John ArsenaultCriminal Minds is beefing up its ranks with a new hunky cast member. Adam Rodriguez has joined the cast for season 12, CBS announced. His character, a special agent from the FBI Fugitive Task Force who joins the Behavioral Task Force, will make his debut in the season 12 premiere.
"We're thrilled to introduce a new special agent by adding the very talented Adam Rodriguez to our amazing cast," Erica Messer, Criminal Minds executive producer and showrunner, said in a statement. "We have exciting storylines planned for his character and the entire BAU team as we head into our 12th season."
Rodriguez joins Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson, Matthew Gray Gubler, A.J. Cook and Kirsten Vangsness on the long-running procedural. His addition comes on the heels of Shemar Moore's unexpected exit in season 11. Moore had been with the show since the start and said he was looking to do new projects, but wouldn't rule out returning to the show in a guest capacity.
"We're all big fans of Adam's and are excited to welcome him back to the CBS family as part of the terrific cast of Criminal Minds," Glenn Geller, president of CBS Entertainment, said in a statement.
Rodriguez recently recurred on Jane the Virgin and Empire. He's no stranger to CBS viewers: he spent 11 seasons on CSI: Miami as Eric Delko. Other TV credits include Roswell, Ugly Betty and The Night Shift. On the big screen he's been in movies such as Magic Mike XXL, Magic Mike and I Can Do Bad All By Myself.
Criminal Minds returns this fall on CBS.