For 15 seasons, fans of Criminal Minds watched Dr. Spencer Reid grow from a shy genius into a seasoned profiler. When the show returned as Criminal Minds: Evolution in 2022, one glaring absence was obvious: Reid. Then, in May 2025, Matthew Gray Gubler surprised everyone with a brief but emotional return. Here’s what we know about his character’s journey, his relationships, and whether he’ll ever be back full-time.
First appearance: 2005 (Season 1, Episode 1 “Extreme Aggressor”) ·
Last regular appearance: 2020 (Season 15, Episode 10 “And in the End…”) ·
Portrayed by: Matthew Gray Gubler ·
Character IQ: 187 ·
Birthday: October 12, 1981 ·
Number of seasons: 15
Quick snapshot
- Dr. Spencer Reid, a genius profiler with an eidetic memory, IQ of 187, multiple PhDs (Wikipedia (reference encyclopedia)).
- Portrayed by Matthew Gray Gubler, who also directed several episodes (IMDb (actor database)).
- First appeared in 2005, last regular appearance in 2020 (People (celebrity news outlet)).
- Whether Matthew Gray Gubler will return for a potential Season 19 (TV Insider (TV news authority)).
- Whether Reid’s story will be continued in future episodes (ScreenRant (entertainment analysis)).
- If any other original cast members will return (TV Insider (TV news authority)).
- May 2025: Gubler returned as Reid in a surprise cameo (Season 18, Episode 3) (People (celebrity news outlet)).
- December 2024: Schedules aligned for a single-episode return (People (celebrity news outlet)).
- 2022–2025: Reid absent from Criminal Minds: Evolution due to being on assignment (ScreenRant (entertainment analysis)).
- No return confirmed for a potential Season 19 (TV Insider (TV news authority)).
- Gubler has expressed interest but no deal (People (celebrity news outlet)).
- Fans continue to campaign for his return (Collider (entertainment editorial)).
Six key facts about Spencer Reid, drawn from the character’s official biography and the latest reports.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dr. Spencer Reid |
| Birthday | October 12, 1981 |
| Portrayed By | Matthew Gray Gubler |
| Known For | Genius profiler with eidetic memory |
| First Appearance | Criminal Minds Season 1, Episode 1 (2005) |
| Last Regular Appearance | Criminal Minds Season 15, Episode 10 (2020) |
What happened with Spencer Reid?
The question that has dogged fans since Criminal Minds: Evolution launched in 2022: why wasn’t Reid there? The show’s revival skipped ahead but left Reid’s seat empty, with a brief explanation that he was away on assignment (ScreenRant (entertainment analysis)). That changed in May 2025 when Gubler made a surprise cameo in Season 3, Episode 3, titled “Time to Say Goodbye,” which aired on May 22, 2025 (People (celebrity news outlet)).
Why did Reid leave the BAU?
- Reid exited the main series after season 15 (2020) when the original show ended. The revival was greenlit without him because Matthew Gray Gubler’s schedule did not align (People (celebrity news outlet)).
- Showrunner Erica Messer explained that the team “could not get the stars to align” to bring back anyone else from the old days for the season discussed in her interview (TV Insider (TV news authority)).
What were Reid’s major storylines?
- Drug addiction (Season 2, 2006–2007): Reid became addicted to Dilaudid after being shot (Wikipedia (reference encyclopedia)).
- Love with Maeve Donovan (Season 8, 2012): Reid fell in love with a woman he met through a psychiatrist; she was murdered by a stalker (Wikipedia (reference encyclopedia)).
- Kidnapping and brain tumor (Season 12, 2016): Reid was kidnapped, tortured, and later diagnosed with a brain tumor that was eventually resolved (ScreenRant (entertainment analysis)).
Did Spencer Reid die in Criminal Minds?
No. Reid’s character did not die. He was last seen alive and well in the final episode of the original series. His cameo in the 2025 revival also depicted him alive, supporting JJ and her family after Will LaMontagne Jr.’s death (Decider (TV news outlet)).
Reid’s return was a one-time cameo, not a full comeback. For fans hoping for a permanent reunion, the window is still open — but the showrunner’s comments suggest it’s a scheduling challenge, not a creative one.
Is Spencer Reid coming back in season 18?
Season 18 (which is the third season of Criminal Minds: Evolution) already aired Reid’s return. The episode featuring Gubler aired on May 22, 2025, and was described as a “surprise cameo” — a small part of one episode, not a regular-cast reentry (Collider (entertainment editorial)). The cameo consisted of a brief appearance and one line, according to Collider (entertainment editorial).
Why is Reid not in season 19?
Season 19 of Criminal Minds: Evolution has not been officially confirmed by Paramount+, but TV Insider reported in May 2026 that Reid or other original-series characters would not return in Season 19 because of scheduling and the nature of the season (TV Insider (TV news authority)).
Will Reid return in future seasons of Criminal Minds: Evolution?
No official announcement has been made. Matthew Gray Gubler told Italian outlet Ansa in December 2024 that he had recently filmed a new episode of Criminal Minds, fueling speculation (Decider (TV news outlet)). But as of early 2025, Gubler has not committed to a full-time return.
What did Matthew Gray Gubler say about returning?
Gubler’s return was described as a “surprise cameo” and he expressed happiness to be back for a moment, but did not confirm any further appearances.
People (celebrity news outlet)
The scheduling puzzle is the main obstacle. If Gubler’s other projects (directing, music) allow, a second cameo is possible — but a full season commitment seems unlikely for now.
Who did Spencer Reid love?
Reid’s romantic life on the show is a mix of tragedy, tension, and missed connections. The most significant relationship was with Maeve Donovan, but his bond with JJ also sparked intense fan debate.
Did Reid fall in love with JJ?
Reid had a close friendship with Jennifer “JJ” Jareau, and in Season 14, JJ confessed that she had been in love with Reid during the early seasons. However, they never officially dated (Wikipedia (reference encyclopedia)). The confession was a major moment, but JJ remained married to Will LaMontagne Jr.
Who was Reid’s secret girlfriend?
In Season 8, Reid met Maeve Donovan, a woman with a similar intellectual background. They communicated via phone and had a brief, secret relationship. Maeve was murdered by a stalker in the episode “The Lesson” (Season 8, Episode 12) (Wikipedia (reference encyclopedia)).
Maeve Donovan and other love interests
- Maeve Donovan: Reid’s main love interest, killed in 2012.
- Lila Archer (Season 1): A brief relationship with a woman he met in a case.
- Austin (Season 14): A short-lived romance.
- Max Brennan (Season 15): A relationship with a woman who shared his interest in puzzles.
Four romantic interests, one pattern: tragedy or timing always cut them short. Reid’s love life became a running motif of the show’s emotional cruelty.
How old would Spencer Reid be today?
Reid’s canonical birth date is October 12, 1981. As of 2025, that would make him 43 (turning 44 in October 2025). The show’s timeline is somewhat loose, but Reid turned 30 in Season 8 (2012), which aligns with the birth date (Wikipedia (reference encyclopedia)).
When was Spencer Reid born?
October 12, 1981 (Wikipedia (reference encyclopedia)).
How old is Matthew Gray Gubler compared to Reid?
Matthew Gray Gubler was born on March 9, 1980, making him about 1.5 years older than his character. At the time of the return news in December 2024, Gubler was 44 (People (celebrity news outlet)).
What is Reid’s age in the timeline of the show?
The show’s timeline is compressed. Reid was 24 in Season 1 (2005) and 30 in Season 8 (2012). By the final season (2020), he would have been 38–39. The revival’s timeline is set after the original, so he is now in his early 40s.
Reid’s age is one of the few consistent pieces of canon in a show that often played fast and loose with chronology. The October 12, 1981 date is used by both the show’s writers and the actor’s birthday, making it a reliable anchor.
What is the saddest death in Criminal Minds?
For fans of Spencer Reid, one death towers above all others: Maeve Donovan. Her murder in Season 8, Episode 12 is widely considered the most heartbreaking loss in the series, especially because it happened to Reid, who had already endured so much (Wikipedia (reference encyclopedia)).
Maeve Donovan’s death
Maeve was killed by a stalker who had been obsessed with her. Reid was on the phone with her when she died, hearing her scream. The scene is often cited in fan polls as the saddest in the show’s 15-season run (ScreenRant (entertainment analysis)).
Deaths that affected Reid most
- Maeve Donovan: The love of his life.
- Gideon (Jason Gideon): Reid’s mentor, who was killed off-screen in Season 10.
- Diana Reid (his mother): Died later in the series (though the show left her fate ambiguous for a time).
Other notable tragic deaths in the series
- Will LaMontagne Jr.: JJ’s husband died in the revival, setting up Reid’s cameo.
- Elle Greenaway: Left the BAU after being shot, not death but traumatic.
Two deaths, one verdict: Maeve’s murder is the emotional peak of Reid’s suffering. It’s the moment that crystallized his character’s tragic arc — a genius who could solve anyone’s case but couldn’t save the one person he loved.
Showrunner Erica Messer: “We couldn’t get the stars to align to bring back anyone else from the old days.”
TV Insider (TV news authority)
Matthew Gray Gubler (via People): “I’m happy to be back for a moment.”
People (celebrity news outlet)
Timeline
- 2005: Spencer Reid debuts in “Extreme Aggressor” (Season 1).
- 2006–2007: Reid’s drug addiction storyline (Season 2).
- 2012: Reid falls in love with Maeve Donovan; she is murdered.
- 2016: Reid is kidnapped and tortured; later diagnosed with a brain tumor (later resolved).
- 2020: Criminal Minds ends with Season 15; Reid’s last regular appearance.
- 2022: Revival series Criminal Minds: Evolution begins without Reid.
- December 2024: People reports that Gubler will return for a single episode (People (celebrity news outlet)).
- May 22, 2025: Reid’s surprise cameo airs in Season 18, Episode 3 (People (celebrity news outlet)).
- 2025 onward: No official announcement of Reid’s return to the franchise.
What’s confirmed and what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Spencer Reid is a fictional character portrayed by Matthew Gray Gubler (Wikipedia (reference encyclopedia)).
- Reid’s last regular appearance was in 2020 (People (celebrity news outlet)).
- Reid returned for a surprise cameo in May 2025 (People (celebrity news outlet)).
What’s unclear
- Whether Matthew Gray Gubler will return for a potential Season 19 (TV Insider (TV news authority)).
- Whether Reid’s story will be continued in future episodes (ScreenRant (entertainment analysis)).
- If any other original cast members will return (TV Insider (TV news authority)).
For fans of Spencer Reid, the implication is clear: the character’s future is uncertain, but his past is rich with drama. The show’s decision to bring him back for a single episode proves the door is open — but only just.
imdb.com, goodhousekeeping.com, facebook.com, cbr.com, screenrant.com, screenrant.com
Frequently asked questions
Will Matthew Gray Gubler ever return to Criminal Minds?
He returned for a cameo in May 2025. No future appearances have been confirmed, but he has expressed openness (People (celebrity news outlet)).
What episode did Spencer Reid leave Criminal Minds?
His last regular appearance was in the original series finale, “And in the End…” (Season 15, Episode 10, 2020).
Did Spencer Reid die in the series?
No. Reid did not die on the show. He was alive in his cameo in 2025.
How many seasons was Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds?
He appeared in all 15 seasons of the original series (2005–2020) and one episode of the revival (2025).
What is Spencer Reid’s IQ?
187, according to the show’s canon ( Catherine Roy is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Focus, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.Related stories
