Matthew Gray Gubler is commenting on his long-awaited return to the Criminal Minds franchise!
The actor, who left the series in 2020, came back to play his beloved character Dr. Spencer Reid in Season 18, Episode 3, which aired on May 21. During the episode, his character attended his friend and Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) co-worker, Jennifer “JJ” Jareau’s (A.J. Cook) late husband, William LaMontagne, Jr.’s (Josh Stewart) funeral.
TV Insider reported that Gubler released a statement about Spencer’s return in Criminal Minds: Evolution.
“It’s a joy to get to tell stories with people you love so I will always cherish any moment, big or small, that I get to hug my Criminal Minds family or slip back into my dear friend Spencer’s oversized wingtips,” said Gubler in the statement.
After Season 18, Episode 3 aired, Cook spoke to TV Insider about Spencer’s return. She referenced that Spencer did not have much screen time during the Season 18 episode. In his one line of dialogue, he assured a grieving JJ that he will be “always here for” her and the rest of the BAU team. According to Cook, Spencer and JJ’s limited interaction “was by choice.”
“They didn’t need a monologue. They didn’t need a bunch of dialogue. It’s all in looks,” said Cook to the publication.
Cook also said that Gubler was receptive when she approached him to portray Spencer again for William’s funeral.
“He was just like, ‘Are you kidding me? Of course I’ll be there,’ like a true friend does. You show up in those moments. And we were so lucky to get him back,” said Cook during the interview. “And yes, it was a brief moment, but it was so impactful and it felt so great having him there, just kind of felt like a homecoming. And my kids love Matthew and Matthew’s like my third kid. It was pretty cute. Seeing him back on set with everybody, it was pretty special.”
During an October 2023 interview on The Six O’Clock Show, Gubler said he would love to come back to the Criminal Minds franchise. He explained he had not filmed for Criminal Minds Evolution because he had signed onto a different acting project.
In a February 2020 interview for Paramount+, Gubler jokingly shared what he learned during his 15 years of playing Spencer.
“Learning how to carry a gun properly, learning how to comb my hair properly on the other side, learning how to run. Getting over my fear of flying. Getting over my fear of talking to Shemar Moore,” quipped Gubler.
‘Criminal Minds’ Star Releases Statement About His Beloved Character’s Long-Awaited Return first appeared on Parade on May 23, 2025
