Felicity Huffman to Appear on ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Post ‘The Good Lawyer’ Cancellation

Felicity Huffman Joins Criminal Minds Evolution Cast Following The Good Lawyer Cancelation

Felicity Huffman. Leon Bennett/Getty Images

Felicity Huffman, aged 61, has secured a new role on the TV show Criminal Minds: Evolution. This comes after her brief time on The Good Lawyer and five years since her involvement in the college admissions scandal affected her career. She will be playing the character of Dr. Jill Gideon in the upcoming season of the Paramount+ series.

Jill, the ex-wife of the late Jason Gideon (Mandy Patinkin) from Criminal Minds, was introduced to fans in 2005. She is a brilliant biological psychiatrist who ends up assisting the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit in investigating a murderous conspiracy theory, as reported by the streaming service.

Despite her reluctance to rejoin the elite team at the bureau due to her complicated history with David Rossi (Joe Mantegna) and her deceased ex-husband, Jason Gideon, Huffman’s character eventually realizes that her unique skill set could be instrumental in uncovering another clue to the elusive Gold Star mystery.

Huffman recently announced her casting in a new project, following her return to television last year with The Good Doctor’s spinoff, The Good Lawyer in March 2023.

She played the role of attorney Janet Stewart in the backdoor pilot of the popular medical drama, alongside Kennedy McMann as young lawyer Joni. Unfortunately, after eight months, The Good Lawyer did not receive a full-season order as reported by TVLine.

The short-lived show marked Huffman’s return to acting after taking a four-year break following her involvement in the college admissions scandal.

Felicity Huffman Joins Criminal Minds Evolution Cast Following The Good Lawyer Cancelation

Felicity Huffman, known for her role in Desperate Housewives, was taken into custody in March 2019. She was charged with paying $15,000 to boost her daughter Sophia's SAT scores. This scandal involved 50 individuals, including Lori Loughlin and her spouse, Mossimo Giannulli.

Huffman pleaded guilty to fraud charges in May 2019. She was sentenced to 14 days in prison that September and released in October 2019 after serving 11 days. Huffman shares daughters Sophia, now 23, and Georgia, now 21, with husband William H. Macy.

In addition to her prison sentence, Huffman was ordered to pay a $30,000 fine and complete 250 hours of community service for her crimes. Macy, on the other hand, was never charged in connection with the case.

"It’s been tough. It felt like my previous life came to an end, and I felt like a part of me also died," Huffman shared with The Guardian in an interview published in February. "Fortunately, I have a supportive family, love, and resources, so I had a place to turn to."

In November 2020, Huffman secured a role in an ABC baseball comedy, but the show was not picked up. Subsequently, she landed a part in The Good Doctor spinoff, which unfortunately did not progress beyond the pilot stage in 2023.

Now, her acting career seems to be back on track. Huffman recently made her U.K. stage debut in February in the revival of Taylor Mac’s Hir. She played the role of Paige, a radical mother to a transgender son.

Up next, Huffman will be appearing as a guest star on season 2 of Criminal Minds: Evolution, which is currently in production. She will be joining the series regulars including Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Zach Gilford, Ryan-James Hatanaka, Adam Rodriguez, and Paget Brewster.

Editor's P/S:

Felicity Huffman's journey since her involvement in the college admissions scandal has been a rollercoaster ride. After a four-year hiatus, she made a brief return to television with "The Good Lawyer," but unfortunately, the show was short-lived. However, with her recent casting in "Criminal Minds: Evolution," it seems like Huffman's career is back on track.

Huffman's role as Dr. Jill Gideon in the upcoming season of the Paramount+ series marks a significant milestone in her post-scandal career. Her character's expertise and connection to the late Jason Gideon add an intriguing dimension to the show's ongoing storyline. It will be fascinating to see how Huffman's character navigates her complicated relationships with David Rossi and her former husband's legacy while contributing to the investigation of the elusive Gold Star mystery.