Charisma Carpenter Biography
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Birth name - Charisma Lee Carpenter
Nickname - Chrissy
Height - 5' 7½" (1.71 m)
Spouse - Damian Hardy (October 5, 2002 - present) 1 child
Trade mark - Birthmark on her jawline.
Charisma Carpenter photo gallery
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Born July 23, 1970 in Las Vegas, Charisma Carpenter was named after an Avon perfume (a fact that did not sit well with her). She studied classical ballet from age five. Her family moved around often. As a youngster, she entered many local beauty contests. Charisma attended Gorman High School in Las Vegas. At 15 the family moved to Rosarita City, Mexico, and then to Bonita (a suburb of San Diego) where she attended Bonita High. Charisma finally transferred to Chula Vista School of Creative and Performing Arts, where she graduated in 1988. In high school(s) she was a cheerleader, and did the typical teen things: sneaking out and having boys over when mom wasn't home. Charisma's nature tends to be pensive, which some classmates unfortunately misinterpreted as being snooty. After graduating, she traveled throughout Europe, then went on to college. She also worked as an aerobics instructor and in property management. In 1991, Charisma was a cheerleader for the San Diego Chargers. In 1992 she moved to Los Angeles. She audited classes at Playhouse West, and was cast in over 20 major commercials, including doing a long stint for Secret. Charisma was in a number of theater productions, such as "No, No, Nanette" and "Welcome Home, Soldier". This tall (5'7") beauty with the striking looks, brunette hair with chestnut highlights, and hazel eyes was a natural for TV; she started in an episode of "Baywatch" (1989) in October, 1994. Because of that appearance, Aaron Spelling personally auditioned her for the role of Ashley in "Malibu Shores" (1996), which had a brief run from March to June of 1996. Despite the short run, TV Guide noticed her and said she was beguiling and had the most fleshed-out character on the show. Charisma auditioned for the title role in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997) but wound up being cast as Cordelia instead. She had doubts about this, and did not want to play a bitchy character again, but her agent reminded her that she couldn't be typecast until people knew her. Originally intended as a temporary character, to be a thorn in Buffy's side, Charisma's role was popular enough that she became a regular in the second season. She is quick to point out she is nothing like her TV persona, noting, "People might think I'm this awful person, but I'm not--I'm a nice girl." Fans and producers liked the character enough that she was transferred to a bigger role on the spin-off series "Angel" (1999/I). A long career in TV now seems assured for Charisma. Her hobbies include horseback riding, roller blading, hiking and rock climbing (for her 26th birthday she had gone skydiving. When the folks at WB heard about this, they made her sign a clause that she would refrain from that for the length of her contract). She has prudently switched to writing poetry instead. Her favorite color is yellow (mine too, it's so bright and cheerful). For Charisma, life is good. And, as a former Las Vegas lounge performer, she comments that dancing is easy, acting is not. She also notes, "You can take the girl out of Vegas, but you can't take Vegas out of the girl".
More Interesting Information for Charisma Carpenter
Became good friends with Susan Ward after both were turned down for the role of Maggie Cory on the soap "Another World" (1964).
Was a cheerleader for the San Diego Chargers' football team.
Named by her mother after a brand of perfume
Auditioned for the role of Buffy on the TV show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997), but got the role of Cordelia after it was turned down by actress Bianca Lawson.
Lost out to Kelly Rutherford in Scream 3 (2000).
She has a tribal sun tattooed on her back.
Gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Donovan Charles Hardy, at 9:50 PM on March 24th 2003 at Cedar Sinai hospital in Beverly Hills.
After 7 years playing Cordelia Chase, 3 years on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997) and 4 years on "Angel" (1999/I), Charisma was fired without explanation from Angel after its fourth season. [2003]
Will be reprising her role as Cordelia Chase in the 100th episode of "Angel" (1999/I). The show is currently in its fifth season without her, considering the Cordelia Chase character is in a coma. [November 2003]
Is half Mexican and half Cherokee.
Has a rosary tattoo on her left wrist.
She held three state titles when she was thirteen years old and placed top five for a ballet routine at an international competition.
She tries to sign only personalized autographs so her signature cannot be sold on EBay or elsewhere. She also refuses to sign her MAXIM, FHM, or other revealing photos.
She is one of the only cast members from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997) and "Angel" (1999/I) who refuses to charge for her autograph at fan conventions. She does it for free.
Her guest spot on Lifetime's "The Division" (2001) as a young woman attacked by an undercover police officer eerily resembles a real life incident nearly ten years ago in which Charisma and two of her friends were attacked by a former police officer in Torrey Pines State Beach in San Diego. Charisma escaped unharmed, although one of her friends was seriously injured. The police officer, who had been stalking Charisma for almost a year, was sentenced to fifty years in prison.
The role of Delilah in The Faculty (1998) was written specifically for her, but she turned it down because it was too similar to her "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997) character, Cordelia.
Appears on the June 2004 cover of Playboy with a 10 page layout inside.
The scars her character Cordelia got after a fall in Buffy are actually real. As a young child, she fell into a swiming pool that was under construction at her home, and was run through by a piece of rebar.
After starring in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997), "Angel" (1999/I), and guest-starring in episodes of "Charmed" (1998), she has become the face of supernatural dramas on The WB.
Her character, Cordelia Chase, whom she had played for years on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997) and "Angel" (1999/I) was killed off in the landmark 100th episode of "Angel" (1999/I). It was her final appearance on the series, with the exception of archival footage.
Her characters on both "Angel" (1999/I) and "Charmed" (1998) could see into the future.
She is good friends with her See Jane Date (2003) (TV) co-star Holly Marie Combs. In fact, it was their friendship that prompted her to play Kira on "Charmed" (1998).
Personal quotes from Charisma Carpenter
"I had my heart set on becoming an English teacher, but stumbled into acting after meeting a theatrical agent in my dad's restaurant in San Diego." [June 30, 2003]
"Lots of doors have opened for me because of Buffy and Angel but, although I'm ambitious, I'm not going to just do anything simply because the money is good. If I can't love a project, then I'm not interested." [June 30, 2003]
[about Sarah Michelle Gellar winning the role of Buffy:] "Initially I was disappointed, but while I didn't see it at the time, I know now I'm better suited to Cordelia. ... Moving from Buffy to Angel was great for me. On Buffy I wasn't all that high on the totem pole as far as responsibility and screen time. That all changed when I joined David [Boreanaz] in Angel. The whole thing has been such a buzz." [2003]
"I'm a mixed breed and hope to live longer because of it."
"I don't really see myself being a sex symbol at all."
"I think essentially the meaning of life is probably the journey and not really any one thing or an outcome or a result. I think it's kinda the process and I think that if you can find happiness in the process then maybe that's it. I just feel really in love with life and the life I've created with my family. So it works for me."
"Well, I can tell you what my goals are. I have a son now, so I want the half-hour sitcom lifestyle, where you can have a family and work. And then, during summer hiatus, I'd like to do a Kill Bill or Wonder Woman or some movie like that."
"You can take the girl out of Vegas, but you can't take the Vegas out of the girl."
"I was a little turned off by the idea of doing another bitch. But my agent put it to me quite frankly, that you have to be known before you can be typecast." (On her role as Cordelia)
"My mom owned a retail store, so I had these hot satin pants. I was like Satan at my all-Christian school."
[On playing Kendall Casablancas on "Veronica Mars"] "The name is really spectacular. My manager was like, "It's the best name in prime time." I just laughed at him."
[On posing for Playboy] "I wanted to get back to my old self. I wanted to feel desirable and sexy. So I thought, "What if I went full throttle?"
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Charisma Carpenter Filmography
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Actress - filmography
(In Production) (2000s) (1990s)
Flirting with Danger (2006) (TV) (filming)
White Silhouette (2005) (TV) (filming) .... Laura Clifford
Voodoo Moon (2006) (post-production) .... Heather
See Jane Date (2003) (TV) .... Jane Grant
The Groomsmen (2001) .... Kim
... aka What Boys Like (USA: new title)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2000) (VG) (voice) .... Cordelia Chase
"Angel" (1999/I) TV Series .... Cordelia Chase (1999-2003)
... aka Angel: The Series (USA)
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997) TV Series .... Cordelia Chase (1997-1999)
... aka Buffy
... aka Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Series
"Malibu Shores" (1996) TV Series .... Ashley Green
Josh Kirby... Time Warrior: Chapter 6, Last Battle for the Universe (1996) (V) .... Beth Sullivan
Josh Kirby... Time Warrior: Chapter 1, Planet of the Dino-Knights (1995) (V) .... Beth Sullivan
Josh Kirby... Time Warrior: Chapter 2, the Human Pets (1995) (V) .... Beth Sullivan
Filmography as: Actress, Miscellaneous Crew, Herself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances
Miscellaneous Crew - filmography
Change Up (2002) (voice-over)
... aka Cambio (USA: Spanish title)
Filmography as: Actress, Miscellaneous Crew, Herself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances
Herself - filmography
(2000s) (1990s)
Angel: Season 3 Overview (2004) (V) .... Herself
Angel: Season 1 Overview (2003) (V) .... Herself
Buffy: Season 3 Overview (2003) (V) .... Herself
MTV Presents: Videos That Don't Suck (1998) (TV) .... Herself
Filmography as: Actress, Miscellaneous Crew, Herself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances
Archive Footage
Malice in Wonderland: Wolfram & Hart (2004) (V) (uncredited) .... Cordelia Chase
Filmography as: Actress, Miscellaneous Crew, Herself, Archive Footage, Notable TV Guest Appearances
Notable TV Guest Appearances
"Veronica Mars" playing "Kendall Casablancas" in episode: "Everybody Cries Wolf" February 2006
"Veronica Mars" playing "Kendall Casablancas" in episode: "Death in a Taxi" January 2006
"Veronica Mars" playing "Kendall Casablancas" in episode: "My Mother, The Fiend" (episode # 2.9) 30 November 2005
"Veronica Mars" playing "Kendall Casablancas" in episode: "Ahoy Mateys" (episode # 2.8) 23 November 2005
"Veronica Mars" playing "Kendall Casablancas" in episode: "Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner" (episode # 2.7) 16 November 2005
"Veronica Mars" playing "Kendall Casablancas" in episode: "Cheatty Cheatty Bang Bang" (episode # 2.3) 12 October 2005
"Veronica Mars" playing "Kendall Casablancas" in episode: "Driver Ed" (episode # 2.2) 5 October 2005
"Veronica Mars" playing "Kendall Casablancas" in episode: "Normal Is the Watchword" (episode # 2.1) 28 September 2005
"Charmed" playing "Kira/The Seer" in episode: "Witchness Protection" (episode # 7.10) 28 November 2004
"LAX" playing "Julie Random" in episode: "Thanksgiving" (episode # 1.9) 10 November 2004
"Charmed" playing "The Seer" in episode: "Styx Feet Under" (episode # 7.5) 10 October 2004
"Charmed" playing "The Seer" in episode: "Cheaper by the Coven" (episode # 7.3) 26 September 2004
"The Division" playing "Emma Campbell" in episode: "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" (episode # 4.14) 16 May 2004
"Angel" playing "Cordelia Chase" (archive footage) (uncredited) in episode: "Power Play" (episode # 5.21) 12 May 2004
"The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn" playing "Herself" 6 May 2004
"Angel" playing "Cordelia Chase" (archive footage) (uncredited) in episode: "Origin" (episode # 5.18) 21 April 2004
"Angel" playing "Cordelia Chase" in episode: "You're Welcome" (episode # 5.12) 4 February 2004
"Miss Match" playing "Serena Lockner" in episode: "Santa, Baby" (episode # 1.10) 12 December 2003
"Miss Match" playing "Serena Lockner" in episode: "Something Nervy" (episode # 1.3) 10 October 2003
"KTLA Morning News" playing "Herself" 11 August 2003
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" playing "Herself" 14 July 2003
"Miss Match" playing "Serena Lockner" in episode: "Most Hopeless Romantic" (episode # 1.17)
"Miss Match" playing "Serena Lockner" in episode: "Divorce Happens" (episode # 1.15)
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" playing "Cordelia Chase" (archive footage) in episode: "Him" (episode # 7.6) 5 November 2002
"Strange Frequency" playing "Jules" in episode: "Don't Fear the Reaper" (episode # 1.12) 11 November 2001
"KTLA Morning News" playing "Herself" 29 October 2001
"The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn" playing "Herself" 15 October 2001
"Celebrity Undercover" playing "Herself" in episode: "Charisma Carpenter"
"The Howard Stern Radio Show" playing "Herself" 3 April 1999
"Hey Arnold!" playing "Simone" (voice) in episode: "Dinner for Four/Phoebe Skips" (episode # 4.5) 31 March 1999
"Vibe" playing "Herself" 17 April 1998
"The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show" playing "Herself" 8 January 1998
"The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show" playing "Herself" 31 October 1997
"Boy Meets World" playing "Caterer" in episode: "Train of Fools" (episode # 3.10) 15 December 1995
"Baywatch" playing "Wendie Sanders" in episode: "Air Buchannon" (episode # 5.5) 24 October 1994
