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Mantegna Settles Minds Matter
Joe Mantegna is making for one smooth Criminal.
The veteran actor has signed on to fill the leading-man void on Criminal Minds left by Mandy Patinkin, who unexpectedly asked out of his contract due to "creative differences."
Mantegna will make his debut as FBI Special Agent David Rossi in the fifth episode of the upcoming third season. According to CBS, Rossi is an original member of the Behavioral Analysis Unit who took early retirement to go on book and lecture tours and who volunteers to return to the squad.
"We are all thrilled to have Joe Mantegna joining our family," executive producer Ed Bernero said. "He's an incredible actor, a genuinely nice person and, as a fellow Chicagoan, I can tell you he makes fantastic Italian beef sandwiches and Chicago-style hot dogs."
Mantegna and his finely honed culinary skills are a last-minute addition to the procedural, following the surprise pull-out of star Patinkin last month. Days after the Emmy-winning actor was MIA from the third season premiere's table read, producers on the show confirmed that Patinkin had asked to be released from his contract.
ABC Studios and CBS Paramount Network, the studio and network behind the show, issued a joint statement denying reports that either contract negotiations or salary issues were the source of contention. At the Television Critics Association panel days later, CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler said that, in this case, "creative differences is a euphemism for personal issues."
Tassler refused to comment any further on what sort of issues the 54-year-old Patinkin was dealing with, including whether his health was a contributing factor. But said she believed the actor would "at some point, in the very near future...address a lot of those questions." In 2004, Patinkin underwent treatment for prostate cancer.
He will, however, be back—albeit briefly. CBS confirmed Tuesday that Patinkin has finished completing a handful of scenes as FBI Special Agent Jason Gideon, which will give proper closure to his character and air on the season premiere as well as the second episode of the season, on Sept. 26 and Oct. 3.
Producers began looking for a name actor to plug the gap and keep the show's momentum—Criminal Minds bested time-slot rival Lost last season and was a Nielsen top 20 regular. Mantegna was immediately shortlisted. Per reports, the casting came down to him and Harvey Keitel.
Mantegna, 59, was last spotted on CBS as a parental unit in Joan of Arcadia. He's also know for voicing Springfield's resident mafioso Fat Tony on The Simpsons, a role he reprised in this summer's big-screen version.
Mantegna is up for a Emmy next month for Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his role in this summer's hit cable miniseries The Starter Wife.
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