This is a list of characters in the television series Criminal Minds, an American police procedural drama which premiered September 22, 2005, on CBS and concluded its original run on February 19, 2020. It is also shown on A&E and Ion Television in the United States. A nineteenth season of the show will began airing on Paramount+ in May 2026.
Main characters Main <onlyinclude>
Legend = Main cast (credited) = Recurring cast (3+) = Guest cast (1–2) Actor Character Seasons Criminal Minds Evolution 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Mandy Patinkin Jason Gideon colspan="3" M colspan="6" colspan="1" colspan="10" Thomas Gibson Aaron Hotchner colspan="12" M colspan="8" Lola Glaudini Elle Greenaway colspan="2" M colspan="18" Shemar Moore Derek Morgan colspan="11" M colspan="2" SG colspan="7" Matthew Gray Gubler Spencer Reid colspan="15" M colspan="2" colspan="1" G colspan="2" A. J. Cook Jennifer Jareau colspan="20" M Kirsten Vangsness Penelope Garcia Also Starring colspan="19" M Paget Brewster Emily Prentiss colspan="6" M SG SG colspan="9" M Joe Mantegna David Rossi colspan="2" colspan="18" M Rachel Nichols Ashley Seaver colspan="5" M colspan="14" Jeanne Tripplehorn Alex Blake colspan="7" colspan="2" M colspan="11" Jennifer Love Hewitt Kate Callahan colspan="9" M colspan="10" Aisha Tyler Tara Lewis colspan="10" Also Starring colspan="9" M Adam Rodriguez Luke Alvez colspan="11" colspan="9" M Damon Gupton Stephen Walker colspan="11" M colspan="8" Daniel Henney Matt Simmons colspan="9" G G colspan="3" M colspan="6" RJ Hatanaka Tyler Green colspan="15" R colspan="4" M Zach Gilford Elias Voit colspan="15" R colspan="3" M colspan="1" Notes
Current main characters Name Actor Seasons Occupation(s)Jennifer "JJ" JareauA.J. Cook1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19BAU Supervisory Special Agent, Former BAU Communications LiaisonSSA Jennifer "JJ" Jareau originally acted as the team's Communication Liaison with the media and local police agencies and later turned to a full-time agent in the field after returning from the Pentagon. She has two sons with her now husband Detective William LaMontagne Jr. (Josh Stewart), whom she met while the team was working a case in New Orleans in the season two episode "Jones" and married at the end of the season seven two-part finale, "Hit and Run". In the second episode of season six, JJ was forced to take a promotion to the Pentagon and left the team for the rest of the season. When JJ leaves the BAU for a promotion to a position at the Pentagon, Garcia and Hotch take up her responsibilities as media liaison, and Garcia retains this position when JJ returns to the BAU as a profiler. Jennifer returned to the show in the episode entitled "Lauren", in which she receives a call and returns to help the BAU find Emily Prentiss and capture Ian Doyle before it is too late. When Emily is stabbed by Doyle and rushed to a hospital, Jennifer announces she did not survive. However, it is later revealed that Emily is alive and Jennifer meets her at a cafe in Paris, where she provides her with three passports and bank accounts to start a new life in hiding. She returns once again in the season six finale before returning as a main character again in season seven. In the finale of season 14, JJ reveals to Reid that she always loved him during a hostage situation. In season 15, episode 1 "Under the Skin" JJ was shot and rushed to hospital. She recovered after surgery and in episode 2 "Awakenings" JJ and Reid discussed the hostage situation where JJ admitted she loved Reid but she also loved Will and her kids. They both agreed to be friends. In 2015, the actress announced she was expecting her second child, which was written into JJ's storyline. The character's children are portrayed by A.J. Cook's real-life sons, Mekhai and Phoenix Andersen.Penelope GarciaKirsten Vangsness1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19BAU Technical Analyst, BAU Special Agent, BAU Communications DirectorSA Penelope Garcia, the BAU's technical analyst, has been present in the series since the first season. She is portrayed as a bubbly and kind character who often comforts her team and shares a playful, flirty, but platonic relationship with SSA Morgan. Penelope's mother remarried into the Garcia family, and she has a brother named Carlos. After losing her parents to a drunk driver, she embraced Mexican traditions from her stepfather's heritage despite being of English descent. Self-taught in hacking after dropping out of college, Garcia became one of the world's top underground hackers. When caught by the FBI, she was offered a choice: prison or working for the BAU as an analyst. In "Penelope," Garcia survives being shot, a pivotal moment in her storyline. After JJ's temporary departure, she briefly takes on the role of media liaison, adopting a new look but quickly realizing the job isn't for her. She resumes her analyst role, though she retains some liaison duties when JJ returns. Her background is explored in episodes like "The Black Queen," where flashbacks show her goth past and the guilt she feels over her hacking days. She even agrees to act as bait to catch her hacker ex-boyfriend, though she vows never to revisit that part of her life. Emily PrentissPaget Brewster2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 ,18, 19FBI Section Chief, BAU Unit Chief, BAU Supervisory Special Agent, former Chief of London InterpolSSA Emily Prentiss is the daughter of a U.S. ambassador and diplomat. She joins the BAU unexpectedly after Agent Elle Greenaway's departure, initially catching Hotch and Gideon off guard. Intelligent and fluent in multiple languages, Prentiss gradually becomes a core member of the team. Prentiss experienced many difficulties in her childhood, including social isolation, loneliness, and receiving an abortion at the age of 15. Prentiss's storyline takes a darker turn in Season 6 when her past at Interpol resurfaces. After receiving unsettling warnings and finding her home invaded, she discovers she is being targeted by her nemesis, Ian Doyle. Faking her death with help from Hotch and JJ, she temporarily leaves the team, returning in Season 7 to confront Doyle. By the season's end, she departs again to lead Interpol in London. She makes notable returns in the series, including the 200th episode to rescue SSA Jennifer Jareau and in Season 11 to assist with a serial killer case. After the termination of Thomas Gibson (actor of Aaron Hotchner), Brewster rejoined as a series regular in Season 12, assuming Hotch's previous role of Unit Chief. She was promoted to be the FBI Section Chief with oversight over the BAU at the end of Season 15.David RossiJoe Mantegna3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19BAU Senior Supervisory Special Agent, Former BAU Unit Chief, Former Marine Sergeant MajorSenior SSA David Rossi, a founding father' of the BAU", was in early retirement from 1997 until his voluntary return to the BAU in 2007, replacing Jason Gideon, who had abruptly resigned from the BAU. He had retired in order to write books and go on lecture tours, but he returned to settle some unfinished business that was not immediately specified. It was later revealed that the case involved three young children whose parents had been murdered in a possible home-invasion case that had remained unsolved. This case haunted Rossi for twenty years and prompted him to return to the BAU, where he eventually solved it. He served in the Vietnam War and lost a close friend, which was revealed in a series of flashbacks.Tara LewisAisha Tyler11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19BAU Supervisory Special Agent, Former FBI Forensic PsychologistSSA Dr. Tara Lewis is a forensic psychologist and Supervisory Special Agent in the BAU, introduced in Season 11 as a recurring character before becoming a series regular in Season 12. A highly intelligent and driven individual, Tara is known for her expertise in interviewing psychopathic criminals to assess their fitness for trial. Her background includes a challenging childhood marked by her father's military service, her mother's death from cancer, and bullying she endured while living in Germany. She shares a complicated relationship with her brother Gabriel, who became estranged after a series of personal conflicts. Tara's personal life is layered with complex relationships, including a brief marriage during her collegiate years, a failed engagement, and a current relationship with Rebecca Wilson from the Department of Justice. Tara is pansexual and openly discusses her past relationships with both men and women. Tara has faced numerous professional challenges, including surviving a near-fatal car crash orchestrated by Peter Lewis, profiling high-profile unsubs, and navigating the dissolution and reformation of the BAU.Luke AlvezAdam Rodriguez12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19BAU Supervisory Special Agent, Former FBI Fugitive Task Force Agent, Former U.S. Army Ranger Played by former CSI: Miami star Adam Rodriguez, Supervisory Special Agent Alvez is a profiler in the BAU who was previously a member of the FBI Fugitive Task Force who partnered with the BAU to catch the serial killers that escaped in the Season 11 finale. In the Season 12 premiere, he works with the BAU to catch the "Crimson King", one of the escapees who attacked Alvez's old partner. The team discovers the real killer is "Mr. Scratch," who taunts the team by turning over the real "Crimson King", who was tortured to the point he no longer remembered who he was. Alvez then decides to join the BAU full-time and was Hotch's last hire. Alvez has a dog named Roxy (whom Garcia thought at first was his human girlfriend) and served in Iraq as an Army Ranger prior to joining the FBI.Tyler GreenRyan-James Hatanaka16, 17, 18, 19FBI Agent, BAU Consultant, Former U.S. Army Drone SpotterTyler Green is a former military intelligence officer turned vigilante. Dishonorably discharged after posting drone strike aftermath videos online, Green's life took a dark turn when his sister, Alison, was murdered by serial killer Elias Voit. Consumed by grief and seeking justice, Green infiltrated Voit's network of serial killers, gathering evidence and attempting to lure Voit into a trap. Green's obsessive quest for revenge brought him into conflict with the BAU, particularly Penelope Garcia (who he also had romantic and sexual encounters with), to whom he anonymously provided information. Despite his defiance and mistrust of authority, Green ultimately collaborated with the team, sharing critical insights into Voit's operations while struggling with PTSD and guilt over his sister's death. Elias VoitZach Gilford16, 17, 18, 19Serial-killer, Criminal, Former Network Security AnalystElias Jasper Voit, also known as "Sicarius," is the main antagonist of Criminal Minds: Evolution. A prolific and methodical serial killer, Voit operated a vast network of murderers across the U.S., using his expertise in encryption and manipulation to maintain control. Born Lee Duval, Voit endured severe childhood abuse that shaped his violent tendencies. He concealed his crimes behind a family life with an unsuspecting wife and daughters, while storing and torturing victims in hidden locations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Voit expanded his operations by recruiting killers online, providing "kill kits" and guidance in exchange for financial support. His signature methods included diverse and brutal killings, from dismemberment to poisoning, with a recurring tactic of using spiders as a murder weapon. Driven by his psychopathy and need for control, Voit's intricate schemes brought him into direct conflict with the BAU.
Former main characters