Renee Olstead
Encyclopedia
Rebecca Renee Olstead is an American actress and singer. Active since childhood as an actress, she is best known for her roles in the TV sitcoms Still Standing
as Lauren Miller and The Secret Life of the American Teenager
as Madison Cooperstein. In addition, she has recorded five studio albums, primarily of jazz
music.
From 2002 to 2006, she appeared in the TV sitcom Still Standing
as middle sister Lauren Miller. Olstead was presented 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 is currently (2011) co-starring 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 affects her peers. Olstead plays the character of Madison Cooperstein, who is one of Amy's best friends.
songs and pop standards for Warner Bros. Records
to good reviews: since her previous releases had had limited distribution, this album was considered her true 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 also performed with Foster 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.
Still Standing (TV series)
Still Standing is an American sitcom television series. It debuted on CBS on September 30, 2002, and ended March 8, 2006. Lifetime obtained the United States syndication rights to the show in February 2005 and aired it until 2009...
as Lauren Miller and The Secret Life of the American Teenager
The Secret Life of the American Teenager
The Secret Life of the American Teenager is an American teen drama television series created by Brenda Hampton. It first aired on ABC Family on July 1, 2008. The show was renewed for a second season consisting of 24 episodes on February 9, 2009, which began airing on June 22, 2009...
as Madison Cooperstein. In addition, she has recorded five studio albums, primarily of jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music.
Early life
Olstead was born in Kingwood, Texas, to Christopher Eric Olstead and Rebecca Lynn Jeffries. Olstead is of Norwegian ancestry. As a child actress, she made films and commercials from age eight onwards. She also attended Centre Stage theatrical school and is mentioned on their website's alumni.From 2002 to 2006, she appeared in the TV sitcom Still Standing
Still Standing (TV series)
Still Standing is an American sitcom television series. It debuted on CBS on September 30, 2002, and ended March 8, 2006. Lifetime obtained the United States syndication rights to the show in February 2005 and aired it until 2009...
as middle sister Lauren Miller. Olstead was presented 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
13 Going on 30
13 Going on 30 is a 2004 American romantic comedy fantasy film starring Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo. It has a similar premise to the classic short story Rip Van Winkle, in which a young person falls asleep and wakes up many years later as an older person...
. She is currently (2011) co-starring in the ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager
The Secret Life of the American Teenager
The Secret Life of the American Teenager is an American teen drama television series created by Brenda Hampton. It first aired on ABC Family on July 1, 2008. The show was renewed for a second season consisting of 24 episodes on February 9, 2009, which began airing on June 22, 2009...
, about fifteen year old Amy Juergens's struggle through her unexpected pregnancy and how it affects her peers. Olstead plays the character of Madison Cooperstein, who is one of Amy's best friends.
Music Career
In 2004, Olstead released an eponymous album of jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
songs and pop standards for Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
to good reviews: since her previous releases had had limited distribution, this album was considered her true debut. She subsequently performed in Berlin during the Live 8
Live 8
Live 8 was a string of benefit concerts that took place on 2 July 2005, in the G8 states and in South Africa. They were timed to precede the G8 Conference and summit held at the Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland from 6–8 July 2005; they also coincided with the 20th anniversary of Live Aid...
concert on July 2, 2005..
Olstead also recorded with trumpeter Chris Botti
Chris Botti
Christopher Stephen "Chris" Botti , is an American trumpeter and composer. In 2007, Botti was nominated for two Grammy Awards including Best Pop Instrumental Album. On December 4, 2009, he was nominated for three more Grammy Awards including Best Pop Instrumental Album and Best Long Form Music Video...
on his 2005 album To Love Again: The Duets and appeared on the 2006 DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
Chris Botti Live with Orchestra and Special Guests. Her singing style is influenced by such great jazz vocalists as Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
and Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."...
. Reportedly, her musical talent was discovered by composer David Foster
David Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
, who produced her 2004 album
Renee Olstead (album)
Renee Olstead is the self-titled major label debut album by teen actress-singer Renee Olstead, released in 2004. This album differed from Olstead's previous, privately issued country-western releases in that she performs pop and jazz standards...
. She later also performed with Foster on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
A follow-up album entitled Skylark
Skylark (album)
Skylark is the second major-label album from Renee Olstead, released on January 27, 2009. It had originally been announced for release in 2005, and was subsequently listed on Amazon.com and other online retailers for release in 2006 and 2007 before finally emerging in 2009.-Track listing:#"Midnight...
, 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
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
. 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.
Discography
- Stone Country (2000)
- Unleashed (2000)
- By Request (2002)
- Renee OlsteadRenee Olstead (album)Renee Olstead is the self-titled major label debut album by teen actress-singer Renee Olstead, released in 2004. This album differed from Olstead's previous, privately issued country-western releases in that she performs pop and jazz standards...
(2004) - The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (soundtrack) (2004)
- Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (soundtrack) (2008)
- SkylarkSkylark (album)Skylark is the second major-label album from Renee Olstead, released on January 27, 2009. It had originally been announced for release in 2005, and was subsequently listed on Amazon.com and other online retailers for release in 2006 and 2007 before finally emerging in 2009.-Track listing:#"Midnight...
(2009) - A Tribute to Billie Holliday (various artists) (2009)
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Streets of Laredo Streets of Laredo Streets of Laredo is a 1993 western novel by Larry McMurtry. It is the second book published in the Lonesome Dove series, but the fourth and final book chronologically. It was adaptated into a television miniseries in 1995.-Plot introduction:... |
Marci Fant | TV miniseries |
| 1995 | Deadly Family Secrets | Emily Pick | TV movie |
| 1996 | Ceftin Wiz Kids | Katie | TV movie |
| 1996 | Santa, NASA & the Man in the Moon | Renee Olstead | TV movie |
| 1996 | Cadillac Ranch | Young Mary Katherine | |
| 1997 | Out There | Megan Tollman | TV movie |
| 1997 | Little Girl | Short film | |
| 1998 | Touched by an Angel Touched by an Angel Touched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della... |
Bits | Episode: "Doodlebugs" |
| 1998 | Reunited | Ami Beck | 5 episodes |
| 1999 | Deborah Wigand | ||
| 1999 | Chicken Soup for the Soul Chicken Soup for the Soul Chicken Soup for the Soul is a series of books, usually featuring a collection of short and dense inspirational stories and motivational essays. The 101 stories in the first book of the series were compiled by motivational speakers Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen.There have been over 200 titles... |
Lauren | Episode: "Where's My Kiss, Then?" |
| 1999 | End of Days | Amy | |
| 1999 | Providence Providence (TV series) Providence is an American drama series that aired on NBC starring Melina Kanakaredes. The show ran for five seasons from January 8, 1999 until December 20, 2002.-Synopsis:The show revolves around Dr... |
Little Girl | Episode: "Home for the Holidays" |
| 2000 | Geppetto Geppetto (TV musical) Geppetto is a 2000 made-for-television remake of the popular children’s book The Adventures of Pinocchio starring Drew Carey and Julia Louis-Dreyfus... |
Featured | TV movie |
| 2000 | Space Cowboys Space Cowboys Space Cowboys is a 2000 science fiction film directed by Clint Eastwood. Eastwood also stars in the film alongside Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, and James Garner as four older "ex-test pilots" who are sent into space to repair an old Soviet satellite... |
Little Girl | |
| 2002 | My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star | Selma | Episode: "Fame" |
| 2002 | She Spies She Spies She Spies is an action-adventure television show that ran from September 9, 2002 until May 17, 2004, in two seasons. The show was sold into syndication but the first four episodes premiered on the NBC network, whose syndication arm was one of the producers. Disappointing ratings during the show's... |
Amy Divornak | Episode: "Poster Girl" |
| 2002–2006 | Still Standing Still Standing (TV series) Still Standing is an American sitcom television series. It debuted on CBS on September 30, 2002, and ended March 8, 2006. Lifetime obtained the United States syndication rights to the show in February 2005 and aired it until 2009... |
Lauren Miller | 86 episodes |
| 2003 | Scorched | Girl Scout | |
| 2003 | Fillmore! Fillmore! Fillmore! is an American animated television series which was produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. The series was created by Scott M. Gimple... |
Lucille (voice) | Episode: "South of Friendship, North of Honor" |
| 2004 | 13 Going On 30 13 Going on 30 13 Going on 30 is a 2004 American romantic comedy fantasy film starring Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo. It has a similar premise to the classic short story Rip Van Winkle, in which a young person falls asleep and wakes up many years later as an older person... |
Becky | |
| 2007 | Super Sweet 16: The Movie Super Sweet 16: The Movie Super Sweet 16: The Movie is an MTV television film, based on the series My Super Sweet 16. It stars teen pop stars Aly & AJ and features performances by Hellogoodbye and Pretty Ricky... |
Sky Storm | |
| 2007 | Point of Entry | Melinda | TV movie |
| 2008–present | Madison Cooperstein | 61+ episodes | |
| 2011 | Bling Ring | April | TV movie |