Meet the Real-Life Partners of Criminal Minds: Evolution (Including a Couple Whose Wedding Was Officiated by a Costar!)

Hazel Willow3 hours agoLast Updated: 10 May 2025

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Criminal Minds: Evolution is usually centered more on hunting serial killers than the love lives of the crew from the Behavioral Analysis Unit, but away from the cameras, much of the cast has their own off-screen romances.

The original CBS show, Criminal Minds, premiered in 2005 and ran for 15 seasons before the finale in 2020. In November 2022, the series returned as Criminal Minds: Evolution, the third season of which premiered on Paramount+ on May 8.

The return of the crime drama brought back many beloved cast members, including Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Paget Brewster and Kirsten Vangsness.

While her on-screen spouse has exited the series, Cook has been happily married to her husband, Nathan Andersen, since 2001. Meanwhile, her longtime costar Mantegna has been married for 50 years to his wife Arlene Vrhel since 1975.

Here’s everything to know about the real-life partners of the Criminal Minds: Evolution cast.

01
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Joe Mantegna and Arlene Vrhel

Joe Mantegna and his wife Arlene Vrhel attend the 2nd annual Borgnine movie star gala honoring actor Joe Mantegna at Sportman's Lodge on February 1, 2014 in Studio City, California.

Joe Mantegna, who stars as Supervisory Special Agent David Rossi, began dating his future wife, Arlene Vrhel, in 1969 after they were both cast in a production of Hair in Chicago.

“We just had a lot of fun, but we didn’t get married for the longest time because we were hippies,” Vrhel told PEOPLE in 1997.

The couple ultimately wed in 1975, after exchanging informal, private vows at the top of the Eiffel Tower a few weeks earlier.

Their daughter, Mia, was born in 1987, followed by daughter Gia in 1990. Gia has previously appeared on Criminal Minds as serial killer Lindsey Vaughn.

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A.J. Cook and Nathan Andersen

A.J. Cook, who has starred as Jennifer “JJ” Jareau since season 1, has been married to her husband Nathan Andersen since Aug. 3, 2001.

The couple met in a film class in college, and Cook said she knew immediately that Andersen was the one for her.

“It was one of those super cheesy moments where the room stands still, our eyes connected, the air got sucked out of me,” she told Southbay Magazine in 2020. “It was like I saw his soul, and I knew him in that instant. I guess that’s what a soul mate is. I had never felt anything like that before.”

They welcomed their first son, Mekhai Allan, on Sept. 13, 2008, followed by son Phoenix Sky on July 23, 2015. Both of Cook’s pregnancies were written into Criminal Minds, with her sons portraying her children on the series.

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Kirsten Vangsness

Kirsten Vangsness at The Art of Elysium's 2024 Heaven Gala held at The Wiltern on January 6, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Kirsten Vangsness, who stars as the beloved tech analyst Penelope Garcia, has kept her personal life private.

In November 2015, she announced her engagement to Keith Hanson, telling PEOPLE at the time, “he’s the perfect partner for me and I feel like we evolve.”

However, she hasn’t commented on their relationship since, and they haven’t been seen together in a number of years.

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Aisha Tyler

Leon Bennett/Getty

Aisha Tyler, who portrays Dr. Tara Lewis, split from her husband of 20 years, Jeffrey Tietjens, in January 2015. The pair were college sweethearts and married on May 21, 1994.

Their divorce was finalized in May 2017.

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Adam Rodriguez and Grace Gail

Grace Gail (L) and actor Adam Rodriguez attend the 2017 Time 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2017 in New York City.

Adam Rodriguez, who joined the cast in season 12 as Luke Alvez, a task force agent, has been married to Grace Gail since May 2, 2016.

The actor admitted during a 2025 interview on Live with Kelly and Mark that he and Gail both “wouldn’t remember” their own anniversary each year if it weren’t for his parents calling.

Their daughter, Frankie Elle, was born in April 2014, followed by daughter Georgie Daye in February 2017 and son Bridgemont Bernard in March 2020.

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Paget Brewster and Steve Damstra

Actress Paget Brewster and musician Steve Damstra attend the 141st Kentucky Derby - Unbridled Eve Gala at Galt House Hotel & Suites on May 1, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Paget Brewster joined the original Criminal Minds as Special Agent Emily Prentiss in season 2, and has been married to her husband, composer Steve Damstra, since 2014.

The wedding was a Criminal Minds affair as her costar Matthew Gray Gubler officiated the ceremony.

“She had dated some people and was sort of like, ‘I’m fine with either being alone or not,’ and then she met Steve, who swept her off her feet and then she knew what the lifetime of waiting was for,” Gubler told Glamour in December 2015 of his adoration of the couple. “I admire that.”

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Zach Gilford

Zach Gilford, who plays mastermind serial killer Elias Voit, split from his wife of 12 years, Kiele Sanchez, in April 2025. On Criminal Minds: Evolution, Sanchez has portrayed Gilford’s on-screen wife, Sydney Voit, since 2022.

The two share two children, Zeppelin and Revel.

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Matthew Gray Gubler

Matthew Gray Gubler, who is returning to the series for the first time since 2020 as Dr. Spencer Reid, is not known to be romantically involved with anyone.

The actor was previously in a relationship with Kat Dennings “for a long time,” he told Glamour in 2015, “I’m still really good friends with her. I love Kat. She’s the best.”