"Criminal Minds" Finds Its Replacement for Thomas Gibson
by Malcolm Venable
Sept. 30, 2016


"Criminal Minds" has found its replacement for actor Thomas Gibson, who was fired from the show in August after raging out on set and kicking a producer.

Damon Gupton, who has appeared on "Bates Motel" and "Empire", has been tapped to play special agent Stephen Walker from the Behavioral Analysis Program on CBS' long-running drama, the network announced Friday. He'll make his debut in this season's eighth episode, playing a skilled profiler with special spy-hunting talents.

"Our BAU family is growing," said Erica Messer, executive producer and showrunner. "We're excited to have Damon join the show and work alongside our amazing cast and crew."

http://www.tvguide.com/news/criminal-minds-thomas-gibson-replacement-damon-gupton/

Damon Gupton isn't Returning to "Criminal Minds"
by Liam Mathews
June 12, 2017


Damon Gupton is leaving "Criminal Minds" after one season.

Gupton, who was brought in as Special Agent Stephen Walker in Season 12 after Thomas Gibson's dismissal, revealed on Twitter over the weekend that he lost his job.



There's been a lot of cast shake-up on the long-running CBS crime drama over the last season. Along with Gupton joining in the middle of the season, Adam Rodriguez joined the BAU at the start of Season 12, then Gibson was fired, then Aisha Tyler joined the cast full-time, then Paget Brewster re-joined the show.

And it might not be over yet: A.J. Cook and Kirsten Vangsness are locked in salary negotiations with the network seeking parity with their male co-stars Joe Mantegna and Matthew Gray Gubler, and are willing to walk away if they don't get it.



Gupton never quite fit in with the show, and "Criminal Minds" showrunner Erica Messer has said that hiring Gupton was the network's decision.

It seems safe to say that Walker will be one of the characters who didn't survive the crash that ended Season 12 on a cliff-hanger.

http://www.tvguide.com/news/damon-gupton-leaving-criminal-minds/