played by Joe Mantegna, David, a “founding father” of the BAU”, was in early retirement until his voluntary return to the BAU in 2007.
FBI BAU Senior Supervisory Special Agent/Unit Chief Derek Morgan – played by Shemar Moore, Morgan is a confident and assertive everyman character, the son of an African-American father and Caucasian mother.
FBI BAU Supervisory Special Agent Dr. Spencer Reid – played by Matthew Gray Gubler, Doctor Reid is a genius who graduated from a Las Vegas public high school at age 12.
FBI BAU Supervisory Special Agent Jennifer “JJ” Jareau – played by AJ Cook, JJ acts as the team’s liaison with the media and local police agencies. She has a son named Henri, with detective William LaMontagne Jr.
FBI BAU Supervisory Special Agent Emily Prentiss – played by Paget Brewster, Prentiss is the daughter of an ambassador. After Agent Elle Greenaway left the BAU, Prentiss showed up with papers stating she was the newest member of the BAU.
FBI Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia – played by Kirsten Vangsness, Garcia is the team’s Computer Technician at BAU Headquarters in Quantico, VA. She is flamboyant, fun-loving, and provides the rest of the team with comic relief.
The first season ran from September 22, 2005 to May 10, 2006, and the second season ran from September 20, 2006 to May 16, 2007. The series’ third season, ran from September 26, 2007 to May 21, 2008 and was interrupted in late 2007 by the industry-wide WGA strike. On May 14, 2008, Criminal Minds was renewed for a fourth season, which ran from September 24, 2008