Place of Birth:
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA 

Height: 5' 7 1/2" 
 

Biography: 

          Born July 23, 1970 in Las Vegas, she was named after an Avon perfume.  She studied classical ballet since age 5.  Her family relocated a lot.  As a youngster, she entered many local beauty contests.  Charisma attended Gorman High School in Las Vegas.  She initially hated her name because of classmate's teasing and went by Chrissy until the 8th grade.  She moved to Rosarita City, Mexico at age 15, when her father took a job there.  Her father, Don, is a salesman.  Her mother, Chris, works in a bird sanctuary. Her parents are divorced and live in Chicago and Florida, respectively.  She has two older brothers.  She studied ballet at the Chula Vista High School performing arts program in San Diego when she moved to Bonita, a suburb of San Diego.  In high school, she was a cheerleader, and did the typical teen things: like 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 she became a San Diego Chargers cheerleader.  In 1992, she moved to L.A. Charisma 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 theatre productions, such as "No, No, Nanette" and "Welcome Home, Soldier."  She became good friends with Susan Ward after both were turned down for the role of "Maggie Cory" on the soap "Another World."  She then was cast on the soap opera, Malibu Shores.  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" but wound up being cast as Cordelia instead, after it was turned down by actress Bianca Lawson.  Charisma had doubts about this, she did not want to play a bitchy character again; but her agent told her, you can't be typecast until people know you.  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 2nd season.  Fans and producers liked the character enough that she was transferred to a bigger role on the spin-off series "Angel."
          A long career in TV now seems assured for Charisma.  She appeared in a "new improved Spree" commercial in 1999, but lost out to Kelly Rutherford for Scream 3.  Her hobbies include: horseback riding, rollerblading, 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 period of her contract.  She has switched to writing poetry instead.  Her favorite color is yellow, and has a tribal sun tattooed on her back. 
 
 

Filmography:
 

Change Up (2002) (voice-over)
... aka Cambio (2002) (USA: Spanish title) 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2002) (VG) (voice) ..as Cordelia Chase

Valentine (2001) (uncredited) ..as Guest at Dorothy's Party

"Celebrity Undercover" (2001) TV Series ..as "Herself" in episode: "Charisma Carpenter"

"Strange Frequency" (2001) TV Series in episode: "Don't Fear The Reaper" 

The Groomsmen (2001) 

The Twins (2000) 

"Angel" (1999-present) TV Series ..as Cordelia Chase

"Hey Arnold!" (1999) TV Series ..as "Simone" (voice) in episode: "Dinner for Four/Phoebe Skips" (episode # 4.5) 

MTV Presents: Videos That Don't Suck (1998) (TV) ..as "Herself"

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997-1999) TV Series ..as Cordelia Chase 

Josh Kirby... Time Warrior: Chapter 6, Last Battle for the Universe (1996) (V) ..as Beth Sullivan 

"Malibu Shores" (1996) TV Series ..as Ashley Green 

"Boy Meets World" (1995) TV Series ..as "Caterer" in episode: "Train of Fools" (episode # 3.10)

Josh Kirby... Time Warrior: Chapter 2, the Human Pets (1995) (V) ..as Beth Sullivan 

Josh Kirby... Time Warrior: Chapter 1, Planet of the Dino-Knights (1995) (V) ..as Beth Sullivan 

Timemaster (1995) 

"Baywatch" (1994) TV Series ..as "Wendie Sanders" in episode: "Air Buchannon" (episode # 5.5) 
 
 

Gallery 
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