If you’ve spent any amount of time watching Criminal Minds, you’re aware that the BAU’s greatest enigma wasn’t always the unsubs—it was whether your go-to profiler would actually remain on board to the season finale. In 15 seasons (and the Evolution reboot), the show experienced more cast changes than the average soap. Some departures were tender, some came out of nowhere, and a few still hurt to this day. Here are the 10 saddest and most shocking exits, listed from “that stung” to “I still can’t even speak about it.”
10. Stephen Walker Disappeared Before He Arrived
Damon Gupton’s Stephen Walker arrived in season 12 and assisted the team in pursuing Mr. Scratch. But before the audience could really bond with him, he was murdered in a season 13 car accident. His demise was confirmed at the morgue, leaving his loved ones in mourning and fans questioning what might have been. Behind the camera, Gupton was axed due to “creative changes” as the show placed focus on new character Matt Simmons (Daniel Henney). Blink and you’d miss him—but Walker deserved better.
9. Ashley Seaver Came and Went in a Flash
Rachel Nichols’ Ashley Seaver looked promising, particularly with her background as the daughter of a serial killer. But she lasted only 10 episodes in season 6 before they wrote her out, allegedly to work on a trafficking task force. Actually, fan backlash over the surprise dismissal of A.J. Cook and Paget Brewster prompted CBS to bring the two back, to the detriment of Seaver. Timing just wasn’t in her favor.
8. Kate Callahan Left on a Tender Note
Jennifer Love Hewitt as Kate Callahan was the light and fun of the tenth season, and her character’s exit was linked with both the storyline and her real life. Having lived through her niece’s kidnapping ordeal, Kate opted to retire from the field and focus on her family. The real story? Hewitt was pregnant and wanted to stay away from the limelight. Although she never came back, her goodbye seemed fitting and heartfelt.
7. Alex Blake Walked Away Quietly
Alex Blake (Jeanne Tripplehorn) was a smart, reliable, and well-liked character, but she eventually decided to leave BAU after two years. The way she left—handing in her badge after a case that got too personal—was so discreet and quiet that it was almost unnoticed. It was a behind-the-scenes, contract-related issue, and Tripplehorn asked for a low-key exit. Still, fans felt that her farewell should have been more visible and significant.
6. Elle Greenaway’s Dark Spiral
One of the founding members of the team, Elle Greenaway (Lola Glaudini), underwent a horrible incident in which she got shot and then developed PTSD. In a surprising development, she ended up shooting a suspect in the back and quit rather than submitting to an evaluation. Glaudini left the show because she did not want to stay in Los Angeles and missed the East Coast. Her exit was unexpected, chaotic, and set the stage for Paget Brewster’s Emily Prentiss.
5. Penelope Garcia’s Emotional Farewell (and Happy Return)
The BAU team was the magnet of the audience and the heart of the show, and no one was more representative of this than Kirsten Vangsness’ Penelope Garcia. Out of the box, compassionate, and flamboyant, she was the team’s binder. Her leaving in season 15 to work at a foundation was like the death of the show without its soul. Luckily for fans, the wait for her farewell was short—Garcia was back with a bang in Criminal Minds: Evolution, as if she had never left.
4. Emily Prentiss and JJ’s Unpopular Terminations
To put it mildly, this was probably one of the most controversial decisions in the Criminal Minds series’ history. After the fifth season, CBS suddenly axed Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss) and A.J. Cook (JJ), allegedly to “refresh” the cast with new women.” The reaction was instant and intense—petitions, fan protests, and public complaints went from volume to violence, forcing the network to backtrack. Both actresses indeed came back owing to the support of the fans, proving that their power should not be underestimated.
3. Derek Morgan’s Tearful Goodbye
Shemar Moore, who played Derek Morgan on the BAU, was the action hero of the show and the guys’ fellow, who was constantly surrounded by women. After 11 seasons, Moore decided to work on other things and get his personal life in order. His exit—saying goodbye to the team and fans—was both sweet and emotionally raw. Morgan’s death left a massive vacuum, but through his guest appearances, Moore was able to keep his memory alive (and, of course, through his leading role in S.W.A.T.).
2. Aaron Hotchner’s Sudden Removal
Thomas Gibson as BAU leader Aaron Hotch was a beloved character. Nevertheless, his on-screen firing in season 12 was among the most abrupt and scandalously off-continuity of the show. After a confrontation with a producer, Gibson was first suspended and then abruptly cut off the show. Hotch’s end? A brief explanation of witness protection is done offstage, leaving the fans shocked and angry. It was an unceremonious and scandalous exit of the show’s stable anchor.
1. Jason Gideon’s Agonizing Departure
Mandy Patinkin’s departure as Jason Gideon remains the most shocking exit in the history of Criminal Minds. While being the main core throughout, Gideon had already left before season 3 even began. After a long time, Patinkin left because he couldn’t handle the show’s constant darkness and its negative impact on his mental health. Consequently, the character was killed offstage. The first time the BAU realized the absence of Gideon was years after his exit, though. The void created by the absence of Gideon is the one the BAU has never really managed to fill.
Even though the main plot of Criminal Minds was solving brutal murders, the biggest heartbreaks were from the characters leaving the show. Unexpectedly fired, deeply personal choices, etc. The BAU has had its share of drama not only in the case files but also behind the scenes.