Mandy Patinkin Exits 'Criminal Minds'

Series star blames 'creative differences' not salary issues

Star Mandy Patinkin has parted ways with his CBS hit "Criminal Minds."

Capping off several days of rumors, Patinkin and "Criminal Minds" producers ABC Studios and CBS Paramount Network Television released a joint statement on Monday (July 16) morning explaining the split.

"Due to creative differences, Mandy has asked not to return to 'Criminal Minds' this season," says the statement from Patinkin's camp. "Mandy would like to thank the studios and network for releasing him from the series and he wishes the cast and crew continued success in all of their endeavors and looks forward to continuing to work with the Disney and CBS companies in other capacities in the future."

Reports began swirling at the end of last week that Patinkin had missed a scheduled "Criminal Minds" table read and that writers were working on a version of the season premiere without the actor. At the time, sources close to the situation would only say that salary and contractual issues weren't the cause of Patinkin's absence, a claim echoed in Monday's release.

"Last week, Mandy Patinkin asked to be released from his role on 'Criminal Minds,'" the studio portion of the statement reads. "We have honored this request, which was not in any way connected to contract renegotiations or salary issues. His departure from the series will be explained to audiences in an episode to be filmed in the near future and broadcast early next season. We thank Mandy for helping to make 'Criminal Minds' a strong and successful series, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors. A new character will be added to the series for next season."

Patinkin has spent two seasons playing Supervisory Special Agent Jason Gideon on "Criminal Minds." Along with Thomas Gibson's Aaron Hotchner, Gideon headed up an FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit entrusted with tracking down serial killers around the country. After averaging 12.8 million viewers in its first season, "Criminal Minds" boosted that audience to 14 million this past year, even earning CBS' most coveted time period of the year, the post-Super Bowl slot.

While the show's strong supporting cast still includes Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, Paget Brewster and Kirsten Vangsness, Patinkin's absence will probably put the kibosh on any possible musical "Criminal Minds" episodes for the future.