Moviefone Editorial

Tag: criminal minds

‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Actor Nicholas Brendon Dead at 54
Nicholas Brendon in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.

Preview:
- Nicholas Brendon has died at the age of 54.
- He was best known for his breakout role as Xander Harris on the cult-favorite series ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer.’
- In later years, he became an advocate for mental health awareness, sharing his personal challenges with candor.
Nicholas Brendon, the actor who rose to prominence as the witty and loyal Xander Harris on the beloved supernatural drama ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’ has died at the age of 54.
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A statement from his family read:

“We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes. Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and for the characters he brought to life over the years. In recent years Nicky has found his passion in painting and art. Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans. He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was.”

Related Article: ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ Star Chuck Norris Dead at 86

Nicholas Brendon: Early Life and Career

(L to R) Nicholas Brendon, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan and Anthony Head in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.

Born April 12, 1971, in Los Angeles, California, Nicholas Brendon Schulz discovered acting after overcoming a childhood stutter. He pursued performance in his early twenties, eventually landing guest roles before his big break.

That breakthrough came in 1997 when he was cast as Xander Harris on ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer.’ The series ran for seven seasons and became a defining show of its era, with Brendon’s humor and heart making him a fan favorite.

Nicholas Brendon: A Life in Film and Television

(L to R) Charisma Carpenter and Nicholas Brendon in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.

Following ‘Buffy,’ Brendon appeared in films and television, including a recurring role on ‘Criminal Minds.’ He also worked in independent projects and remained a regular presence at fan conventions.

Nicholas Brendon: Offscreen

Brendan looked to maintain his privacy in his offscreen life, though he did face some publicized struggles with substance abuse and mental illness.

He will still be remembered by fans for the joy his characters brought them.

Nicholas Brendon in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.

Selected Movies and TV Shows Featuring Nicholas Brendon:
- ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1997)
- ‘Psycho Beach Party’ (2000)
- ‘Blood on the Highway’ (2008)
- ‘Coherence’ (2013)
- ‘Criminal Minds’ (2014)
- ‘Wanton Want’ (2021)
Buy Nicholas Brendon Movies and TV on Amazon
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March 20, 2026
‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Season 2 Cast Interviews
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Premiering with two new episodes on June 6th on Paramount+ is the second season of ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution‘, which is a continuation of the popular series ‘Criminal Minds’.

The series stars Joe Mantegna (‘The Godfather Part III’), A.J. Cook (‘Final Destination 2’), Kirsten Vangsness (‘Kill Me, Deadly’), Aisha Tyler (‘The Santa Clause 2’), Zach Gilford (‘The Purge: Anarchy’), Ryan-James Hatanaka (‘Nancy Drew’), Adam Rodriguez (‘Magic Mike’) and Paget Brewster (‘Batman and Harley Quinn’), as well as guest star Felicity Huffman (‘Desperate Housewives’).

Related Article: Joe Mantegna Talks Paramount+’s ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’

(L to R) Adam Rodriguez, Kirsten Vangsness and Zach Gilford talk ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ season 2.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kirsten Vangsness, Adam Rodriguez and Zach Gilford about their work on the new season of ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’, returning for the first day of shooting, Gilford’s character’s new arc, Penelope and Tyler’s new working relationship, and Rodriguez and Gilford’s experience each directing an episode this season.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Vangsness, Rodriguez and Gilford, as well as Aisha Tyler, A.J. Cook and Ryan-James Hatanaka.

(L-R) Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia, A.J. Cook as Jennifer ‘JJ’ Jareau, Joe Mantegna as David Rossi and Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis in ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ season 2, streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Michael Yarish /Paramount+.

Moviefone: To begin with, Kirsten, in the first episode, there is a scene where all the characters are together at a party. Was it fun to do a scene like that, where you are not hunting a serial killer but just hanging out as a group? Was it too much fun? Did the director ever have to you remind you and the cast to stick to the script?

Kirsten Vangsness: It’s probably more than you’d think that they would have to. I mean, also we’ll just riff and then they get that. But it was a blast. I think it was our first day. Because we all love each other and we had twenty-eight different topics we’re covering and then you’re trying to run lines, and it’s all kind of bleeding in together. But when we do the roundtable, when we have all those crazy lines, if you came, it’s still like herding cats. Everybody knows their lines and we’re all kind of boom, boom, boom, because we’re all trying to get to the part where they say cut and we have a second to bulls**t.

(L to R) Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia, Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis, Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez, Joe Mantegna as David Rossi and A.J. Cook as Jennifer ‘JJ’ Jareau in ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Michael Yarish /Paramount+.

MF: Adam, what is it like for you to return to this character and reunite with the rest of the cast?

Adam Rodriguez: The excitement of being back, the excitement of seeing each other, and catching up on things, I mean those days are a lot of fun for us. We must remind ourselves, be professional and pay attention to what we’re supposed to be doing.

Zach Gilford as Elias Jasper Voit in ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Michael Yarish /Paramount+.

MF: Zach, last season your character was the serial killer the team was hunting, but this season he is helping them catch another killer, Hannibal Lector style. Can you talk about how Elias is working with BAU this season?

Zach Gilford: It’s been a blast. I mean, last season I barely got to interact with anyone in front of the camera. I got to know everyone well and had such a great time doing so. But this season it’s been so fun getting to just f**k with them and I am the bad guy. They all hate me and Elias’s approach to manipulating them is getting under their skin and they may give me a lot of leeway to go off script a little bit when I feel like I come up with something that I think will needle them a bit. So, it’s been fun, but really the most fun of it is getting to be there for the bulls**t between cut and hang out with all of them. It really is just such a great group of people.

(L to R) Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia, Ryan-James Hatanaka as Tyler Green, A.J. Cook as Jennifer ‘JJ’ Jareau, Joe Mantegna as David Rossi and Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss in ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Michael Yarish /Paramount+.

MF: Kristen, now that Tyler has joined BAU, does that cause some anxiety for Penelope because of their past relationship? Can you talk about how she will deal with that this season?

Kirsten Vangsness: Honestly, the whole thing’s uncomfortable. As an actor you’re uncomfortable because it’s this uncomfortable thing. So, it’s fun to do and I think it’ll be fun to watch and then it is so uncomfortable that it gets to a point where you’re like, “How do we set up boundaries so that they’re not around each other?” It is something I think that the writers were like, “We don’t want to put people together because then you must deal with the reality of how awkward it is. You know what I mean? So, I think she’s just understandably ticked that her friends would, out of all the people in the world that are experts, not get that one. It’s just mean.

(L to R) Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis, Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez, Joe Mantegna as David Rossi and A.J. Cook as Jennifer ‘JJ’ Jareau in Criminal Minds: Evolution’ season 2, streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Michael Yarish /Paramount+.

MF: Adam, you are directing again this season. What is it like directing an episode of this series and working with your fellow cast members?

Adam Rodriguez: Everybody’s amazing. Amazingly supportive. Everybody shows up. Look, it’s very difficult for the writers and for the people that handle scheduling, the producers that are putting schedules together, the ADs to try and accommodate all of us to direct. It’s a huge undertaking for them, and we’re all grateful for the effort that goes into making that happen. I think everybody’s aware of the fact that we’re on a clock and because of that there is a pressure to get things done. So, everybody shows up incredibly well-prepared and ready to deliver, and we pick and choose our moments to have fun. We do have a lot of fun on the show. But everybody really puts the team first. Just to sum that up, no matter what it is that’s required of you as an individual, everybody’s always willing to give their best because we know it’s going to serve the team. The thing we want the most is to keep this show going because we love doing it.

(L to R) Joe Mantegna as David Rossi and Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss in ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ season 2, streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Michael Yarish /Paramount+.

MF: Finally, Zach, you are also directing an episode this season. What was that experience like for you?

Zach Gilford: This cast is, they’re the f**king best. Adam has been a bit of a mentor to me. We met before we went back to the season, he talked to me a lot throughout and then in my episode. I mean honestly, there were two points where Adam, I was just like, “Dude, thank God it’s Adam.” One was, there’s something where he had an instinct to do something, but it wasn’t the way the script went. I kind of liked it, but other people were like, “I don’t know. It’s just not the way we wrote it. It’s not the way we thought it was going to happen.” I was like, “Adam, I like it your way.” He is like, “Dude, you know what? Take your shot, man. If that’s what you want, you’re the director, go for it.” I was like, “All right, we’re going to do it that way.” It totally worked great. Then there was another point where Adam magically finds a box. This happens on the show, they had a piece of evidence and it just felt so convenient. I was like, “Adam, it’s going to feel awkward, but can you just search around this house for five minutes.” He did it and it played so well because he was like, “Cool, I’ll get it. It’s going to feel super awkward and silly to me.” But everybody’s so giving and gets how this show works.
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What is the plot of ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ season 2?

In the wake of last season’s shocking finale, the upcoming all-new season of ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ picks up as the FBI’s elite team of profilers investigates the deadly mystery of Gold Star. As the conspiracy unfolds, the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) is met with an unexpected complication when serial killer Elias Voit (Zach Gilford) negotiates a deal that transfers him to federal custody in the BAU’s own backyard. The team faces its biggest threat yet and cannot emerge unscathed from the mind-bending consequences.

Who is in the cast of ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ season 2?
- Joe Mantegna as David Rossi
- AJ Cook as Jennifer “JJ” Jareau
- Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia
- Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis
- Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez
- Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss
- Ryan-James Hatanaka as Tyler Green
- Zach Gilford as Elias Voit
- Clark Gregg as FBI Director Ray Madison
- Paul F. Tompkins as Brian Garrity
- Felicity Huffman as Dr. Jill Gideon
(L to R) Joe Mantegna as David Rossi and Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss in ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ season 2, streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Michael Yarish /Paramount+.

TV Shows in the ‘Criminal Minds’ Franchise:
- ‘Criminal Minds‘ (2005 – 2023)
- ‘Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior‘ (2011)
- ‘Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders‘ (2016 – 2017)
Buy ‘Criminal Minds’ On Amazon
June 5, 2024
‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Interview: Joe Mantegna

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Premiering on Paramount+ November 24th is the revival of the long-running CBS procedural ‘Criminal Minds,’ now entitled ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution.’

The new show will follow the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) as they are faced with a network of serial killers built during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The series stars returning cast members Joe Mantegna as David Rossi, Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss, A.J. Cook as Jennifer “JJ” Jareau, Aisha Tyler as Tara Lewis, Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez, and Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia, while Zach Gilford joins the cast as Elias Voit.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Joe Mantegna about his work on ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution,’ reuniting with the cast, having the opportunity to explore his character over multiple seasons, where David Rossi is mentally when the new series begins, and how the show will be different now that it is streaming on Paramount+.

Joe Mantegna as David Rossi in ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution,’ season 16 streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Michael Yarish /Paramount+.

You can read our full interview with Joe Mantegna below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Mantegna, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, and Zach Gilford about ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution.’

Moviefone: To begin with, as an actor, what has it been like for you to have the opportunity to play this character over multiple seasons and now return and get to explore him again with this new series?

Joe Mantegna: Well, it’s been really a blessing. As an actor, you don’t often get that opportunity to explore a character like that. I think in my case, the only other character I’ve explored longer is Fat Tony on ‘The Simpsons,’ which I’ve been doing for like 31 years. I learned early on that if possible, try to incorporate a lot of who you are into a character you’re playing on a series because there is that off chance that you may be doing it for a good amount of time.

Obviously, in this case, that’s exactly what happened. So, I think that there’s been a lot of that. I’m not saying that David Rossi is a mirror image of Joe Mantegna, but I think I have been able to incorporate certain aspects of my own personality, hopefully, my life, and my background into that character, which I think in a way helps because it gives you that thing to draw from and fall back on as you, year after year, explore aspects of this character.

MF: David is in a dark place when we find him at the beginning of this series, can you talk about that and where it will take your character throughout the season?

JM: It’s one of the things that I like about it in a sense that it is that realistic kind of aspect of it. In other words, it shows that things can happen to whoever you are. One of my mottos I live by is “Everybody has a story and nobody gets a free ride.” I think this is just an example of part of David Rossi’s story and part of the fact that the ride has not been free for him as of late.

Joe Mantegna as David Rossi in ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution,’ season 16 streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Michael Yarish /Paramount+.

So, this is something that he’s going to have to deal with, as everybody does. Sometimes, things always don’t always go great for the good guys and don’t always go bad for the bad guys. So, you just got to hope for the best. I think this is an example of that. But I think it points to that old adage, “It doesn’t matter how many times you fall down, it just matters if you get up.” So, hopefully, we’ll see how David gets up.

MF: Finally, with the show now streaming on Paramount+ and not restricted by network guidelines, it seems that the subject material and even the language is now more mature. Can you talk about how the show has changed now that it is streaming?

JM: Well, there is that. I think it gives us that opportunity to actually be more realistic. It’s funny, I remember I first started going to Europe many years ago, and I was always amazed by the fact that you watch European television, and they were saying and doing things that were like, “Wow, they don’t let us do that in America.” Yet, I didn’t feel like I was being damaged by it or anything. It was almost like, okay, they’re kind of showing things as they are, as it really is as opposed to making a judgment as to, well, this shouldn’t be said or shouldn’t be shown.

I don’t know. Everybody has their own personal feelings about censorship, whatever it may be. But at the end of the day, if people are educated and understand what’s going on, they should be able to watch. If you don’t want to see something, don’t watch it. I get that. So, I think what’s happened here is it’s opened up that door a little more to reality of the way things maybe would really go down, and how people really would act. So, there is that, which I like that. It’s called ‘Evolution,’ and I think that’s part of the reason it is. You’ll see that not only has the storylines evolved, but the whole way we do the shows evolve.

Joe Mantegna as David Rossi in ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution,’ season 16 streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Monty Brinton /Paramount+.

November 24, 2022
‘Criminal Minds’ Renewed for 15th and Final Season on CBS

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The case is closed on “Criminal Minds.”

The long-running CBS crime drama will end after a 15th and final season, according to TVLine. The final 10 episodes will air during the 2019-2020 TV season.

“It’s really bittersweet, but I’m so, so grateful to CBS for giving us this heads-up,” showrunner Erica Messer told TVLine. “I think one of my biggest fears was always, ‘Oh man, what if we don’t know’ and then they just don’t bring back the show? But they respect this series and the cast and the crew and the fans enough to end this properly.”

“Criminal Minds” has been a solid and steady ratings performer for CBS, though not as the network’s other procedural franchises like “NCIS.” The show has experienced quite a bit of cast upheaval over the years, with original lead Mandy Patinkin departing after Season 3. Thomas Gibson was fired during Season 12 after an on-set altercation. Currently, Joe Mantegna and Adam Rodriguez lead the cast.

Season 15 will feature a time jump, Messer told TVLine, and more serialized storytelling. She teased “a bad guy that we meet toward the end of Season 14, who will be our main focus” for the final episodes.

January 11, 2019
CBS Renews 11 Series, ‘Criminal Minds’ and ‘Scorpion’ Still Up in the Air

CBS has renewed 11 of its current series, but left two long-running drama still hanging.

Last week, the network made a deal for “NCIS” to return for a 16th season. Now, CBS gave renewals to its sister shows, “NCIS: Los Angeles” and “NCIS: New Orleans.”

Fellow crime procedurals “Blue Bloods,” “Bull,” and “Hawaii Five-0” also got renewed, as did political drama “Madam Secretary” and reality competitions “Survivor” and “The Amazing Race.” News programs “48 Hours” and “60 Minutes” will also be returning.

Freshman dramas “SEAL Team” and “SWAT” have already gotten the green light for their sophomore years. And comedies “The Big Bang Theory,” “Young Sheldon,” and “Mom” will also go ahead.

But unclear are the fates of “Criminal Minds” (next season would be its 14th), “Scorpion” (currently on Season 4), medical drama “Code Black,” and newcomer “Instinct.”

That’s just on the drama side, as the list of comedies waiting to hear word is long: “Kevin Cain Wait,” “Life in Pieces,” “Man With a Plan” and “Superior Donuts.”

And though they have not officially been canceled, “9JKL,” “Me, Myself and I” and Jeremy Piven’s “Wisdom of the Crowd” are not likely to get picked up.

CBS usually has the fewest slots of the networks to fill when pilot season rolls around. That whopping renewal order does leave many empty spots, especially since they’ve ordered the “Murphy Brown” revival for next season.

April 18, 2018
‘Criminal Minds’ Season 12: Paget Brewster Upped to Series Regular After Thomas Gibson Exit

It’s common for long-running TV shows to shed original cast members over the years, but the sudden dismissal of “Criminal Minds” star Thomas Gibson is a different kind of shakeup entirely, still causing major ripples weeks later. It makes sense, then, that the CBS stalwart would want to hold onto as many familiar faces as possible, and it’s planning on extending the contract of returning star Paget Brewster.

Brewster, who plays SSA Emily Prentiss, was set to return to the show for a short guest arc in season 12, after reappearing in season 11 as part of the send-off for Shemar Moore’s character. But now, CBS has decided to make Brewster a full-fledged series regular again.

“We’re all so excited to have Paget with us full time,” said showrunner Erica Messer in a statement. “The BAU family has definitely missed her, on screen and off. Having her back on set has been great, it’s like she never left.”

The actress first joined “Criminal Minds” as a regular back in season two, where she remained until some behind the scenes shuffling caused her to exit in season seven. She later returned to guest star in season nine.

Brewster’s promotion isn’t the only big change coming to the drama: The series is also reportedly set to add two new characters to fill the void left by Gibson’s Hotchner, the head of BAU. Gibson was let go on August 12 after reports surfaced about an on-set altercation between the actor and a writer for the show; Gibson kicked the writer, which led to his suspension and eventual firing.

“Criminal Minds” will return for season 12 on September 28. Brewster will make her return beginning on October 12.

[via: The Hollywood Reporter]

Photo credit: Cliff Lipson/CBS

August 30, 2016
‘Criminal Minds’ Will Add Two New Stars Following Thomas Gibson’s Firing

The casting shakeup continues over at “Criminal Minds,” where the long-running CBS procedural is still dealing with the loss of original star Thomas Gibson after the actor was fired earlier this month. Now, a new report says that the show will try to fill the void left by the star by hiring two new series regulars.

TVLine has the scoop that producers are currently scrambling to expand the cast, and are looking to hire two actors, including one who will take over for Gibson’s character, Hotchner, as team leader. Details about the other role being cast have not yet been revealed.

There’s been no word yet on how “Criminal Minds” plans to address Gibson’s firing, which occurred after the actor kicked a writer during production of an episode that Gibson was directing. Gibson was initially suspended, but his punishment was eventually stiffened to remove him from the show entirely, a decision that Gibson is reportedly mulling taking legal action over.

But whatever happens with a potential lawsuit, there’s no chance the series will welcome him back anytime soon, and that means that the remaining cast members — as well as new additions — now need to step into more significant roles. Adam Rodriguez was previously announced as a new series regular for this upcoming 12th season, and the show recently welcomed Aisha Tyler (also promoted to series regular after debuting in season 11) and returning star Paget Brewster, who will be back for short stint this season.

Season 12 of “Criminal Minds” is still set to debut on CBS on September 28. We’ll see how the show handles Gibson’s abrupt departure — and its new faces — as the season unfolds.

[via: TVLine]

August 25, 2016
10 Reasons ‘Criminal Minds’ Won’t Be the Same Without Derek Morgan

April 18, 2016
9 Times Spencer Reid Made Us Swoon on ‘Criminal Minds’

March 7, 2016