Cobie Smulders is a Canadian actress best known for her role as Robin Scherbatsky in the hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother and as Maria Hill in Marvel’s Avengers franchise. With her mix of charm, wit, and action-ready talent, she has become a beloved figure in both comedy and superhero genres. Her journey from Vancouver to global screens showcases a career built on determination, versatility, and steady success.
Quick Facts About Cobie Smulders
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jacoba Francisca Maria Smulders |
| Birthdate & Place | April 3, 1982, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Profession | Actress |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Spouse & Children | Taran Killam (m. 2012), 2 children |
| Parents | Dutch father, English mother (names not publicly known) |
| Education | University of Victoria (briefly), then modeling and acting |
| Career Start | 2002 |
| Breakthrough Role | Robin Scherbatsky in How I Met Your Mother |
| Major Works | How I Met Your Mother, The Avengers, Stumptown, Friends from College, Safe Haven |
| Awards | EWwy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Comedy) |
| Philanthropy | Oceana, cancer awareness campaigns |
| Social Media | @cobiesmulders (Instagram – 2M+ followers) |
| Net Worth | $25 million (estimated) |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Upcoming Projects | Secret Invasion (Marvel/Disney+ series) |
| Fun Fact | She’s a certified scuba diver and once considered becoming a marine biologist |
Early Life & Background
Cobie Smulders was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. Her full name, Jacoba, is a tribute to her Dutch heritage. Growing up, she was a bright student and athlete, with interests in science and marine biology. Her unique name and personality made her stand out from an early age. She attended Lord Byng Secondary School and later enrolled at the University of Victoria, though she left to pursue modeling and eventually transitioned into acting.
Career Beginnings & Rise to Fame
Cobie began her career in modeling but found it unfulfilling. She quickly shifted to acting, making her debut in 2002 with guest roles in shows like Jeremiah and Tru Calling. Her big break came in 2005 when she was cast as Robin Scherbatsky in How I Met Your Mother. The show ran for nine seasons and turned her into a household name, thanks to her comedic timing and relatable character.
Her success on television opened doors in Hollywood. In 2012, she joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Maria Hill, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, in The Avengers. This role expanded her audience globally and made her part of one of the highest-grossing film franchises in history.
Major Achievements & Legacy
In addition to her success in Marvel films and sitcoms, Cobie starred in Safe Haven, Stumptown, and Friends from College, showcasing her range across drama, action, and comedy. Her performance in Stumptown was particularly praised, further proving her versatility.
She’s also known for her philanthropic work, especially in marine conservation and cancer awareness. After being diagnosed with ovarian cancer at age 25 and quietly undergoing surgeries and treatment, she later shared her story publicly to inspire others.
Personal Life & Recent Work
Cobie married actor and comedian Taran Killam in 2012, and the couple has two daughters. Despite being in the spotlight, she maintains a relatively private family life. She’s also known for her grounded personality and commitment to meaningful projects.
Recently, she reprised her role as Maria Hill in Marvel’s Secret Invasion series. The show continues her strong presence in the superhero genre while allowing her to explore deeper, more complex themes.
Cobie Smulders has carved out a unique place in the entertainment world, balancing humor, strength, and authenticity. From her sitcom success to Marvel fame, she continues to impress both critics and fans. As she takes on new roles and projects, the world eagerly watches what this multi-talented Canadian star will do next.
Most Common Questions About
As a star of How I Met Your Mother, Cobie Smulders knows a thing or two about fictional long-winded romance stories — but her relationship with husband Taran Killam has a sweet story of its own. After meeting at a birthday party in 2005, the couple got married seven years later in 2012.
Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam’s home in Pacific Palisades burned down, People confirmed via photos
‘Accused’ Season 2 Adds Cobie Smulders, Vella Lovell, Dina Shihabi & Isabel Arraiza; Teaser Shows New Defendants On Trial – IMDb. Fox has added several new faces to Season 2 of Howard Gordon’s Accused.
‘Shrinking’ co-creator Bill Lawrence has revealed that Cobie Smulders will be returning for season 3 as Jason Segel’s potential new love interest, continuing their ‘How I Met Your Mother’ reunion. Kids, Aunt Robin once cheated on me with Uncle Marshall. Tory Stevens Howell Season 2 was so freaking good.
“I kind of like had a talent crush on Cobie Smulders,” Harris added. As “HIMYM” progressed, Barney slowly shed his playboy persona and developed romantic feelings for Robin. “They sort of saw our chemistry change,” Harris said.
She had tumors on both ovaries and the cancer had spread into her lymph nodes and surrounding tissues. For the next couple of years, she underwent many surgeries to remove the cancerous tissue in her body. She was left with one third of an ovary and was told she would never be able to get pregnant naturally.
Early life and education. Smulders was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, to a Dutch father and a British mother. She was raised in White Rock, British Columbia, and later moved to the affluent West Point Grey neighbourhood to attend high school at Lord Byng Secondary School.
Smulders has been married to Taran Killam since 2012.
I just looked it up, and I never knew what an age range the actors had. In the show, they’re all roughly the same age, but not IRL. Cobie Smulders (Robin) was only 23 whereas NPH (Barney) was 32.
All indications given by interviews point to yes. At the very least, they appear to have a friendly working relationship. Any cast that’s together for nearly a decade (and agrees to sign on for one more year to end the show properly), probably is pretty close.
And much like the ultra-likable characters she often plays on-screen, Smulders is down-to-earth and refreshingly honest in real life, too.
Jacoba Francisca Maria “Cobie” Smulders portrayed Maria Hill in The Avengers, the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episodes Pilot, Nothing Personal and The Dirty Half Dozen, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and the Secret Invasion episodes Resurrection
Segel and Smulders first starred opposite each other on nine seasons of How I Met Your Mother, and Shrinking staged an onscreen reunion between the actors as recently divorced Sofi sold a yellow Mini Cooper to Jimmy for his daughter Alice’s (Lukita Maxwell) 18th birthday present.
Cobie Smulders’ net worth is estimated to be around $25 million, reflecting her successful tenure in both television and film.
COBIE SMULDERS HAD OVARIAN CANCER AT 25—HERE ARE THE SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULD KNOW. The type of ovarian cancer a 25-year-old would get is likely to be one of the more uncommon, but more treatable, types, Douglas Levine, M.D., director of gynecologic oncology at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, tells SELF.
Cobie Smulders portrayed Maria Hill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), appearing in the films The Avengers (2012), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019).
Yes, absolutely! Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam are still very much married. They tied the knot in 2012, and their relationship appears to be going strong. They often make public appearances together and, you know, speak warmly about their life as a couple.
Cobie Smulders: Shannon Bell.
The doctors were wrong: she went on to welcome two daughters with husband Taran Killam. Was voted “Most Respected” by her classmates in her senior year of high school. Fluent in French
Fans were left shocked and disappointed by fan-favorite Agent Maria Hill’s death in the 2023 Marvel Miniseries Secret Invasion. However, actor Cobie Smulders has revealed that she’d be willing to return to the role if given the opportunity.
