9 Criminal Minds Cast Members Who Departed the Show Prematurely (& Their Reasons)

Article Overview

Criminal Minds has had several cast members leave throughout its 16-season run for various reasons, including personal preferences and pursuing other interests.

Elle Greenaway, Emily Prentiss, and Jason Gideon, portrayed by Lola Glaudini, Paget Brewster, and Mandy Patinkin respectively, departed from the show at different times, each with their individual storylines explained.

Departures were not exclusive to the earlier seasons. Characters like Jennifer "JJ" Jareau, played by A.J. Cook, and Dr. Alex Blake, played by Jeanne Tripplehorn, also had temporary or permanent exits from the show due to contractual matters and personal reasons in later stages.

Throughout its 16 seasons, Criminal Minds has seen several cast members depart for various reasons. The popular police procedural drama revolves around a group of criminal profilers working for the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. Premiering on CBS in 2005, the show has enjoyed a largely successful run and is widely regarded as one of the top procedural TV shows due to its gripping storylines and captivating characters. Regrettably, many of these characters eventually bid farewell to the series. Losing integral cast members is not uncommon for Criminal Minds. While some actors, such as Lola Glaudini, exited the show during its early seasons, others, like Shemar Moore, departed in season 11 to pursue different ventures. However, even the greatest TV shows of all time have experienced the departure of significant characters. Nonetheless, certain exits on Criminal Minds were perceived as more premature than others.

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8. Lola Glaudini

Special Agent Elle Greenaway

Lola Glaudini's role on Criminal Minds was not her first experience in a police drama TV show. She had previously portrayed Dolores Mayo on NYPD Blue and Danielle Ciccillela in the mob drama The Sopranos. In season 1 of Criminal Minds, Glaudini joined as FBI BAU Special Agent Elle Greenaway. Despite being an original cast member, Glaudini departed from the show after the first two seasons. Greenaway's departure was depicted as her being shot by an unsub and subsequently suffering from PTSD.

Following her failure to attend a psychological evaluation, Greenaway decided to resign from her position and walk away. The motive behind Lola Glaudini's departure from Criminal Minds after two seasons remains undisclosed. However, reports suggest that Glaudini was unhappy living in Los Angeles, where the show was filmed, preferring her East Coast roots. Later in the series, Glaudini's character was replaced by Paget Brewster, who also left the show prematurely.

7. Paget Brewster

Emily Prentiss

Paget Brewster joined Criminal Minds as Emily Prentiss, replacing Elle Greenaway and quickly becoming one of the show's most beloved characters. She was part of the cast from seasons 1 to 5. Brewster decided to leave the series after season 5 to explore other opportunities, but made regular guest appearances. Despite officially announcing her departure in season 7, Brewster made a surprise return at the end of that season and ultimately rejoined the main cast in season 12. In Criminal Minds: Evolution, Paget Brewster will reprise her role as Emily Prentiss.

6. Mandy Patinkin

Special Agent Jason Gideon

Mandy Patinkin portrayed Senior Supervisory Special Agent Jason Gideon as a key member of the primary cast in the television series Criminal Minds. However, during the early stages of season 3, Patinkin departed from the show due to his discomfort with the show's frequent inclusion of disturbing themes. This sudden exit resulted in the need for the Criminal Minds writers to swiftly find a plausible explanation for Gideon's absence within the narrative. Consequently, it was decided that Gideon had chosen to resign from the BAU as a result of the emotional trauma caused by his girlfriend's tragic murder. Despite Patinkin's absence, his character was later written off the series and experienced an off-screen death during season 10.

5. A.J. Cook

Jennifer "JJ" Jareau

Playing the role of Jennifer "JJ" Jareau, A.J Cook was a crucial member of the BAU. Jennifer first appeared in the second episode of season 1 as a media liaison for the Behavioral Analysis Unit. As the show progressed, Jennifer transitioned from being a liaison to a profiler who actively participated in the field with the BAU team. Despite being a part of the show for six seasons, Cook eventually left the cast. Unlike most characters, Jennifer's storyline did not involve her death. Instead, it was revealed that she had taken up employment at the Pentagon.

Although there were speculations that Cook departed from Criminal Minds due to creative differences, it was actually not the case. The reason behind her departure was the non-renewal of her contract due to financial constraints. Nevertheless, she made a comeback to the series in season 7 and remained a part of it until season 15. Furthermore, Cook has also joined the cast of Criminal Minds: Evolution.

4. Rachel Nichols

Cadet Ashley Seaver

Rachel Nichols made her debut in season 6 of Criminal Minds, portraying FBI cadet Ashley Seaver. Her character was brought into the BAU to assist in the investigation of a murder within a gated community. At the time of Nichols' arrival, the show was facing challenges due to the departure of A.J. Cook and Page Brewster. Unfortunately, her tenure on the show was short-lived, as Nichols was ultimately let go when Cook and Brewster returned. Although Ashley Seaver's time on Criminal Minds was brief, it would have been interesting to see her character further develop within the BAU.

3. Jeanne Triplehorn

Dr. Alex Blake

Jeanne Tripplehorn portrayed the character of Dr. Alex Blake during her tenure on Criminal Minds, appearing in seasons 8 and 9. Dr. Blake seamlessly integrated into the ensemble cast, instantly capturing the hearts of fans. However, after two seasons, Tripplehorn made the decision to depart from the show when her contract expired. According to TV Guide, she chose not to reprise her role as Dr. Alex Blake. In the storyline, Dr. Blake bid her farewell after working on a case that tragically reminded her of her deceased child. In a poignant gesture, she quietly handed her badge over to Reid before embarking on a fresh chapter in her life.

2. Jennifer Love Hewitt

Kate Callahan

Jennifer Love Hewitt's time on Criminal Minds season 10 was short-lived as Kate Callahan. Kate joined the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) as a replacement for Dr. Alex Blake. However, her journey took a twist when she learned that she was expecting a child. This led Kate to make the difficult decision of departing from the show to prioritize the well-being of her growing family. Strikingly, the same circumstances unfolded in Hewitt's life during the filming of Criminal Minds, as she too discovered her pregnancy with her second child. Ultimately, she opted to say goodbye to the series, enabling her to devote more quality time to her loved ones.

1. Damon Gupton

Stephen Walker

Stephen Walker, portrayed by Damon Gupton, was a character on Criminal Minds who deserved more screen time. Gupton had prior experience playing law enforcement roles in shows like The Player, Prime Suspect, and Empire. Despite being a great fit for Criminal Minds, Walker was unexpectedly written off after a short appearance in season 12. Regrettably, Walker did not receive a proper departure and was killed off-screen. While initial reports suggested Gupton's departure was due to a "creative change," showrunner Erica Messer admitted that Gupton was released to make way for Daniel Henney, as reported by Deadline.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about the departures of cast members from Criminal Minds. On one hand, I understand that actors may have personal reasons for leaving a show, such as Lola Glaudini's preference for living on the East Coast or Mandy Patinkin's discomfort with the show's disturbing themes. On the other hand, I feel that some of the departures were premature and could have been handled better. For example, I was disappointed when Paget Brewster left the show after season 5, as I felt that her character, Emily Prentiss, was an integral part of the team. I was also surprised when A.J. Cook and Jeanne Triplehorn left the show, as their characters, Jennifer "JJ" Jareau and Dr. Alex Blake, were also important members of the team.

Overall, I think that the departures of cast members from Criminal Minds had a significant impact on the show. The loss of key characters like Elle Greenaway, Emily Prentiss, and Jason Gideon left a void that was difficult to fill. However, I also appreciate the fact that the show was able to continue on and find success even after the departure of some of its biggest stars.