Rebecca Renee Olstead (born June 18, 1989) is an American actress, singer, and marriage and family therapist.[1][2] 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.

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

(1989-06-18) June 18, 1989 (age 35)
Occupation(s)Actress, singer, marriage and family therapist, sex therapist
Years active1995–present
Spouse
Tommy King
(div. 2020)
Timothy Faust
(m. 2024)
Musical career
GenresJazz, country
InstrumentVocals
LabelsRenee, 143, Reprise, Warner Bros. Records
Websitexorenee.com

Early life

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Olstead was born in Kingwood, Texas, to Christopher Eric Olstead and Rebecca Lynn Jeffries. Olstead is of Norwegian ancestry.[3][4][5] She also attended Centre Stage theatrical school and is mentioned on their website's list of alumni.[6]

Career

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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, about fifteen-year-old Amy Juergens's struggle through her unexpected pregnancy and how it affected her peers. Olstead played the character Madison Cooperstein, one of Amy's best friends.

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.[7]

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.[8] 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[9] and as Jess Felton in the 2014 technology-themed thriller film Unfriended.[10]

On November 30, 2020, Renee announced that she was launching an OnlyFans page. Her introductory subscription fee was set at $9.99 per month.[11][12] She was the Penthouse Pet of the Month in January 2023 and maintains a five-star rating on wikiFeet.[13] Since April 12, 2023 she is an associate marriage and family therapist specializing in sex therapy.[14][15][16] She is a sex therapist for the adult industry mental health support network Pineapple Support.[17][18]

Personal life

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Renee was married to pianist Tommy King, and legally took his last name. The two divorced in 2020.[19] As Renee King, she was crowned Ms. West Coast at the Miss West Coast pageant in 2016.[20]

Olstead is a vegan.[21] She appeared in a PETA ad, Fish Are Friends Not Food, urging her fans to become vegan themselves.[22][23]

On September 14, 2011, as the result of a criminal complaint initially made by actress Scarlett Johansson, the FBI announced it was investigating the alleged hacking of celebrity cellphone and email accounts and the dissemination of explicit nude photographs of Johansson and approximately 50 other celebrities, including Olstead. As a result of the investigation, 35-year-old Christopher Chaney of Jacksonville, Florida, was arrested in October 2011. During the trial, Olstead testified that she attempted suicide after the nude photographs were leaked, adding that she had never before considered suicide before the hacking.[24] Chaney was sentenced to 10 years in prison in December 2012.[24]

Discography

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions

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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

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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

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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

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Film

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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

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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 Recurring character
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

References

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  1. ^ "Rebecca "Renee" Faust: Los Angeles Sex Therapy (LAST)". LastCollective.org. Retrieved 2024-06-22. Therapy as an institution doesn't always handle sex and sex workers very well—too often it stigmatizes clients or unnecessarily focuses on their work. That's why I specialize in working with members of the adult industry: to provide informed, affirmative support to people who might not have found it in previous clinical experiences.
  2. ^ "Rebecca Renee Faust". MeetMonarch.org. Retrieved 2024-07-08. Rebecca Renee Faust is a mental health professional affiliated with Los Angeles Sex Therapy (LAST)
  3. ^ Marit AaVebenstad (20 July 2004). "Veslevoksen jazz-prinsesse". Vg.no (in Norwegian).
  4. ^ "Nok et nytt naturtalent". Archived from the original on 4 August 2007. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  5. ^ "En vaskeekte barnestjerne". Dagbladet.no (in Norwegian). 17 July 2004.
  6. ^ ARBOGAST, JUDI (2005-06-02). "Centre Stage to host 20th Anniversary Gala". Chron. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  7. ^ "LIVE 8 Concerts – Live 8". Live8live.com. Archived from the original on 2007-11-16.
  8. ^ "Video interview: David Foster on Tom Green's House Tonight". Olografix.org. 22 February 2008.
  9. ^ "Play The Midnight Game at Home". Dread Central. 7 May 2014.
  10. ^ "Unfriended". Bloody-disgusting.com. 23 March 2015.
  11. ^ "Renee Olstead Verified Twitter". Twitter.
  12. ^ "Renee Olstead Verified Instagram". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24.
  13. ^ "Tweet from Renee Olstead". Twitter.com. 31 December 2008.
  14. ^ "Renee Olstead: Challenging Stigma in Sex Work". YouTube: Life in Red. August 24, 2023. Renee Olstead, who specializes in sex work as a therapist, gave a really deep insight into the challenges that sex workers face in modern society, most of which have to do with societal stigma more than the actual work itself.
  15. ^ "Renee Olstead, XXX Therapist". YouTube: Heartbreakers. October 31, 2023. (@0:30 sec) We have Renee Olstead...She is a sex therapist and she works with sex workers
  16. ^ "Renee Olstead is Slaying Her Way Into Sex Therapy". iHeart. March 21, 2021.
  17. ^ "Pineapple Support to Host Suicide Prevention, Crisis Intervention Training Day". ladirectmodels.com. March 13, 2024. The special event will be led by industry professionals and Pineapple Support therapists, including Nicoletta Heidegger, Renee Olstead and Hernando Chaves.
  18. ^ "Our Therapists – United States: Rebecca Renee Olstead". pineapplesupport.org. Therapy as an institution doesn't always handle sex and sex workers very well—too often it stigmatizes clients or unnecessarily focuses on their work. That's why I specialize in working with members of the adult industry
  19. ^ "'Unfriended' Star Renee Olstead is One to Watch: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW : The Eye : Fashion & Style". Archived from the original on 2015-07-25. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
  20. ^ "Queen Bios: Renee King Ms West Coast". Misswestcoastpageant.com.
  21. ^ "Why I Decided To Go Vegan". The Huffington Post. 11 April 2012.
  22. ^ "Renee Olstead PETA2 Ad Says Fish Aren't Food". Vegetarianstar.com.
  23. ^ "'Secret Life' Star Urges Fans to Get Hooked on Kindness and Go Vegan". Benzinga.com.
  24. ^ a b "Christopher Chaney, so-called Hollywood hacker, gets 10 years for posting celebrities' personal photos online". Cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  25. ^ "Renee Olstead : Rene, Olstead CD (2004) - Reprise / Wea". Oldies.com. 2004-05-25. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
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