Renee Olstead
{{short description|American actress and singer (born 1989)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Renee Olstead
| image = Renee Olstead April 2015.jpg
| caption = Olstead at the April 2015 WonderCon
| image_size =
| birth_name = Rebecca Renee Olstead
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|6|18}}
| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.
| occupation = Actress, singer, marriage and family therapist, sex therapist
| years_active = 1995–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Tommy King|reason=div}}
{{marriage|Timothy Faust|2024}}
| website = {{URL|https://xorenee.com/}}
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| instrument = Vocals
| background = solo_singer
| label = Renee, 143, Reprise, Warner Bros. Records
}}
}}
Rebecca Renee Olstead (born June 18, 1989) is an American actress, singer, and marriage and family therapist.{{Cite web|title=Rebecca "Renee" Faust: Los Angeles Sex Therapy (LAST)|url=https://lastcollective.org/rebecca-renee-faust-amft/|access-date=2024-06-22|website=LastCollective.org |language=en-us|quote=
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.}}{{cite web|title=Rebecca Renee Faust|url=https://meetmonarch.com/therapist/rebecca-faust|website=MeetMonarch.org|quote=Rebecca Renee Faust is a mental health professional affiliated with Los Angeles Sex Therapy (LAST)|access-date=2024-07-08}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.vg.no/musikk/artikkel.php?artid=235506 |title=Veslevoksen jazz-prinsesse |author=Marit AaVebenstad |website=Vg.no |date=20 July 2004 |language=no }}{{cite web |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/kul_und/musikk/article827311.ece |title=Nok et nytt naturtalent |website= |access-date=2020-04-29 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070804040547/http://www.aftenposten.no/kul_und/musikk/article827311.ece |archive-date=4 August 2007 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/kultur/2004/07/17/403277.html |title=En vaskeekte barnestjerne |website=Dagbladet.no |date=17 July 2004 |language=no }} She also attended Centre Stage theatrical school and is mentioned on their website's list of alumni.{{Cite web |last=ARBOGAST |first=JUDI |date=2005-06-02 |title=Centre Stage to host 20th Anniversary Gala |url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Centre-Stage-to-host-20th-Anniversary-Gala-9820901.php |access-date=2022-08-21 |website=Chron |language=en-US}}
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, 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.live8live.com/theconcerts/index.shtml|title=LIVE 8 Concerts – Live 8|website=Live8live.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116111746/http://www.live8live.com/theconcerts/index.shtml|archive-date=2007-11-16}}
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 jazz vocalists 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.olografix.org/krees/dfnet2/?p=346|title=Video interview: David Foster on Tom Green's House Tonight|website=Olografix.org|date=22 February 2008}} 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{{cite web|title=Play The Midnight Game at Home|work=Dread Central|date=7 May 2014 |url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/75795/play-midnight-game-home }} and as Jess Felton in the 2014 technology-themed thriller film Unfriended.{{cite web|title=Unfriended|website=Bloody-disgusting.com|date=23 March 2015|url=http://bloody-disgusting.com/videos/3337236/unfriended-tv-spot-back-dead-internet-revenge/}}
On November 30, 2020, she announced that she was launching an OnlyFans page. Her introductory subscription fee was set at $9.99 per month.{{cite web|title=Renee Olstead Verified Twitter|website=Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/Renee_Olstead/status/1333502289005465601/}}{{cite web|title=Renee Olstead Verified Instagram|website=Instagram|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CIOkfTKpIlH/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CIOkfTKpIlH |archive-date=2021-12-24 |url-access=limited}}{{cbignore}} She was the Penthouse Pet of the Month in January 2023 and the 2024 Penthouse Pet of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Renee_Olstead/status/1609336243439140864|title=Tweet from Renee Olstead|website=Twitter.com|date=31 December 2008}} Since April 12, 2023 she is an associate marriage and family therapist specializing in sex therapy.{{cite web|title=Renee Olstead: Challenging Stigma in Sex Work|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2q8KRvwz9s|publisher=YouTube: Life in Red|date=August 24, 2023|quote=
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.}}{{cite web|title=Renee Olstead, XXX Therapist|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFL2kmIXcn4|publisher=YouTube: Heartbreakers|quote=(@0:30 sec) We have Renee Olstead...She is a sex therapist and she works with sex workers|date=October 31, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Renee Olstead is Slaying Her Way Into Sex Therapy|url=https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-playmate-pickup-63432835/episode/renee-olstead-is-slaying-her-way-79972675/|date=March 21, 2021|publisher=iHeart}} She is a sex therapist for the adult industry mental health support network Pineapple Support.{{cite web|url=https://ladirectmodels.com/2024/03/13/pineapple-support-to-host-suicide-prevention-crisis-intervention-training-day/|title=Pineapple Support to Host Suicide Prevention, Crisis Intervention Training Day|publisher=ladirectmodels.com|quote=The special event will be led by industry professionals and Pineapple Support therapists, including Nicoletta Heidegger, Renee Olstead and Hernando Chaves.|date=March 13, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Our Therapists – United States: Rebecca Renee Olstead|url=https://pineapplesupport.org/pineapple-support-therapists/|publisher=pineapplesupport.org|quote=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}}
Personal life
Olstead was married to pianist Tommy King and legally took his last name. The two divorced in 2020.{{cite web |url=http://www.fashionnstyle.com/articles/63522/20150604/unfriended-star-renee-olstead-one-to-watch-exclusive-interview.htm |title='Unfriended' Star Renee Olstead is One to Watch: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW : The Eye : Fashion & Style |access-date=2015-07-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725013639/http://www.fashionnstyle.com/articles/63522/20150604/unfriended-star-renee-olstead-one-to-watch-exclusive-interview.htm |archive-date=2015-07-25 }} As Renee King, she was crowned Ms. West Coast at the Miss West Coast pageant in 2016.{{cite web |title=Queen Bios: Renee King Ms West Coast|url=http://misswestcoastpageant.com/titleholders/queen-bios|website=Misswestcoastpageant.com}}
Olstead is a vegan.{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/renee-olstead/why-i-decided-to-go-vegan_b_1415742.html|title=Why I Decided To Go Vegan|work=The Huffington Post|date=11 April 2012}} She appeared in a PETA ad, Fish Are Friends Not Food, urging her fans to become vegan themselves.{{cite web|url=http://vegetarianstar.com/2013/03/12/renee-olstead-peta2-ad-says-fish-arent-food/|title=Renee Olstead PETA2 Ad Says Fish Aren't Food|website=Vegetarianstar.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/13/03/w3409148/secret-life-star-urges-fans-to-get-hooked-on-kindness-and-go-vegan|title='Secret Life' Star Urges Fans to Get Hooked on Kindness and Go Vegan|website=Benzinga.com}}
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.{{Cite news |title=Christopher Chaney, so-called Hollywood hacker, gets 10 years for posting celebrities' personal photos online |website=Cbsnews.com |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/christopher-chaney-so-called-hollywood-hacker-gets-10-years-for-posting-celebrities-personal-photos-online/ |access-date=2017-01-16}} Chaney was sentenced to 10 years in prison in December 2012.
Discography
= List of studio albums, with selected chart positions =
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2" |Title
! rowspan="2" |Album details ! colspan="2" |Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" |Certifications |
|---|
| US
Country !US |
| Stone Country
| |— |— | |
| Renee Olstead
|
|— |— | |
| Skylark
| |— |— | |
| Without You [EP]
|
|— |— | |
| colspan="5" |"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released to that country |
= Singles =
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2" |Year
! rowspan="2" |Title ! colspan="4" |Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" |Certifications ! rowspan="2" |Album |
|---|
| US
Country !US !US AC !US Adult |
| 2000
|"Unleashed" |— |— |— |— | | |
| rowspan="2" |2004
|— |— |— |— | |Renee Olstead |
| "Summertime"
|— |— |— |— | | rowspan="2" |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
|— |— |— |— | | |
| colspan="8" |"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released to that country |
= Other charted songs =
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2" |Year
! rowspan="2" |Title ! colspan="3" |Peak chart position ! rowspan="2" |Album |
|---|
| US
!US AC !US Adult |
| rowspan="5" |2004
|— |— |— | rowspan="5" |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"
|— |— |— |
| rowspan="9" |2009
|"Lover Man" |— |— |— | rowspan="9" |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" |— |— |— | |
| colspan="6" |"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released to that country |
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Title !Role !Notes |
|---|
| 1996
|Cadillac Ranch |Mary Katherine (young) |film debut |
| 1997
|The Usher |Little Girl |Short film |
| 1999
|Deborah Wigand | |
| 1999
|Amy |credited as Rebecca Renee Olstead |
| 2000
|Little Girl | |
| 2003
|Girl Scout | |
| 2004
|Becky | |
| 2012
|The Monogamy Experiment |Renee Ramrock | |
| 2013
|Kaitlan | |
| 2014
|Jess Felton | |
| 2014
|The Monogamy Experiment Short |unknown |Short film |
| 2015
|The Murder Pact |Annabel | |
| 2017
|Brienne | |
| 2018
|Bachelor Lions |Evelyn Ross | |
= Television =
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Title !Role !Notes |
|---|
| 1995
|Marci Fant |television debut |
| 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
|Bits |Episode: "Doodlebugs" |
| 1998
|Ami Beck |series regular; 5 episodes |
| 1999
|Lauren |Episode: "Where's My Kiss, Then?" |
| 1999
|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
|Amy Divornak |Episode: "Poster Girl" |
| 2002-2006
|Lauren Miller |Main role |
| 2003
|Lucille (voice role) |Episode: "South of Friendship, North of Honor" |
| 2007
|Sky Storm |Television Movie |
| 2007
|Melinda |Television Movie |
| 2008-2013
|The Secret Life of the American Teenager |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
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{official}}
- [https://lastcollective.org/rebecca-renee-faust-amft/ Renee Faust, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist]
- {{IMDb name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olstead, Renee}}
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American singers
Category:21st-century American women singers
Category:Actresses from Houston
Category:American child actresses
Category:American child singers
Category:American jazz singers
Category:American people of Norwegian descent
Category:American television actresses
Category:American women jazz singers
Category:Jazz musicians from Houston
Category:Jazz musicians from Texas
Category:Penthouse Pets of the Year