The iconic crime drama Criminal Minds continues its outstanding run as the grittier Criminal Minds: Evolution. On Thursday, May 28, 2026, Season 19 premieres on Paramount+, bringing back the beloved core cast, and introducing new faces.
If you’re having a tough time waiting for the new season of Criminal Minds: Evolution to begin, take solace in our breakdown of the traumatized-yet-plucky Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) regulars, and our rundown of the show’s exciting new guest stars. And did we say exciting? Yes, we did. The new season welcomes Connor Storrie (Heated Rivalry), Clark Gregg (The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D), Yvette Nicole Brown (Community), Jeri Ryan (Star Trek: Voyager), and more. Keep reading to see who else is joining the Paramount+ crime drama’s cast, and find out where you can do some armchair sleuthing.
Who’s in the Season 19 cast?
The starring cast of the new season of Criminal Minds: Evolution features your franchise favorites:
- Joe Mantegna as David Rossi
- A.J. Cook as Jennifer “JJ” Jareau
- Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia
- Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis
- Zach Gilford as Elias Voit
- RJ Hatanaka as Tyler Green
- Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez
- Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss
Meet the Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 cast
Joe Mantegna as David Rossi
A fixture since Season 3, Joe Mantegna returns to the show for Season 19 as the BAU’s veteran profiler and team patriarch, David Rossi. Rossi’s stoic charisma has grown darker in recent seasons as he’s contended with grief and the sinister network of Sicarius UnSubs, but the team can still pull him into the light.
Where you’ve seen him: The Godfather Part III , Searching for Bobby Fischer, Baby’s Day Out
Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss
Paget Brewster reprises her role as Section Chief Emily Prentiss, the (usually) emotionally stable core of her BAU team. With a diplomat upbringing and a stint at Interpol under her belt, this polyglot has risen through the ranks of the FBI, remaining a staunch protector of her team.
Where you’ve seen her: Hollywood, Community, Friends
A.J. Cook as Jennifer “JJ” Jareau
If “reading the room” were a person, it would be BAU profiler JJ Jareau, played by A.J. Cook. The former communications liaison remains laser sharp in the field – even as she transitions into life as a single mom.
Where you’ve seen her: Final Destination 2, Tru Calling, The Virgin Suicides
Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia
Penelope Garcia, played by Kirsten Vangsness, plays an integral role in tracking down the Sicarius network and Gold Star Killers. Her empathy, combined with her advanced technical skills, makes her an irreplaceable part of the team.
Where you’ve seen her: Scrubs, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis
As played by Aisha Tyler, forensic psychologist Dr. Tara Lewis is whip-smart reader of behavior, with a knack for understanding and interviewing the darkest of minds. Newly engaged to AUSA prosecutor Rebecca Wilson (Nicole Pacent), Lewis balances her commitment to BAU with her home life.
Where you’ve seen her: Ghost Whisperer, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, 24
Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez
Adam Rodriguez, as field agent Luke Alvez, joined the Criminal Minds cast at the start of Season 12, and his character has been pursuing UnSubs ever since. Luke’s formidable tactical expertise is offset by his flirtatious banter with Penelope Garcia. It only took a single date, however, for the duo to realize that they’re better off as friends and colleagues.
Where you’ve seen him: The Magic Mike trilogy, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, CSI: Miami
Zach Gilford as Elias Voit
From serial killer mastermind to traumatized anti-hero, Elias Voit, played by Zach Gilford, has certainly come a long way. While Voit has expressed remorse for his actions, the consequences of creating the Sicarius network still loom large.
Where you’ve seen him: Good Girls, The Purge: Anarchy, Friday Night Lights
RJ Hatanaka as Tyler Green
RJ Hatanaka stars as Tyler Green, an UnSub informant turned FBI agent who’s settled in as the Swiss Army Knife of the team with his computer hacking expertise and combat skills.
Where you’ve seen him: The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder, Nancy Drew, Nurses
Notable guest stars in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19
Here are the announced guest stars who’ll be dropping in this season:
Connor Storrie
Heated Rivalry fans can expect to see a familiar face crossing paths with the BAU. With Connor Storrie’s impressive accent work, athleticism, and emotional range, we’re excited to find out if he’s friend or foe.
Clark Gregg
Known for being a very different kind of agent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Clark Gregg will make his Criminal Minds debut.
Yvette Nicole Brown
Yvette Nicole Brown will work with Paget Brewster for the first time since their Community days.
Jeri Ryan
Famous for her portrayal of the Borg drone Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Picard, Jeri Ryan takes on a more grounded role here.
Justin Kirk
The Angels in America and Weeds actor joins the star-studded cast.
Additional guest stars
Nicole Pacent (Westworld) is back as prosecutor Rebecca Wilson, while Paul F. Tompkins (BoJack Horseman) returns to the role of conspiracy theorist Brian Garrity. And here’s a list of even more announced Season 19 guest stars:
- Cress Williams (Black Lightning)
- Kofi Siriboe (Queen Sugar)
- Lyndon Smith (Parenthood)
- Richard Cabral (Mayans)
- Rob Yang (Succession)
- Nicholas Gonzalez (The Good Doctor)
- Inny Clemons (Straight Outta Compton)
- Dash Mihok (Ray Donovan)
- Cara Jade Myers (Killers of the Flower Moon)
- Jim True-Frost (The Wire)
What is Season 19 about?
The new season of Criminal Minds: Evolution finds the BAU continuing to track complex and evolving criminal networks, and potentially still playing whack-a-mole with Sicarius offshoots and devotees. With danger this palpable, a serialized approach allows for a deeper look into the psyches of these killers and the approach of the dedicated professionals who hunt them down.
Oh, and one more thing we know about Season 19: It’s the one before Season 20, ’cause, yup, Criminal Minds: Evolution has already been renewed. Look for that new season in 2027.
Where can I watch Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19?
Season 19 of Criminal Minds: Evolution premieres Thursday, May 28, 2026, exclusively on Paramount+. And that’s not all. Whether you want to screen classic Criminal Minds episodes for the first time, or want a gold star for noticing details you missed during your original watch, you can watch all seasons of Criminal Minds and Criminal Minds: Evolution on Paramount+ with a subscription to any plan.
[Editor’s note: To find episodes of the original Criminal Minds, navigate to the Criminal Minds: Evolution page on the Paramount+ app, or on ParamountPlus.com. There, you’ll find 18 seasons ready to stream. Seasons 1-15 are all the episodes of the original Criminal Minds; Seasons 16-18 are all the episodes of Criminal Minds: Evolution.]
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