Jacoba Francisca Maria “Cobie” Smulders (born April 3, 1982) is a Canadian-American actress and former model. She is best known for playing Robin Scherbatsky in all nine seasons of How I Met Your Mother on CBS and as Maria Hill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Smulders has been a cancer survivor since battling ovarian cancer in her mid-twenties, a journey she has spoken about publicly to raise awareness.
Who is Cobie Smulders?
Cobie Smulders is a Canadian-American actress who built her career across television, film, stage, and voice acting.
She is one of the most recognizable figures in both American sitcom history and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having appeared in both franchises over the span of more than a decade.
She originally aspired to become a marine biologist or a doctor.
It was not until high school that Smulders discovered a passion for acting through school productions. She entered the professional world through modeling, before transitioning to television in the early 2000s. Her casting in How I Met Your Mother in 2005 changed everything.
Beyond that signature role, she has appeared in The Avengers (2012), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), the ABC drama Stumptown, and the Apple TV+ series Shrinking.
She has also demonstrated range through Broadway appearances and voice acting work.
Additionally, Smulders appeared in the animated Disney+ series What If…? and the limited series Secret Invasion (2023), continuing her Marvel presence well into the 2020s.
Early Life of Cobie Smulders
Jacoba Francisca Maria Smulders was born on April 3, 1982, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She grew up in Vancouver alongside four siblings. Her father is Dutch and her mother is English, giving her a mixed European heritage.
She was named after her great-aunt, from whom she also inherited the nickname “Cobie.”
Smulders attended Lord Byng Secondary School in Vancouver, where she participated in school plays and discovered a passion for performance. As a teenager, a modeling agency spotted her, and she began traveling internationally for modeling work.
She later described developing a “kind of hatred” toward the modeling experience, which initially made her hesitant to pursue acting.
Despite that hesitation, she pushed forward and enrolled in acting courses to build her skills.
Cobie Smulders Age
Cobie Smulders is 44 years old as of June 7, 2026, born on April 3, 1982. Her Zodiac sign is Aries, a sign associated with confidence and leadership. At 44, she remains one of the most active Canadian actresses in Hollywood, currently appearing in the Apple TV+ series Shrinking.
Cobie Smulders Ethnicity and Nationality
Cobie Smulders holds both Canadian and American citizenship, having acquired US citizenship in 2020 while retaining her Canadian nationality.
Her ethnic background is mixed Dutch and English, reflecting her father’s Dutch heritage and her mother’s English roots. She was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the city remains a significant part of her personal identity.
Cobie Smulders Height and Weight
Cobie Smulders stands at 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) tall. Her weight is approximately 141 lbs (64 kg).
Her athletic build and commanding presence have made her well suited to action-driven roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Cobie Smulders Education
After high school at Lord Byng Secondary School in Vancouver, Smulders briefly attended the University of Victoria in British Columbia. She left after approximately one year to pursue a professional career in modeling and acting.
Her modeling work led directly to her television opportunities in the early 2000s.
The choice to leave formal education and enter the entertainment industry proved to be transformative. She relocated to Los Angeles, where she began auditioning for television roles and eventually landed her career-defining part.
Cobie Smulders Career
Cobie Smulders’s career spans more than two decades, encompassing long-running television, major blockbuster franchises, stage productions, voice work, and independent film.
Her versatility across genres has made her one of the most consistently employed Canadian actresses of her generation.
Career Start: Early Television Roles
Smulders made her television debut in 2002 in the sci-fi series Jeremiah. That year, she also appeared in the drama Tru Calling, the superhero series Smallville, and guest-starred on The L Word.
In 2003, she landed her first lead series role as Juliet Droil in Veritas: The Quest.
Her early television work was a consistent string of guest roles and short-run appearances. Later, she appeared in Veronica Mars in 2006 before her career shifted permanently in 2005, when she auditioned for a new CBS sitcom.
How I Met Your Mother: Career Breakthrough
In 2005, Smulders was cast as Robin Scherbatsky in How I Met Your Mother, a CBS sitcom created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays. The show ran for nine seasons, from 2005 to 2014, and Smulders appeared in all 208 episodes.
The role made her a global television star.
Robin Scherbatsky was a Canadian broadcast journalist whose humor, ambition, and complicated romantic life anchored many of the show’s storylines. The series co-starred Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Alyson Hannigan, and Neil Patrick Harris.
In January 2026, Smulders reflected on the experience of returning to the show’s set for How I Met Your Father on Hulu, telling The Hollywood Reporter: “To walk into that bar again was very emotional.”
Marvel Cinematic Universe: Maria Hill
In 2012, Smulders debuted as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Maria Hill in The Avengers, directed by Joss Whedon. That film grossed over $1.5 billion at the worldwide box office and established Smulders as a recurring presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
She reprised the role across multiple major productions.
Her MCU appearances include Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013-2015), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Avengers: Endgame (2019), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), and the Disney+ limited series Secret Invasion (2023).
She also voiced Maria Hill in the animated What If…? series.
Notable Projects Beyond HIMYM and Marvel
Beyond her two signature franchises, Smulders has built an impressive body of work. She starred as Dex Parios, a private investigator, in the ABC dramedy Stumptown (2019-2020), which was canceled after one season despite strong reviews.
Her film credits include Safe Haven (2013), Delivery Man (2013), They Came Together (2014), Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016), and The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (2019).
On stage, she made her Broadway debut in Present Laughter in 2017 and appeared Off-Broadway in Love, Loss, and What I Wore.
Recent Work
In 2021, Smulders took on the role of media commentator Ann Coulter in Impeachment: American Crime Story, earning critical praise. She also starred in the coming-of-age drama High School on Amazon Freevee in 2022, based on the memoir by Tegan and Sara.
She joined the cast of Apple TV+’s Shrinking in Season 2 as Gaby, a therapist colleague of the show’s main characters.
In 2025, she appeared as a guest on the How We Made Your Mother podcast and starred in the crime thriller Sharp Corner. Per Broadway World, Smulders appeared in Season 3 of Shrinking in February 2026, reuniting with former How I Met Your Mother co-star Jason Segel.
She also voiced a character in the animated Canadian series Team Canada, released in March 2025.
Cobie Smulders Filmography
Per IMDb, Smulders’s major film credits include The Avengers (2012), Safe Haven (2013), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019).
Her television credits include How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014), Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013-2015), Stumptown (2019-2020), Secret Invasion (2023), and Shrinking (2024-present).
Cobie Smulders Awards and Recognition
Smulders has received several award nominations throughout her career. She was nominated for a People’s Choice Award for Favorite TV Comedy Actress for her work in How I Met Your Mother.
Her performance in the show was widely praised by critics for its consistency, comedic timing, and emotional depth across nine seasons.
Her portrayal of Flo demonstrated how long-form television characters can evolve meaningfully.
Her work in Impeachment: American Crime Story in 2021 also earned industry attention, with critics noting her convincing portrayal of a real media figure. Her Broadway debut in Present Laughter in 2017 further demonstrated her range as a live performer.
Cobie Smulders Husband
Cobie Smulders met Taran Killam, an American actor, comedian, and Saturday Night Live cast member, at a mutual friend’s party in 2005. The couple began dating, and Taran proposed in January 2009.
They married on September 8, 2012, in Solvang, California.
Their wedding took place at Alisal Guest Ranch in Solvang. The couple has remained together and makes their home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. In 2017, they purchased a home in Pacific Palisades for $5.6 million.
Cobie Smulders Children
Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam have two daughters together. Their first daughter, Shaelyn Cado Killam, was born on May 16, 2009. Their second daughter, Janita Mae Killam, was born in January 2015.
The couple has kept their children’s lives largely private.
Smulders has spoken publicly about the difficulty of balancing her acting career with motherhood, especially during her cancer treatment years. She has said that having her family’s support was central to her recovery.
Cobie Smulders Net Worth
Cobie Smulders’s estimated net worth is $25 million as of 2026. She built this wealth through her nine-season run on How I Met Your Mother, her recurring role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, her film appearances, and her television work in series such as Stumptown and Shrinking.
Per multiple reports, she earned approximately $225,000 per episode during How I Met Your Mother.
Her real estate portfolio has also contributed to her financial standing. She and Taran Killam purchased a New York City penthouse for $2 million in 2012 and a Pacific Palisades home for $5.6 million in 2017.
Cobie Smulders Social Media
Cobie Smulders is active on Instagram under the handle @cobiesmulders. She also maintains a presence on Facebook at CobieSmuldersOfficial.
Her social media content focuses on her professional projects and occasional personal updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cobie Smulders’s net worth?
Cobie Smulders’s estimated net worth is $25 million as of 2026. Her wealth comes primarily from How I Met Your Mother, her MCU appearances, film roles, and television projects including Stumptown and Shrinking.
How old is Cobie Smulders?
Cobie Smulders is 44 years old as of June 7, 2026. She was born on April 3, 1982, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Her Zodiac sign is Aries.
Who is Cobie Smulders married to?
Cobie Smulders is married to Taran Killam, an American actor and comedian. They married on September 8, 2012, in Solvang, California. The couple has two daughters, Shaelyn Cado Killam and Janita Mae Killam.
What is Cobie Smulders’s height?
Cobie Smulders stands at 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) tall. Her athletic build has contributed to her strong screen presence in both comedic and action roles throughout her career.
What movies and projects has Cobie Smulders been in?
She is best known for How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014) and for playing Maria Hill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including The Avengers (2012) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
Where was Cobie Smulders born?
Cobie Smulders was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on April 3, 1982. She grew up there, attending Lord Byng Secondary School before leaving for Los Angeles to pursue her acting career.
The Bottom Line
Cobie Smulders built her career through persistence, range, and a willingness to take on challenges far beyond a single defining role. From a small-town Canadian girl who dreamed of marine biology to a cornerstone of two of television and film’s most beloved franchises, her journey has been remarkable.
She faced one of the greatest challenges of her life privately, battling ovarian cancer while filming one of the most popular sitcoms of its era.
Her recovery, and her later decision to speak openly about it, has made her an inspiration to many.
Her career continues to grow with each passing year, and she shows no signs of slowing down. We hope you enjoyed reading about Cobie Smulders. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!