During Criminal Minds‘ 16 seasons, several of its cast members have left the show for various reasons. Criminal Minds is a popular police procedural drama that follows a group of criminal profilers working for the Behavioral Analysis Unit in the FBI. The show aired in 2005 on CBS and has had a mostly successful run. Widely considered one of the best procedural TV shows, Criminal Minds has remained popular because of its exciting plot lines and engaging characters. Unfortunately, many of those characters eventually left the show.
Criminal Minds is no stranger to losing essential cast members. Some actors, like Lola Glaudini, left the show in its early seasons, while others, like Shemar Moore, left Criminal Minds in season 11 to pursue other interests. Of course, even some of the best TV shows of all time lost important characters at some point. That said, some Criminal Minds exits were more premature than others.
8 Lola Glaudini
Special Agent Elle Greenaway
Criminal Minds was not Lola Glauidin’s first time starring in a police drama TV show. Before appearing on the popular series, Glaudini had played Dolores Mayo on NYPD Blue and Danielle Ciccillela in the mob drama The Sopranos. Glaudini debuted on Criminal Minds in season 1, where she took on the role of FBI BAU Special Agent Elle Greenaway. Even though she was part of the original cast of Criminal Minds, Glaudini left the show after the first two seasons. Greenaway got a proper send-off as it was depicted that an unsubshot her, and she began to suffer from PTSD.
After failing to attend her psychological evaluation, Greenaway handed in her badge and walked away. There’s a reason why Lola Glaudini left Criminal Minds after two seasons. Even though she did not personally reveal her reasons, reports say that Glauidini was not happy living in LA, where the show was filmed. She preferred being on the East Coast, where she was from. Glaudini was replaced by Paget Brewster, who, like her, also left the show early.
7 Paget Brewster
Emily Prentiss
Paget Brewster took on the role of Emily Prentiss, who served as a replacement for Elle Greenaway and became one of the most popular characters on Criminal Minds. Brewster was on Criminal Minds from season 1 to season 5. She left the show in Season 5 to pursue other opportunities but regularly returned as a guest. Even though Brewster announced her official exit from the show in season 7, she returned at the end of season 7 and then for good in season 12. Paget Brewster will continue her role as Emily Prentiss in Criminal Minds: Evolution.
6 Mandy Patinkin
Special Agent Jason Gideon
Mandy Patinkin was part of the main cast of Criminal Minds. He played the role of Senior Supervisory Special Agent Jason Gideon. Patinkin left Criminal Minds in early season 3 because he was not comfortable with the dark subject that was often featured on the show. Due to his abrupt departure, the Criminal Minds writers had to quickly think of a way of explaining why Gideon was no longer part of the show. Ultimately, it was decided that he had quit the BAU due to the trauma that his girlfriend’s murder had caused. Pantikin did not return to the show but was killed off-screen in season 10.
5 A.J. Cook
Jennifer “JJ” Jareau
A.J Cook played the role of Jennifer “JJ” Jareau, one of the most important members of the BAU. Jennifer made her first appearance on the show in the second episode of season 1, where she was a Behavioral Analysis Unit media liaison. As the show went on, Jennifer moved on from being a liaison to a profiler who went into the field with the BAU team. After appearing in the show for six seasons, Cook was no longer part of the cast. Unlike other characters in the show, Jennifer wasn’t killed off. Instead, it was revealed that she went to work at the Pentagon.
Although it was speculated that Cook left Criminal Minds because of creative differences, that was not the case. Her contract was not renewed because of financial constraints. However, she returned to the show in season 7 until season 15. Cook is also a cast member on Criminal Minds: Evolution.
4 Rachel Nichols
Cadet Ashley Seaver
Rachel Nichols made her first appearance in season 6 of Criminal Minds. She played the role of an FBI cadet called Ashley Seaver, who was brought into the BAU to help investigate a murder that happened in a gated community. When Nichols joined Criminal Minds, the show was going through a tough time because of A.J. Cook and Page Brewster being fired. However, Nichols only lasted for one season. When Page Brewster and A.J Cook returned to show, Rachel Nichols got fired. Ashley Seaver might have had a brief stint on the show, but it would have been great if she had more time to develop at the BAU.
3 Jeanne Triplehorn
Dr. Alex Blake
Jeanne Tripplehorn played the role of Dr. Alex Blake in seasons 8 and 9 of Criminal Minds. When Dr. Alex Blake was introduced to the show, she fit in perfectly with the other characters and became an instant fan favorite. However, Tripplehorn left Criminal Minds after being featured for two seasons. When her contract with Criminal Minds was up, Tripplehorn decided not to return to the show (via TV Guide). Her character, Dr. Alex Blake, left the show after working on a case that reminded her of her dead son. She quietly handed over her badge to Reid and went on to start a new life.
2 Jennifer Love Hewitt
Kate Callahan
Jennifer Love Hewitt had a brief stint as Kate Callahan in Criminal Minds season 10. Kate replaced Dr. Alex Blake in the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU). After Kate discovered that she was pregnant, she left the show so that she could focus on taking care of her family. The reasons for Kate and Hewitt’s departure were the same. While shooting Criminal Minds, Hewitt discovered she was pregnant with her second child. She decided to leave the show so she could spend more time with her family.
1 Damon Gupton
Stephen Walker
One of the characters that deserved more time on Criminal Minds was Stephen Walker. Damon Gupton was no stranger to playing characters who were in law enforcement. Before Criminal Minds, he had appeared in The Player, Prime Suspect, and Empire. While Stephen Walker was perfect for Criminal Minds, he was let go after having a brief stint in season 12. Unfortunately, Walker didn’t get a proper send-off and was killed off-screen. Even though it was initially reported that Gupton left because of a “creative change,” Criminal Minds showrunner Erica Messer admitted that Gupton was let go to make room for Daniel Henney (via Deadline).
