Renee Olstead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Renee Olstead
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Olstead at the April 2015 WonderCon
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| Born |
Rebecca Renee Olstead
June 18, 1989 Houston, Texas, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Tommy King
(divorced)Timothy Faust
(m. 2024) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Jazz, country |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | Renee, 143, Reprise, Warner Bros. Records |
Rebecca Renee Olstead (born June 18, 1989) is an American actress and singer. She started acting as a child and is famous for her roles in the TV shows Still Standing and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Besides acting, she has also recorded four albums, mostly in the jazz music style.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Acting
Renee Olstead was born in Kingwood, Texas. She is of Norwegian heritage. From a young age, she attended the Centre Stage theatrical school to train as an actress.
She began her career by appearing in movies and commercials when she was just eight years old. Her talent was clear from the start, leading to bigger roles on television.
Career Highlights
Success on Television
From 2002 to 2006, Olstead played Lauren Miller in the TV comedy Still Standing. Her role as the middle sister in the Miller family was very popular. For her performance, she won a Young Artist Award in 2002.
Later, she joined the cast of the show The Secret Life of the American Teenager. She played Madison Cooperstein, who was one of the main character's best friends. She also had a small part in the popular 2004 movie 13 Going on 30.
A Talented Jazz Singer
In 2004, Olstead showed another side of her talent by releasing an album of jazz and pop songs. The album, called Renee Olstead, received great reviews. Because her earlier music was not widely available, many people considered this her first major album.
Her music career grew when she performed at the Live 8 concert in Berlin, Germany, on July 2, 2005. She also worked with the famous trumpeter Chris Botti on his album To Love Again: The Duets. Her singing is inspired by legendary jazz singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. The famous music producer David Foster discovered her singing talent and produced her 2004 album.
She released another album called Skylark in 2009. This album was also produced by David Foster.
Recent Movie Roles
Olstead has continued to act in movies. In 2014, she starred as Jess Felton in the thriller film Unfriended, which is about a group of friends who are haunted through their computers.
Personal Life
Olstead is a vegan, which means she does not eat any animal products. She once appeared in an ad for PETA to encourage others to think about where their food comes from.
She was married to pianist Tommy King, and they divorced in 2020. In 2024, she married Timothy Faust.
Discography
Studio Albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US
Country |
US | |||
| Stone Country |
|
— | — | |
| Renee Olstead |
|
— | — | |
| Skylark | — | — | ||
| Without You [EP] |
|
— | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released to that country | ||||
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US
Country |
US | US AC | US
Adult |
||||
| 2000 | "Unleashed" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004 | "What a Wonderful World" | — | — | — | — | Renee Olstead | |
| "Summertime" | — | — | — | — | Skylark | ||
| 2009 | "Midnight Man" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012 | "She's Got Your Name" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013 | "You're Mine" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013 | "Sleepwalk" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017 | "Help Me Make It Through the Night" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018 | "Trying to Win Your Love" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018 | "I Fall to Pieces" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released to that country | |||||||
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Cadillac Ranch | Mary Katherine (young) | film debut |
| 1997 | The Usher | Little Girl | Short film |
| 1999 | The Insider | Deborah Wigand | |
| 1999 | End of Days | Amy | credited as Rebecca Renee Olstead |
| 2000 | Space Cowboys | Little Girl | |
| 2003 | Scorched | Girl Scout | |
| 2004 | 13 Going on 30 | Becky | |
| 2013 | The Midnight Game | Kaitlan | |
| 2014 | Unfriended | Jess Felton | |
| 2015 | The Murder Pact | Annabel | |
| 2017 | Feral | Brienne | |
| 2018 | Bachelor Lions | Evelyn Ross |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Streets of Laredo | Marci Fant | television debut |
| 1995 | Deadly Family Secrets | Emily Pick | Television Movie |
| 1998 | Touched by an Angel | Bits | Episode: "Doodlebugs" |
| 1998 | Reunited | Ami Beck | series regular; 5 episodes |
| 1999 | Chicken Soup for the Soul | Lauren | Episode: "Where's My Kiss, Then?" |
| 1999 | Providence | Little Girl | Episode: "Home for the Holidays" |
| 2000 | The Wonderful World of Disney | Featured | Episode: "Geppetto" |
| 2002 | My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star | Selma | Episode: "Fame" |
| 2002 | She Spies | Amy Divornak | Episode: "Poster Girl" |
| 2002-2006 | Still Standing | Lauren Miller | Main role |
| 2003 | Fillmore! | Lucille (voice role) | Episode: "South of Friendship, North of Honor" |
| 2007 | Super Sweet 16: The Movie | Sky Storm | Television Movie |
| 2008-2013 | The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Madison Cooperstein | Recurring character |
| 2011 | The Bling Ring | April | Television Movie |
| 2016 | Grip and Electric | Krystyn | Main Role |
See also
In Spanish: Renee Olstead para niños
