Matthew Gray Gubler Makes Surprise Cameo on Criminal Minds: Evolution

Published: May 23, 2025

Longtime fans of the popular TV series were in for a treat when Matthew Gray Gubler made a surprise cameo on Criminal Minds: Evolution on May 22. The actor, who played the role of Dr. Spencer Reid, returned to support Jennifer "JJ" Jareau (A.J. Cook) at the funeral for her husband, Will LaMontagne (Josh Stewart) in the episode titled "Time to Say Goodbye."

In an interview with TVLine, Cook opened up about how Gubler's cameo came to be. "I was on the phone with him, and I said, 'Matthew, will you come do this, please?' I called him and said, 'Look, this is happening... and I know you've got things going on... but it would feel really great. It just doesn't feel right if Spence wasn't there,'" she said.

Gubler issued a statement to TVLine about his cameo, saying, "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."

Gubler played Spencer for all 15 seasons of Criminal Minds' original run, which aired on CBS from 2005 to 2020. Unlike Cook, he didn't return when the series returned in 2022 with a new title, Criminal Minds: Evolution, on Paramount+.

Following his last episode of Criminal Minds, Gubler took to Instagram to say goodbye to the series by sharing a photo of some of Spencer's most iconic props that meant the most to him, including Spencer's FBI ID badge, wristwatch, and revolver.

New episodes of Criminal Minds: Evolution stream Thursdays on Paramount+.