Twenty years ago, viewers got to meet the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) special agents with the premiere of Criminal Minds in September 2005. Helmed by Jeff Davis, the show followed a team of FBI profilers who hunted killers down before they could strike again and wreak havoc. In each episode, fans were introduced to a new case and got to learn more about the team members’ personal lives, like special agent Dr. Spencer Reid and tech analyst Penelope Garcia. After 15 seasons, the series finally came to an end in 2020. However, some of the OG cast members did reprise their original roles in the Paramount+ revival “Criminal Minds: Evolution,” which first debuted in 2022 and was just renewed for a fourth season. Here’s where the “Criminal Minds” cast is today.
Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia
Vangsness played the eccentric communications liaison and tech analyst for 15 seasons. She was the only member of the cast to appear on all the show’s spin-offs and was an essential part of the team. She also had a great sense of humor and provided comedic relief as well as some flirtation with Shemar Moore’s character, Derek Morgan. After the show ended, she appeared in “The Chicago 8” and “Kill Me Deadly.” Today, she stars in the Paramount+ revival, “Evolution.”
Matthew Gray Gubler as Dr. Spencer Reid
Spencer was a boy genius on the BAU team, but he was also incredibly socially awkward. He was a main character on the show throughout its duration, and in 2015, he called it a “real honor” to Glamour, likening his cast members to family and saying he couldn’t believe so much time had passed. He’s acted in many movies, including “RV,” “(500) Days of Summer,” “Life After Beth,” “Zoe,” and the Hulu show “Dollface.” He’s also dabbled in kids’ content, doing voice work in four “Alvin and the Chipmunks“ movies. He returned to “Evolution” for one episode in Season 3.
A.J. Cook as Jennifer Jareau
Cook was only 27 when the show premiered, and she played “JJ” for 15 seasons, calling the series finale “nostalgic” in a TVLine interview, comparing the experience to starting kindergarten with the same friends you graduate high school with, and likening the finale to “going off to college” and wrapping up all the good memories. Cook has appeared in TV shows like “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “9-1-1” and has acted in movies as well, like “Least Among Saints” and “Mother’s Day.“ She is married to Nathan Anderson, has two kids, and is starring on “Evolution” currently.
Joe Mantegna as David Rossi
Mantegna came on the show in Season 3, where he took on a father figure role amongst the team. In 2019, he filmed his final episode, writing on X, “I will miss playing David Rossi, and I’ll miss the wonderful writing that brought him to life, but mostly I will miss seeing my fellow cast mates and our fantastic crew every day.” After, he appeared on the Prime Video show “As We See It” and made a cameo on HBO’s “Barry.” He also still voices Fat Tony on “The Simpsons,” which he has done since 1991. He is still married to Arlene Vrhel, with whom he shares two kids, and he returned for “Evolution.”
Thomas Gibson as Aaron Hotchner
Playing a troubled workaholic, Gibson lasted on the show until Season 12, when he was fired for a physical fight between him and writer-producer Virgil Williams. This incident impacted not only his reputation and pride but also his acting career, which suffered. He acted minimally and only showed up in 2019 in a made-for-TV movie called “Shadow Wolves.” He shares three kids with his ex-wife.
Shemar Moore as Derek Morgan
The show’s heartthrob, Derek Morgan, was on the show from seasons 1 through 11, with guest appearances in seasons 12 and 13. After leaving in 2016, he wanted to seek more balance in his life, saying to TVLine, “I also want to walk my dogs, travel, get married, have kids.” He has returned to his initial breakout role in “The Young and the Restless” as well as the CBS show “S.W.A.T.” as a lieutenant. He also voices the character Cyborg in the animated “Justice League” movies. In 2023, he welcomed a daughter with his ex-girlfriend Jesiree Dizon.
Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss
Brewster first came on the show in season 2, where she was a regular through season 7. She took a break from the show after her character left the team to take a job at Interpol, showing up occasionally in guest appearances. In season 12, she returned as a regular. She has acted in many other shows since, including “Community,” “Grandfathered,” and “Another Period.” She’s also done voice work in shows like “Family Guy,” “American Dad!,” “Family Guy” and “Adventure Time.” She married musician Steve Damstra in 2014 and today has reunited with the team for the Paramount+ reboot.
Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis
Tyler, who was a host on “The Talk” for six years, played this role for seasons 11 through 15, calling the ending bittersweet in a Parade interview back in 2019, but she did enjoy that the show had a proper finale. Since then, she’s done voice work as Millie on the Disney+ show “Monsters at Work” as well as voicing Lana Kane on “Archer.” She has also appeared on “The Boys” and “Fear the Walking Dead.” Tyler returned to the talk show world with her own show, “Unapologetic with Aisha Tyler,” and also hosted “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” In 2022, she came back for the Paramount+ revival.
Daniel Henney as Matt Simmons
Appearing both on the original show and its spin-off, “Beyond Borders,” Henney started his career as a model in Korea. His breakout role in the US was in 2009 for the movie “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” He stayed on the show until the finale but didn’t return for the “Evolution” reboot. Henney did voice work for Disney on “Big Hero 6” and its TV spin-off, “Big Hero 6: The Series.” He also starred in the Prime Video series “The Wheel of Time” beginning in 2021. In 2021, he married actress Ru Kumagai.
Mandy Patinkin as Jason Gideon
Patinkin led the show in seasons 1 and 2, but his tenure was short-lived, as he left before season 3 premiered. His character retired after his girlfriend on the show died. Since leaving “Criminal Minds,” he has acted in many movies and starred as Saul Berenson in “Homeland” for nearly a decade. He also appeared on “The Good Fight” in season 5. Since 1980, Patinkin has been married to actress Kathryn Grody, with whom he shares two sons.
Lola Glaudini as Elle Greenaway
Lola’s character was killed off in season one, but her acting career has been fruitful since, with roles in “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Blue Bloods,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Revenge,” “Ray Donovan,” “The Expanse,” and “Person of Interest” spanning her resume. She shares two children with her husband, Stuart England.
