Original Criminal Minds Lead Star Reunite With Garcia Actor In Nostalgic Photo

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Kirsten Vangsness, who played Penelope Garcia on Criminal Minds, recently reunited with one of the show’s original stars. Criminal Minds aired for 15 seasons on CBS before concluding, with plans for a final send-off for each of the main characters. However, due to the show’s continued popularity on streaming and in reruns, Paramount+ decided to revive the series on their platform.

Now with a fresh new brand, the show quickly regained its fanbase despite moving to streaming. This was proven by Paramount+ renewing it for a fourth season before the third season of Criminal Minds: Evolution even finished airing. While fans love this current version of the show, many still have a soft spot for the original seasons on CBS, making it wonderful to see the people involved reuniting.

Paget Brewster Vangsness recently posted a heartwarming photo on Instagram with Mandy Patinkin, a beloved original cast member of Criminal Minds. Patinkin played Jason Gideon, a key leader of the BAU, when the show first premiered in 2005. Take a look at the throwback picture below!

Kirsten Vangsness/Instagram

Though he was a lead on Criminal Minds for two seasons, Mandy Patinkin chose to leave the show because he found the dark and disturbing content too difficult for his well-being. He prioritized his mental health, leading to his departure. His exit paved the way for Joe Mantegna to join the cast as Dave Rossi, Gideon’s former partner and a founding member of the BAU. Interestingly, Gideon’s departure from the show mirrored his character’s own disillusionment, as he left the BAU after his girlfriend was murdered.

After many years, the show Criminal Minds gave the character Gideon a final farewell by having him die off-screen. The BAU team handled the case, giving his former colleagues a chance to grieve. Even now, Gideon is still mentioned occasionally, keeping his memory alive within the series. It’s been almost 20 years since actor Mandy Patinkin left the show, but he clearly remains friendly with his former co-workers.

With Gideon now gone from the show, it seems unlikely Mandy Patinkin will return for Evolution. However, Criminal Minds has previously brought characters back from the dead – like Rossi’s wife, Krystall. So, if the timing was right and they had a compelling story, especially one that could significantly change the direction of the BAU team, Patinkin might be open to making a guest appearance.

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2026-02-10 15:37