Best celebrity cameos on ‘Criminal Minds’

Criminal Minds is a popular American police procedural television show that first aired in 2005. The show follows a team of FBI profilers who attempt to catch criminals by analyzing their psychological profiles. One of the things that makes Criminal Minds so interesting is the various celebrity cameos that have popped up over the years.

That said, here are some of the best celebrity cameos on Criminal Minds.

Ben Savage

Ben Savage made a guest appearance on the show playing a young Jason Gideon in the season 10 flashback episode, “Nelson’s Sparrow.” It was a pretty cool cameo since he wasn’t playing a killer or victim, but rather a young profiler in training.

Aaron Paul

Best known for his role as Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad, Aaron Paul made a guest appearance on Criminal Minds in the season one episode titled, “The Popular Kids.” He played the role of Michael Zizzo, who was accused of killing a jock and a cheerleader. The team eventually discovered that Zizzo was innocent.

Tim Curry

Tim Curry’s appearance on Criminal Minds was one of the most talked-about cameos on the show. His character, a serial killer who targeted families but left the children alive to give them the same trauma he endured as a child, was both chilling and sympathetic. Curry’s performance earned him the title “The Prince of Darkness.”

Frankie Muniz

Frankie Muniz made a guest appearance on an episode of Criminal Minds in season three, playing a man who became a serial killer after being forced to watch his girlfriend’s rape and death and being left for dead himself. Muniz’s performance was memorable in that it showed a different, more disturbed side to him that viewers were unable to see in Malcolm in the Middle.

James Van Der Beek

James Van Der Beek’s character, Tobias Hankel, on Criminal Minds had split personality disorder, which made for an interesting and suspenseful episode. Hankel was a family man by day and a serial killer by night. This made for some great scenes with the BAU team trying to figure out which Tobias they were dealing with at any given moment.

Jane Lynch

Of course, Jane Lynch’s performance as Diana Reid, Spencer’s mother, is one of the best celebrity cameos on Criminal Minds. Her character is so complex and interesting, and she brings a lot of depth to the role. Diana’s backstory is also fascinating, and it’s great to see her interact with her son in a way that is both supportive and critical. It’s a great performance all around, which is to be expected from a seasoned actress.

Mark Hamill

Breaking out of his Luke Skywalker mold, Mark Hamill took on the role of serial killer John Curtis, also known as “The Replicator”, in Criminal Minds season eight. The Replicator was a copycat killer who followed in the footsteps of other murderers, and Hamill’s performance was truly chilling.

Aubrey Plaza

Aubrey Plaza is best known for her roles in Parks and Recreation and The White Lotus. Her cameo as Cat Adams in Criminal Minds was one of the best celebrity cameos on the show. It was her character’s ability to match Spencer Reid intellectually as she taunted the BAU team that made her so memorable.

Michelle Trachtenberg

Michelle Trachtenberg played Diane Turner in the season eight episode titled “Zugzwang.” She portrayed a stalker who was fixated on Dr. Spencer Reid’s girlfriend, Maeve. Overall, it was a haunting episode that left viewers with goosebumps.

Jason Alexander

Jason Alexander’s turn as a serial killer on Criminal Minds was one of the best celebrity cameos on the show. His character, Jason Scott Greenspan, was obsessed with David Rossi after the latter put his brother in jail. Alexander’s performance was both chilling and humorous, making for a memorable guest spot.