spouse
Steve Damstra
(m. 2014)

Paget Valerie Brewster (/ˈpæɪt/ PAJ-it;[1] born March 10, 1969[2]) is an American actress. She first received recognition 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 CBS crime drama Criminal Minds. She was a regular cast member on the series from 2006 to 2012, then made two guest appearances before returning as a regular in 2016.

Her other roles include voicing Elise and Mr. Mumbles on Dan Vs., portraying Debra Chambers and Frankie Dart in the fifth and sixth seasons of Community, respectively, and voicing Judy Ken Sebben / Birdgirl in Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law and Birdgirl. Brewster has also played Sara Kingsley on the Fox sitcom Grandfathered and voiced Della Duck in the 2017 series of DuckTales, for which she received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination.

Early life

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Brewster was born March 10, 1969,[3] in Concord, Massachusetts.[4] Both her mother, Hathaway Brewster (née Tew), and father, Galen Brewster, worked as school administrators at Middlesex School.[5][6]

Brewster grew up in Massachusetts and moved to New York City to attend Parsons School of Design.[7] During her first year, she made her acting debut and eventually dropped out of design school[8] to pursue her acting career.[9] In the mid-1990s, Brewster moved to San Francisco and enrolled in acting classes.

Career

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In 1995, Brewster hosted a late-night talk show in the San Francisco Bay Area called The Paget Show for 65 episodes at KPIX-TV.[10] 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 Ken 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.[11] In February 2012, Brewster announced via Deadline that she was leaving Criminal Minds at the end of the season to return to her comedic and sitcom roots.[12] Brewster reprised her role as Emily Prentiss in season nine for the 200th episode, and season 11 as a special guest star.[13] In 2016, Brewster returned to Criminal Minds once again as a series regular with Thomas Gibson's replacement.[14]

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.[15][16][17]

Brewster was a regular on The Thrilling Adventure Hour, a staged production in the style of old-time radio that was recorded monthly at Largo in Los Angeles. She played 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 after co-star Thomas Gibson was fired by CBS over an on-set altercation. Brewster also regularly appears on Will You Accept This Rose, a podcast hosted by Arden Myrin about The Bachelor franchise.

Personal life

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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.[18]

She has volunteered as an actress with the Los Angeles Young Storytellers Program.[19]

On March 17, 2013, Brewster became engaged to Steve Damstra, a member of the bands Folded Light and Whirlwind Heat.[20][21] Brewster and Damstra married on November 28, 2014, in Los Angeles, in a ceremony officiated by Matthew Gray Gubler, their close friend and Brewster's Criminal Minds co-star.[22][23] As of 2016, the couple resides in Los Angeles.[24]

Filmography

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Film

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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 Coach '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
2022 Hypochondriac Dr. Sampson

Television

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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, 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, 2 episodes
Amber Frey: Witness for the Prosecution Carol Carter Television film
2005–07 Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law Judy Ken Sebben / Birdgirl Voice, 9 episodes
2005–20 American Dad! Various voices Seasons 1–4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 & 17 (24 episodes)
2005–06 Stacked Charlotte 3 episodes
2006 Drawn Together Child Services Voice, episode: "Captain Girl"
A Perfect Day Allyson Harlan Television film
2006–12, 2014,
2016–20,
2022–present
Criminal Minds Emily Prentiss 204 episodes
Main role (seasons 2–7, 12–present)
Guest role (season 9, 11)
2007, 2012 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Sheila Tierney / ADA Paula Foster 3 episodes
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 Voice, 3 episodes
2013–19 Drunk History Herself / Emma Folsom 8 episodes
2014 Community Debra Chambers Season 5 (1 episode)
The Boondocks Various voices Episode: "The New Black"
Saint Francis Stephanie Quinlan Pilot
Key & Peele Det. Sally Ferguson Episode: "Sex Detective"
2014, 2016 Adventure Time Viola Voice, 2 episodes
2015 Down Dog Amanda Asher Pilot
Kroll Show Bobby's Mom Episode: "The In Addition Tos"
Community Francesca "Frankie" Dart Season 6 (13 episodes)
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, 2021–22 Family Guy Gretchen Mercer, others Voice, 3 episodes
2016 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 Voice, episode: "Mall of Shame"
2018–21 DuckTales Della Duck Voice, main role
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 Voice, 4 episodes
2020 Hollywood Tallulah Bankhead 2 episodes
2021–2022 Birdgirl Judy Ken Sebben / Birdgirl Voice, main role
2021–present Behind the Attraction Narrator Voice, 16 episodes[25]
2022 How I Met Your Father Lori Episode: "The Good Mom"
Tuca & Bertie Voice, episode: "Leaf Raking"
The Great North Ms. Anderson Voice, episode: "Arranger-ous Minds Adventure"
2024 Twilight of the Gods Jarnglumra Voice, episode: "The Bride-Price"[26]

Web

Year Title Role Notes
2021 Alpha Betas Allison / Emily Voice, episode: "This Is Alpha Team"

References

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  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. ^ Brewster, Paget [@pagetpaget] (March 10, 2021). "I've been catpainted by ⁦@jaffezinn⁩ for my birthday, thank you, Jaffe! https://t.co/nlEuSoxFeX" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 1, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Rose, Mike (March 10, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for March 10, 2023 includes celebrities Jon Hamm, Olivia Wilde". Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  4. ^ Brewster, Paget [@pagetpaget] (August 28, 2021). "Finally went back to my birthplace in Concord, Mass. for the best pizza & grinders I've ever had in my life. I feared disappointment but no .. ⁦@NewLondonPizza⁩ ! THEY STILL GOT IT! https://t.co/v7MvThTUR6" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ Brewster, Paget [@pagetpaget] (January 31, 2020). "@dreamypaget @MarkGags @TreasureCBS I am not bound to a specific scripture. I believe we all know good from evil and that there is something greater than us, could be God, could be Nature, could be Science. But I would love to be a teacher, like my parents" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ "Hathaway Tew, 1966 Debutante, Engaged to Wed; Bradford Student and Galen Brewster to Marry in Summer". The New York Times. April 9, 1967.
  7. ^ Brewster, Paget [@pagetpaget] (April 12, 2020). "@Sadiisstic So beautiful - I was never this talented and I went to Parsons School of Design in New York. Guys, you MUST follow your talent. You are amazing." (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 2, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ Brewster, Paget [@pagetpaget] (June 8, 2015). "I love this. I thought it too. Then I failed out of Parsons and apologized to all of my teachers. https://t.co/dougjZMMWg" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 2, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "Things You Might Not Know About Criminal Minds Star Paget Brewster". Fame10. April 17, 2017.
  10. ^ Rubin, Sylvia (September 12, 1999). "Fall TV Preview / Paget Brewster Puts Her Money on 'Love'". San Francisco Chronicle. SFGate.com. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  11. ^ Ausiello, Michael (June 25, 2010). "'Criminal Minds' update: Cook and Brewster returning — but for how long?". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on June 27, 2010.
  12. ^ 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). Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ Eng, Joyce (February 4, 2014). "Paget Brewster on Criminal Minds 200th Episode Return: "It Was Bittersweet"". TV Guide. TVguide.com.
  14. ^ Ausiello, Michael (August 30, 2016). "Criminal Minds: Paget Brewster Upped to Series Regular in Season 12 Following Thomas Gibson's Firing". TVLine. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  15. ^ O'Connell, Michael (July 18, 2012). "Paget Brewster to Guest on 'Law & Order: SVU' Season 14 Premiere (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  16. ^ Daniels, Janice (July 20, 2012). "Paget Brewster to Guest Star on 'Law & Order: SVU' — Her Next Role Possibly?". Hollywood TV Critics. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  17. ^ Raftery, Liz (July 20, 2012). "Criminal Minds' Paget Brewster Lands Guest Spot on SVU". TV Guide. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  18. ^ "Paget Brewster Interview, Page 2". Archived from the original on November 1, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  19. ^ "Paget Brewster". whois-actor.ru. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017.
  20. ^ Brewster, Paget [@pagetpaget] (March 16, 2013). "It's jade. And he's the best. Wait for the best, ladies, wait until you're 44 if that's what it takes! http://t.co/Bg8OUVXRUv" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Bustos, Kristina (March 17, 2013). "'Criminal Minds' star Paget Brewster reveals engagement". Digital Spy.
  22. ^ Gubler, Matthew [@GUBLERNATION] (December 5, 2014). "had the unique pleasure of getting to officiate the marriage of 2 of my best friends and now i have minister fever http://t.co/Gpx7wVOVAM" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  23. ^ 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). Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  24. ^ "Paget Brewster". sfsketchfest2016.sched.com.
  25. ^ Gruber, Andrea; Driscoll, Jennifer; Aziz, Nadia. "Disney Behind the Attraction Fact Sheet" (PDF). Disney Media & Distribution. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  26. ^ "Jarnglumra". behindthevoiceactors.com. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
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