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The BAU’s Real-Life Profiles: 7 Shocking Facts About The Criminal Minds: Evolution Cast And Who’s Returning For Season 3

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The Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) has captivated audiences for nearly two decades, transitioning from a staple CBS procedural drama to a major streaming hit with Criminal Minds: Evolution on Paramount+. As of December 2025, the team of elite FBI profilers is gearing up for its third season on the streaming platform (sometimes referred to as Season 19, continuing the original series' numbering), which promises to delve even deeper into the minds of the most terrifying UnSubs (Unknown Subjects). This new era has brought back nearly all of the beloved core cast, along with some intriguing new additions and major storyline developments.

The enduring popularity of the series lies not just in its compelling cases, but in the complex, long-running relationships of the actors who bring Supervisory Special Agents like David Rossi and Jennifer "JJ" Jareau to life. From Tony Award winners to stand-up comedians and directors, the real-life profiles of the Criminal Minds cast are just as fascinating as the characters they play. Here is a deep dive into the current cast, their surprising biographies, and the latest updates on the upcoming season.

The Current BAU Team: Full Cast Biographies and Profiles

The following actors form the core team of the BAU in Criminal Minds: Evolution, which focuses on a network of serial killers developed during the pandemic.

Joe Mantegna as Supervisory Special Agent David Rossi

  • Role: Senior Supervisory Special Agent, a founding member of the BAU.
  • Date of Birth: November 13, 1947
  • Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
  • Career Highlights: Before joining Criminal Minds in Season 3, Mantegna was an established actor with a Tony Award for his role in the play Glengarry Glen Ross. He has starred in films like House of Games, The Godfather Part III, and Searching for Bobby Fischer. He also famously voices the character Fat Tony on The Simpsons.

Paget Brewster as Supervisory Special Agent Emily Prentiss

  • Role: BAU Unit Chief, a multilingual profiler with a mysterious past.
  • Date of Birth: March 10, 1969
  • Birthplace: Concord, Massachusetts, USA
  • Career Highlights: Brewster gained early recognition for her recurring role as Kathy in Season 4 of the sitcom Friends. She is also a prolific voice actress, notably voicing the character Lana Kane on the animated series Archer. Her return to the BAU after several departures has been a major storyline driver.

Kirsten Vangsness as Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia

  • Role: The BAU's indispensable technical analyst and communications liaison.
  • Date of Birth: July 7, 1972
  • Birthplace: Pasadena, California, USA
  • Career Highlights: Vangsness is a talented actress and writer, known primarily for her long-running role as Garcia, a character she has portrayed across all three Criminal Minds franchises (the original series, Suspect Behavior, and Evolution). She has also co-written several episodes of the show. She began her career in theater.

A.J. Cook as Supervisory Special Agent Jennifer "JJ" Jareau

  • Role: A Supervisory Special Agent and media liaison who transitioned to a profiler role.
  • Date of Birth: July 22, 1978
  • Birthplace: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
  • Career Highlights: Cook is a Canadian actress whose early work includes roles in films like The Virgin Suicides and Final Destination 2. Her character, JJ, is one of the longest-running members of the team, known for her emotional depth and unwavering dedication to her family and the BAU.

Adam Rodriguez as Supervisory Special Agent Luke Alvez

  • Role: A profiler specializing in fugitive apprehension, introduced in Season 12.
  • Date of Birth: April 2, 1975
  • Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
  • Career Highlights: Rodriguez is widely recognized for his long-running role as Eric Delko on the popular procedural drama CSI: Miami. He is also a screenwriter and director. His character, Alvez, brought a fresh dynamic to the BAU after the departure of Derek Morgan.

Aisha Tyler as Supervisory Special Agent Dr. Tara Lewis

  • Role: A forensic psychologist who interviews and evaluates serial killers.
  • Date of Birth: September 18, 1970
  • Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA
  • Career Highlights: Tyler is a multi-talented stand-up comedian, actress, talk show host, and director. She is known for hosting The Talk and Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and for voicing Lana Kane on Archer alongside Paget Brewster. Her character, Dr. Lewis, was introduced in Season 11.

The Evolution of the BAU: Cast Changes and Major Returns

The transition from the original 15-season CBS run to the streaming-exclusive Evolution series has been marked by a focus on long-form storytelling, allowing the team to pursue one major UnSub across an entire season. This new format has also dictated who returns to the fold and who remains absent from the FBI's most elite unit. The biggest news for the dedicated fan base revolves around the status of the two most-missed original cast members: Dr. Spencer Reid and Matt Simmons.

The Dr. Reid Question: Matthew Gray Gubler, who played the fan-favorite genius Dr. Spencer Reid, was unable to return for Evolution Season 1 and Season 2 due to other commitments. However, the latest updates indicate a high possibility of his return for a guest-starring role in Season 3. Showrunners have kept Reid's absence deliberately vague, noting he is on a "secret mission," a narrative choice that keeps the door wide open for his eventual return to the BAU team.

Simmons' Status: Daniel Henney, who played Supervisory Special Agent Matt Simmons, is also not a regular cast member for Evolution, as he has been busy with other major projects. The show continues to reference these absent characters as being on assignment, maintaining the continuity and hope for future reunions among the BAU family.

New Faces in Season 3: The upcoming season will feature a major new addition. Felicity Huffman is set to join the cast as a recurring guest star. She will play Dr. Jill Gideon, a respected psychiatrist and the former wife of the original BAU Unit Chief, Jason Gideon (played by Mandy Patinkin). This casting is a significant development, promising to connect the new series even more deeply to the original show's lore through the legacy of Jason Gideon.

Surprising Salary Secrets and Net Worth of the Cast

The long tenure of the original Criminal Minds series, which spanned 15 seasons before its revival, led to some of the cast members becoming some of the highest-paid actors in television procedural history. Their salaries reflect their dedication and the show's global success in the procedural drama genre. The net worth of the cast is a testament to their careers in film, television, and theater, extending well beyond their FBI roles.

  • Joe Mantegna (David Rossi): Reported to have earned approximately $125,000 per episode during the later seasons of the original series. His extensive career has contributed to a high overall net worth.
  • Matthew Gray Gubler (Dr. Spencer Reid): Was reportedly one of the highest earners, making up to $150,000 per episode towards the end of the CBS run, reflecting his status as a fan-favorite character since the pilot episode. His net worth is estimated to be around $10 million.
  • Thomas Gibson (Aaron Hotchner): Despite his controversial exit, the former Unit Chief's long and successful career in television, including his time on Dharma & Greg, has resulted in a reported net worth of $18 million.
  • A.J. Cook (JJ Jareau): Her salary was reported to be around $100,000 per episode in the later seasons, contributing to an estimated net worth of $5 million.
  • Mandy Patinkin (Jason Gideon): The original BAU Unit Chief, who left early in the series, has an estimated net worth of $10 million, built on a legendary career in theater, film, and other television hits like Homeland.

The success of Criminal Minds: Evolution on Paramount+ has cemented the cast's status as television royalty. The focus on a season-long UnSub, like the terrifying Elias Voit in Season 1, has successfully revitalized the procedural format for the streaming era. As the BAU prepares for Season 3, fans can look forward to seeing Emily Prentiss, David Rossi, and the rest of the team continue their relentless pursuit of justice, with the potential return of Dr. Reid as the ultimate fan service moment.

The blend of seasoned veterans and versatile actors ensures that the heart of the show—the deep personal connections and the intensity of the criminal profiling—remains intact. The BAU’s work, hunting down the most dangerous minds in the country, is a testament to the enduring appeal of this dark, psychological procedural.

criminal minds the cast
criminal minds the cast

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