JoAnna Garcia Swisher
 |
Joanna García-Swisher | |
|---|---|
 at the Susan G. Komen Fundraiser at Mulberry, Melrose Place, Los Angeles, October 21, 2008 | |
| Born | Joanna Leanna García August 10, 1979 |
| Other names | JoAnna Garcia Joanna García-Swisher |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1992— |
| Spouse(s) | Nick Swisher (m. 2010–present) |
Joanna Leanna García (born August 10, 1979) is an American television and film actress. She is known for her portrayal of Cheyenne Hart-Montgomery on The CW sitcom Reba. She later starred in the ABC sitcom Better with You before it was cancelled due to low ratings in 2011.
Early life
García was born in Tampa, Florida , where she was raised by her mother Lorraine, a Spanish-American homemaker and former elementary schoolteacher, and her father, Cuban-born Jay García, a gynecologist.[1][2][3][4] She has one brother, Michael García. She first started performing at age 10 when she auditioned for a local theater production and landed the lead. She was discovered by the Disney Channel, but her parents put school first and she continued to feed her passion by acting in local plays. She was the homecoming queen[4] at Florida's Tampa Catholic High School.[3]
While attending Tampa Catholic High School, she was discovered by Nickelodeon and starred for two seasons as Samantha on Are You Afraid of the Dark?. She commuted from Florida to Montreal, Canada, where the show was filmed.
Career
While in Florida, García guest starred in seaQuest DSV, Second Noah, and Superboy and several movies of the week. After briefly attending college at the Florida State University, she quit school to pursue acting full-time and moved to Los Angeles, California. She was cast on the television drama Party of Five, playing the recurring character Hallie. She had a recurring role on Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000) portraying the character of Vicki Appleby the popular freshman cheerleader who spent seven minutes in heaven with the ultimate geek, Bill Haverchuck (Martin Starr).[3]
García went on to portray the character of Cheyenne Hart-Montgomery, Reba's (Reba McEntire) oldest daughter on The CW sitcom Reba (2001–2007). She was featured on the short-lived CBS comedy Welcome to the Captain. Beginning in the fall of 2008, she starred as Megan Smith in the CW series Privileged (originally known as How to Survive the Filthy Rich). On the big screen, García was seen in the comedy spoof Not Another Teen Movie.[3] She has also appeared in the original television movies From the Earth to the Moon (1998) and Love's Deadly Triangle: The Texas Cadet Murder (1997). She also appeared in the ABC Family original movie The Initiation of Sarah, which premiered in October 2006. In 2008, she had a role in A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride, playing Roxanne. She had a leading role in the ABC Family TV movie Revenge of the Bridesmaids.
It was announced on June 25, 2009 that she will have a recurring role on The CW drama Gossip Girl playing the role of Bree Buckley who is described as a fun, sexy brunette, an irreverent evil Miss America type who is politically progressive but hails from a conservative Southern family. She will appear in the first four episodes of the show's third season, and will be involved with the character of Nate Archibald.[5] In December 2009, García guest-starred as Maggie, Ted Mosby's college buddy on How I Met Your Mother.
García starred in the ABC sitcom Better with You. The show centers on two sisters who were at different points in their romantic relationships: one was unmarried and in a long-term relationship and the other (García) got married after getting pregnant from a one-night stand.[6]
Personal life
In 2008, García became engaged to Trace Ayala, co-founder of clothing company William Rast with his childhood friend Justin Timberlake. (Ayala was Timberlake's former personal assistant.)[7] The couple dated for nearly two years, before calling off their engagement.
In August 2009, People magazine reported that García was dating New York Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher.[8] They became engaged in May 2010,[9] and married on December 11, 2010 at the Breakers Hotel & Resort in Palm Beach, Florida.[10] Bridesmaids for García included friends and fellow actresses Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Reba McEntire. [11]
Causes and interests
García volunteers as a teacher for children who are learning English as a second language. She is involved with the organization Make the Commitment, whose purpose is to raise awareness about cervical cancer.[12][13][14] She has an organization called We Reach,[4] a charity which has assembled an advisory board in the entertainment industry to help young girls around the country organize charity events in their hometowns. The charity also has the goal of empowering young women.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Not Another Teen Movie | Sandy Sue | |
| 2001 | American Pie 2 | Christy | |
| 2006 | A-List | Naomi | |
| 2008 | Extreme Movie | Sweetie Pie | |
| 2010 | Revenge of the Bridesmaids | Parker Wald |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Clarissa Explains It All | Fiona | Episode: "Take My Advice... Please" |
| 1994 | SeaQuest DSV | Iris | Episode: "Playtime" |
| 1994–1996 | Are You Afraid of the Dark? | Samantha | 37 episodes |
| 1996 | Step by Step | Chelsea | Episode: "We're Going to Disney World: Part 1" |
| 1996–1997 | Second Noah | Katherine Ortega | 3 episodes |
| 1997 | Love's Deadly Triangle: The Texas Cadet Murder | Susie | Television movie |
| 1998 | From the Earth to the Moon | Julie Shepard | Miniseries |
| 1998 | Any Day Now | Martha Montgomery | Episode: "It's Who You Sleep With" |
| 1998 | Party of Five | Hallie | 5 episodes |
| 1999 | Dawson's Creek | Girl #1 – Tracy | Episode: "Be Careful What You Wish For" |
| 1999 | Holy Joe | Joyce Cass | Television movie |
| 1999 | Pacific Blue | Leah Chandler | Episode: "Lucky 13" |
| 1999 | Providence | Gillian | Episode: "Heaven Can Wait" |
| 1999 | CI5: The New Professionals | Cadet Susan | Episode: "Glory Days" |
| 2000 | Freaks and Geeks | Vicki Appleby | 5 episodes |
| 2000 | Opposite Sex | Cassie Schreiber | Episode: "The Homosexual Episode" |
| 2000 | Freedom | Sally Mueller | Episode: "Assassins" |
| 2000 | Boston Public | Susan Potter | Episode: "Chapter Four" |
| 2001–2007 | Reba | Cheyenne Hart Montgomery | 124 episodes |
| 2001 | Go Fish | Amanda | Episode: "Go P.D.A." |
| 2001 | Going to California | Jennifer | Episode: "I Know Why the Caged Rhino Sings" |
| 2001 | Off Centre | Ramona | Episode: "Let's Meet Mike and Euan" |
| 2004 | What I Like About You | Fiona | Episode: "Three Little Words" |
| 2005 | Family Guy | Liddane (voice) | Episode: "8 Simple Rules for Buying My Teenage Daughter" |
| 2006 | The Initiation of Sarah | Corinne | Television movie |
| 2008 | Welcome to The Captain | Hope | 5 episodes |
| 2008 | A Very Merry Daughter Of the Bride | Roxanne | Television movie |
| 2008–2009 | Privileged | Megan Smith | 18 episodes |
| 2009 | Gossip Girl | Bree Buckley | 4 episodes (season 3) |
| 2009 | How I Met Your Mother | Maggie | Episode: "The Window" |
| 2010 | Revenge of the Bridesmaids | Parker | Television movie |
| 2010–2011 | Better with You | Mia Putney | Television series |
| 2011 | The Penguins of Madagascar | Shauna (voice) | Episode: Love Hurts |
References
- ^ Joanna Garcia Biography
- ^ Joanna Garcia Biography (1979–) at filmreference.com
- ^ a b c d Deggans, Eric. "'Reba' has a touch of Tampa", St. Petersburg Times, 1 February 2002.
- ^ a b c Joanna García at superiorpics.com
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (2009-06-25). "'Gossip Girl' scoop: Joanna Garcia is Nate's new GF!". entertainmentweekly. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
- ^ "Privileged's JoAnna Garcia Tapped for ABC Comedy". TVGuide.com.
- ^ "JoAnna Garcia of Reba & Trace Ayala Get Engaged". People. 2008-06-18.
- ^ Marx, Linda. "Is Kate Hudson A-Rod's Good Luck Charm?", People, 12 August 2009.
- ^ "Privileged's Joanna Garcia and Yankee Nick Swisher Are Engaged". People. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
- ^ "Joanna Garcia and Fred Mrmins Wed in Palm Beach". People. 11 December 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
- ^ "Joanna Garcia marries New York Yankees fiance Nick Swisher in Palm Beach ceremony". New York Daily News. 12 December 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ^ TV Star Joanna Garcia Brings Nationwide Cervical Cancer Awareness Campaign to Chicago, MakeTheConnection.org, 2005.
- ^ TV Star Joanna Garcia Brings Nationwide Cervical Cancer Awareness Campaign to Miami, MakeTheConnection.org, 2005.
- ^ "Actress spreads awareness of cervical cancer at U. South Florida-area event", Highbeam.com, 4 October 2005
External links
- 1979 births
- Actors from Florida
- American child actors
- University of Florida alumni
- American entertainers of Cuban descent
- American educators
- American film actors
- American stage actors
- American people of Spanish descent
- American television actors
- Florida State University alumni
- Hispanic and Latino American actors
- Living people
- People from Tampa, Florida