Caitlin Renée was born in Sutton, the geographic center of the State of West Virginia. She fell in love with acting at 7 when she and her mother would watch PBS Classics of the Royal Shakespeare Company following along in their Shakespeare collection.  In High School she attended Northwestern University’s National High School Institute where her acting desires were cemented after attending the original productions of True West and Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You and The Actors Nightmare.

Accepted at Syracuse and Northwestern for her BFA, she elected to accept a scholarship at West Virginia University opting to stay in her home state close to family, rooting on the Mountaineers, while studying with Angela D’Ambrosia and Edward T. Herendeen (Founder of The Contemporary American Theatre Festival in Shepherdstown, WV).  At WVU she originated roles in Frank Gagliano’s Bodoni County Songbook Anthology (Irene Ryan Award performance), Doug Grissom’s Tocoi Light, while writing and performing with the comedy troupe Five Neat Chicks and Their Lampshades.

Upon receiving her BFA she received a scholarship from California Institute of the Arts and packed her bags for California. She studied for a year at CalArts and then opted for real-work experience in the industry. While learning the ropes, she worked as an Assistant to a Celebrity Agent, Contract Administrator for several agencies keeping talent up to date with the unions, and dealt black jack to pay the bills.  Studying with William Ball, Armin Shimmerman and Jim Belushi.

Renée completed her MFA in a joint MFA program with Carnegie Mellon University and the Moscow Art Theatre which included three residencies: six weeks in Cambridge, MA, five months in Pittsburgh, PA, and five months in Moscow, Russia; learning Russian, living and performing in Moscow was a life changing adventure.

Upon graduating she landed in NYC and stayed to beat the streets of the Big Apple where she booked TV work on Guiding Light, followed by Law & Order: SVU, in addition to theatrical productions at SoHo Rep, LaMama, HERE Art Center to name a few. In NY she studied at UCB, with Daniela Varon, Walton Wilson and long form improv with Shira Piven.  The call of sea and sunshine brought her back to Los Angeles where she has been busy acting, producing and studying with Larry Moss, Aaron McPherson, and Denise Woods.

Her love for creating and little desire for waiting to be hired led her to producing theatre and film, as well as creative and episodic writing.  She has produced for the stage with Anteaus; The Open Fist Theatre including the World Premiere sold out adaptation – from album to stage of – Frank Zappa’s Joe’s Garage. Independently she has produced for Aquila Morong Studio, 80 West Productions, Amedeo Productions; and, has worked with writers John Hindman and Neil LaBute including the West Coast Premiere of LaBute’s In a Dark Dark House, directed by Larry Moss.

Producing/1st AD includes Teacher of the Year, Fully Loaded, Retreat,  CAPTAIN, EXCEPTance and, recent project, 40ish, receiving critical acclaim garnering 32 Awards and Selections during its film festival run including Festival du Film de Cannes, showcasing her ability to deliver compelling narratives and high-quality production.

After 15 years producing, at her storytelling core, cRc is an actress, exclusively focusing on acting in film and television while developing her own projects: Love.com aka Shaggy Mr. 10″, a short film about internet dating and unknowingly meeting a porn star; Tastes Like Chicken, a comedy web series about a vegetarian cooking show, its host and crew; and a one woman show My Seven Day Engagement, with Jane Morris at Fanatic Salon.

FUN FACTS

  1. Has been locked in the Paris Metro & oh what a rescue . . .
  2. Can touch her nose with her tongue.
  3. Hitchhiked in Moscow while living there.
  4. Once engaged for 7 days. (INS VIDEO:  Ring dropped into champagne flute)
  5. Journey of day gig adventures include: Blackjack dealer, Assistant to a tv/game show agent, a Sous chef, and transcriber for Sidney Sheldon (7th best-selling fiction writer of all time – 21 novels).
  6. Twirls batons for stress relief.
  7. Has dimples in her shoulders.  IFKYK
  8. Proud Cherub – Northwestern NHSI
  9. President and Festival Director for the WV FILMmakers Festival (currently on hiatus returning late Summer 2024).
  10. Seeks comedy cohorts for relaunch of Five Neat Chicks & Their Lampshades.

Renée resides in Santa Monica, CA.