Criminal Minds: Why Thomas Gibson's Aaron Hotchner Left the Series After Season 12 (2024)

FAQs

Why did Hotch leave season 12? ›

Hotch was written off the CBS procedural because Gibson was fired following reports of an altercation on set.

Thomas Gibson, who played Aaron Hotchner, would not be returning for the final season. Messer revealed that Shemar Moore, who played Derek Morgan, would also not be returning for the final season.

Gibson's last episode of Criminal Minds aired on CBS on Wednesday, Oct. 5 and there wasn't much fanfare. "Sick Day," the second episode of season 12, featured A.J. Cook's JJ predominately as she recounted the harrowing events of a case to her husband (Bill Stewart).

In August 2016, Thomas Gibson was involved in an on-set altercation with Virgil Williams, a writer-producer of Criminal Minds, while Gibson was directing an episode of the show. He apparently kicked Williams and was initially suspended for two episodes.

After 12 seasons as one of the only remaining original cast members, actor Thomas Gibson was fired from Criminal Minds, with FBI Special Agent Aaron Hotchner being written out of the series.

It wasn't his first on-set altercation, as he pushed a producer and then was forced to go to anger management classes. Either way, Hotch won't return for Criminal Minds season 16 and that's probably best for the cast and crew, many of whom have been working on the show since the days of Gibson's tenure.

What's more, the Criminal Minds reboot will feature the return of familiar faces, including Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez and Paget Brewster.

Hotchner personally requests Prentiss as his successor, and she accepts the position despite her doubt over her ability to handle it. He makes one final appearance in the series finale during a flashback to season 1.

In "Elliott's Pond", it is revealed that Jack was being actively stalked by an unsub that his father captured but later escaped from prison. As a result, both him and Hotch had to go into witness protection, and Hotch officially resigned from his position in the BAU, not wanting to further endanger his son.

One of the darkest moments of Criminal Minds saw a killer targeting Haley, the ex-wife of Hotch; here's the episode where she dies and who kills her. The Criminal Minds episode where Hotch's former wife Haley is killed by UnSub George Foyet, aka the Reaper, is one of the show's most memorable to date.

How was Hotch written out of Criminal Minds? ›

However, after 11 seasons, his character disappeared. Hotch appeared in two episodes of season 12 before vanishing on a "special assignment." Later in the season, it was revealed that he was put into witness protection following his son's involvement in a number of stalking incidents.

Moore made appearances in Seasons 12 and 13, bringing Derek Morgan briefly back to the world of Criminal Minds. But Season 11 was the end of his run as a main character. Morgan never appeared again in the final few seasons of the series, leaving fans to hope that his life turned out the way he wanted it to.

Unlike some other shocking Criminal Minds character exits, there was no behind-the-scenes drama involved with why Morgan left Criminal Minds, with the actor simply deciding that after eleven seasons it was time to leave. He felt he'd explored every facet of Morgan as a character, and he wanted to pursue other projects.

Hotch never returned to the series after appearing in two episodes of season 12, and it was a shock to fans.

Emily Prentiss returns!

Everyone's favorite Interpol agent returns to Criminal Minds as a series regular this Fall. Emily Prentiss, who worked with the BAU for several seasons, will be making quite the comeback as she returns to the FBI.

The actor did make guest appearances in seasons 12 and 13, but he never came back after that. His absence from the Criminal Minds series finale in 2020 seemingly put the final nail in the coffin that Derek Morgan would ever return to the BAU.

In reality, the two actors weren't able to join the new series due to conflicting schedules. Criminal Mind showrunner Erica Messer explained to TV Insider. "We wanted [Gubler and Henny] both back, and they both had other projects, and we only had a very short window to shoot this year.

The real-life reason for Reid's absence on Criminal Minds: Evolution stems from scheduling conflicts. Initially, it was believed that it was the actor's decision to skip the revival altogether after starring in and occasionally directing episodes of Criminal Minds for 15 years.

“He's been doing other projects and a lot of those were lining up during our window. Our window of shooting was just August to December 2. It was the same with Daniel Henney, who was working on The Wheel of Time. So I wasn't able to get them, but I could get the six other cast members.

Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) is not returning for the 16th season, especially considering how prominent he was in Criminal Minds proper. There's a reason for this Reid-shaped gap in the show (and it's not just because he's a fan favorite).

Does anyone replace JJ in Criminal Minds? ›

SES Mateo "Matt" Cruz is the new BAU Section Chief, the direct superior to SSA Aaron Hotchner, and later SSA Emily Prentiss.

Thomas Gibson, who played Aaron Hotchner, would not be returning for the final season. Messer revealed that Shemar Moore, who played Derek Morgan, would also not be returning for the final season.

After the death of Scratch in Season Thirteen, they left witness protection but Hotch opted not to return to the BAU in order to be a full-time father.

She dies in Hotch's arms after begging him to stay with her as she doesn't want to die alone.

While Reid accepted the fact that they would never be together, it must have still been difficult for him to continue working with JJ. So, as part of his therapy, he likely realized that the best way to move on was to physically distance himself from her, hence Reid leaving the BAU.

William "Will" LaMontagne, Jr. is a recurring character on Criminal Minds. He is currently married to SSA Jennifer Jareau.

Serial killer Peter Lewis, better known as Mr. Scratch (Bodhi Elfman), started stalking Hotch's son Jack. The Criminal Minds villain first appeared in season 10 and remained at large as of season 12. The assignment cover was to hide the stalking investigation.

Who takes care of Jack after Haley dies? She then appears in "Seven Seconds", Haley has temporarily moved in with her while she and Hotch had separated. She later appears in "The Slave of Duty", helping Hotch take care of Jack after her sister was killed by serial killer George Foyet.

Hotch beats Foyet to death, even after Foyet surrenders. The rest of the team arrives.

Who is JJ's real husband? ›

Nathan Andersen

A. J. Cook / Husband (m. 2001)

When Hotch and Morgan clashed, their motivations had nothing to do with animosity. Instead, their tensions were simply the result of two strong personalities with very different histories and outlooks, who each believed their approach was better for capturing an unsub.

Hotch never returned to the series after appearing in two episodes of season 12, and it was a shock to fans. But the BAU was told after some time that Hotchner's son, Jack, was being stalked, so they were in witness protection now, according to Country Living. Peter Lewis, known as Mr.

The initial excuse for Hotch's absence was that he was on special assignment, although it was later revealed that he really entered witness protection because the murderous Mr. Scratch was quite determinedly stalking his son Jack.

It wasn't his first on-set altercation, as he pushed a producer and then was forced to go to anger management classes. Either way, Hotch won't return for Criminal Minds season 16 and that's probably best for the cast and crew, many of whom have been working on the show since the days of Gibson's tenure.

Prentiss, with a little persuasion from friends Jennifer “J.J.” Jareau (A.J. Cook) and Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), finally accepted the promotion. Several fans had guessed that Prentiss would replace Hotch.

Beth Clemmons is a recurring character who appears in Seasons Seven and Eight of Criminal Minds as a love interest for SSA Aaron Hotchner following the death of his ex-wife, Haley Brooks, at the hands of George Foyet.

The reason for Gubler's absence in the Criminal Minds reboot is essentially the same reason why he missed several episodes in season 14. After years of being in the show, he wanted to venture out and do something else.

Derek Morgan has a few brief appearances in flashbacks and dream sequences in seasons 14 and 15, but he doesn't visit the BAU in person again.

What season does Reid leave Criminal Minds? ›

Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) is not returning for the 16th season, especially considering how prominent he was in Criminal Minds proper. There's a reason for this Reid-shaped gap in the show (and it's not just because he's a fan favorite).

Shemar Moore — Derek Morgan

He was the acting unit chief of the BAU for a period, taking over after Hotch temporarily stepped down. In Season 11, he formally retired from the BAU to be with his new family.