“Criminal Minds” has added a new series regular for Season 12, CBS announced on Friday.
Damon Gupton will join the cast of the CBS cop drama beginning with the eighth episode of the season playing Special Agent Stephen Walker from the Behavioral Analysis Program, which is the counterintelligence division of the FBI. He’s described as a seasoned profiler who will bring his spy-hunting skill set to the BAU.
Gupton’s addition comes following the departure of original cast member Shemar Moore at the end of last season, and Thomas Gibson’s recent dismissal following an on-set altercation with one of the show’s writers.
The actor, who most recently starred on NBC’s short-lived “The Player,” joins Joe Mantegna, Matthew Gray Gubler, A.J. Cook, Aisha Tyler, Kirsten Vangsness, Adam Rodriguez and Paget Brewster, who was brought back to the show as a series regular last month.
Gupton’s previous television credits also include “The Divide,” “Prime Suspect” and “Deadline,” as well as recurring roles on “Bates Motel,” “Empire,” “Rake” and Amazon’s upcoming “Goliath.”
“Our BAU family is growing,” said executive producer and showrunner Erica Messer in a statement. “We’re excited to have Damon join the show and work alongside our amazing cast and crew.”
“Criminal Minds” airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m./8c on CBS.