‘Criminal Minds’ Cast: Then and Now
Leaving a legacy. Criminal ghosts is back with a revival on Paramount+ titled Criminal Minds: Evolution — but fans have seen the cast change on and off screen since the proceedings first debuted.
In 2005, viewers were introduced to a group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit. The crime drama, made by teenage wolfs Jeff Davisexamined several fictitious cases and showed how behavioral analysis helped the team pinpoint their unfamiliar subjects.
The first season of Criminal ghosts with star Mandy Patinkin, Thomas Gibson, Lola Glaudini, Schemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, AJ Cook and Kirsten Vangsness. After two seasons on the show, Patinkin announced his departure and later gave a reason for the decision.
“The biggest public mistake I ever made was what I chose to do Criminal ghosts in the first place. I thought it was something completely different,” he said during an interview with New York magazine in September 2012. “I never imagined that they would murder and rape all these women every night, every day, week after week, year after year.”
Patinkin recalled struggling with the subject, saying, “It was very destructive to my soul and my personality.”
At the time the Princess bride actor noted that he was not judging viewers who enjoyed the proceedings. “I am not commenting on the taste [of people who watch crime procedurals]’, Patinkin, who participated Native country after his departure from the CBS show, added. “But I am concerned about the effect it will have. Audiences around the world use this programming as a bedtime story. You don’t have to dream about this.”
Over the years Criminal ghosts continued to see cast changes until it ended in 2020. The cop drama was later picked up for a revival that included the return of Joe Mantegnacooking vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez and Paget Brewster. The Paramount+ series will also be introduced Zak Gilford in the role of the villain of the first season.
Ahead of the November 2022 revival’s debut, Gilford opened up about joining such a memorable franchise.
“Because it’s on Paramount+, rather than CBS, they do it a little bit differently. They want to do the same show but in a slightly different way and they want me to be a part of that. So I think I’m stubborn enough to think I won’t do anything that the fans will hate.” Friday night lights alum told Nerds and beyond at that moment. “I’ve seen the show and I love the show, so I think I understand its appeal.”
Gilford continued, “I have a lot of respect for the fans of this show and what this show has been, and I think the directing by the cast members and how collaborative the writers are hopefully doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb.”
Scroll down to see then and now photos of the Criminal ghosts cast members: