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Renee Olstead
Renee Olstead April 2015.jpg
Olstead at the April 2015 WonderCon
Born
Rebecca Renee Olstead

(1989-06-18) June 18, 1989 (age 35)
Occupation Actress, singer
Years active 1995–present
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. Active since childhood as an actress, she is best known for her roles on the CBS sitcom Still Standing and on the ABC Family drama The Secret Life of the American Teenager as Madison Cooperstein. In addition, she has recorded four studio albums, primarily of jazz music.

Early life

Olstead was born in Kingwood, Texas, to Christopher Eric Olstead and Rebecca Lynn Jeffries. Olstead is of Norwegian ancestry. She also attended Centre Stage theatrical school and is mentioned on their website's list of alumni.

Career

As a child actress, she made films and commercials from age eight onwards. From 2002 to 2006, she appeared in the TV sitcom Still Standing as middle sister Lauren Miller. Olstead was presented with the Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy) - Supporting Young Actress for Still Standing in 2002. She also had a small part in the 2004 film 13 Going on 30. She co-starred in the ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

In 2004, Olstead released a self-titled album of jazz songs and pop standards for Warner Bros. Records to good reviews. Since her previous releases had limited distribution, this album was considered her official debut. She subsequently performed in Berlin during the Live 8 concert on July 2, 2005.

Olstead also recorded with trumpeter Chris Botti on his 2005 album To Love Again: The Duets and appeared on the 2006 DVD Chris Botti Live with Orchestra and Special Guests. Her singing style is influenced by such great jazz vocalists as Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. Reportedly, her musical talent was discovered by composer David Foster, who produced her 2004 album. She later performed with him on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

A follow-up album entitled Skylark, also produced by Foster, was originally announced for release in 2005, but it was subsequently pushed back several times, with release dates in the summer of 2006 and early 2007 being mentioned on online retailers such as Amazon.com. It was then scheduled for a June 2008 release, but was delayed once again. It was finally released on January 27, 2009, nearly four years after it was originally announced.

Olstead most recently starred as Kaitlan in the 2013 supernatural thriller The Midnight Game and as Jess Felton in the 2014 technology-themed thriller film Unfriended.

Since April 12, 2023 she is a licensed associate marriage and family therapist.

Personal life

Renee was married to pianist Tommy King, and legally took his last name. The two divorced in 2020. As Renee King, she was crowned Ms. West Coast at the Miss West Coast pageant in 2016.

Olstead is a vegan. She appeared in a PETA ad, Fish Are Friends Not Food, urging her fans to become vegan themselves. In 2012, Olstead joined PETA's campaign to free the elephant Mali from captivity at the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden, where she has been alone for the last three decades.

Discography

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US

Country

US
Stone Country
  • Release date: December 5, 2000
  • Label: Renee
  • Formats: CD
Renee Olstead
Skylark
  • Release date: January 2009
  • Label: Reprise
  • Formats: CD
Without You [EP]
  • Release date: November 11, 2014
  • Label: N/A
  • Formats: Digital
"—" 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

Other charted songs

Year Title Peak chart position Album
US US AC US

Adult

2004 "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" Renee Olstead
"Sunday Kind of Love" ft. Chris Botti
"Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby"
"Meet Me, Midnight"
"A Love That Will Last"
2009 "Lover Man" Skylark
"Ain't We Got Fun"
"You've Changed"
"Stars Fell on Alabama"
"Nothing But the Blame"
"Midnight Man"
"Midnight in Austin Texas"
"Hold Me Now"
"Thanks for the Boogie Ride"
? "Through the Fire"
"—" 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
shared role with Renee Humphrey
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
2012 The Monogamy Experiment Renee Ramrock
2013 The Midnight Game Kaitlan
2014 Unfriended Jess Felton
2014 The Monogamy Experiment Short unknown Short film
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
Television Miniseries
Episode: #1.3"
1995 Deadly Family Secrets Emily Pick Television Movie
1996 Santa, NASA & the Man in the Moon Herself Television Movie
1996 Ceftin Wiz Kids Katie Television Movie
1997 Out There Megan Tollman 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
Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy) Supporting Young Actress (2006)
Nominated - Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Leading Young Actress (2003)
2003 Fillmore! Lucille (voice role) Episode: "South of Friendship, North of Honor"
2007 Super Sweet 16: The Movie Sky Storm Television Movie
2007 Point of Entry Melinda Television Movie
2008-2013 The Secret Life of the American Teenager Madison Cooperstein Main role
2011 The Bling Ring April Television Movie
2016 Grip and Electric Krystyn Main Role
2016 Cozmo's Kallie Television Movie
TBA Work Mom Heather Television Movie

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Renee Olstead para niños

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