Criminal Minds Actors You May Not Know Passed Away

"Criminal Minds" was one of the most-watched shows on the CBS line-up prior to its exit from the network in 2020, consistently ranking highly across the board alongside spinoff shows like "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior," and "Criminal Minds: Beyond Border." The show details the investigations of criminal profilers at the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit as they search for the unknown perpetrators of dastardly crimes.

The brainchild of creator Jeff Davis, "Criminal Minds" has been known for bringing in some major A-list talent over the years in both minor supporting and major recurring roles. Actors like Mandy Patinkin, Lola Glaudini, Paget Brewster, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Aisha Tyler, and many more have been featured throughout the 16 seasons of this colossal crime show. Nonetheless, just as many incredible performers who have appeared in the "Criminal Minds" universe have sadly passed on since their time on the series.

Some of the actors on this list were household names with huge careers ahead of them, while others were known as dedicated character actors who were more recognized for their faces than their names. Either way, read on to learn all the "Criminal Minds" actors you may not know passed away.

Fans of "Criminal Minds" may recognize talented actress and musician Nicki Aycox, who had built an impressive filmography that included roles in multiple popular films and television series. Aycox was best known for her role as Grace in "Perfect Stranger" as well as Meg Masters in the hit series, "Supernatural." She also had notable roles in projects like "Jeepers Creepers 2," "The X-Files: I Want to Believe," "Providence," "Cold Case," "Dark Blue," and "Longmire" to name just a few. Aycox also was an accomplished singer who dropped her first and only EP, "Red Velvet Room," in 2015.

Aycox's role in "Criminal Minds" was particularly disturbing, as she played the truly disturbing character of Amber Canardo in the Season 2 episode, "The Perfect Storm." Canardo is an evil mastermind, serial killer, and horrifying misogynist who orchestrates a bizarre two-person killing duo that sends snuff DVDs of their victims' murders to family members. Luckily, Aycox was nothing like her monstrous character in real life, which showcases just how talented of an actress she was.

Aycox passed away in 2022 at the age of 42 from leukemia, which she had been struggling with for quite some time. Eric Kripke, creator of "Supernatural," went on record to remember Aycox in a heartwarming tweet that read, "Gutted to hear the great #NickiAycox, our first #MegMasters, passed away. Too young. She was a delight & delivered lines like honey & venom. I marvel at how she made a simple word like 'lackluster' legendary."

By far one of the most famous and beloved actors to appear in "Criminal Minds" was Anton Yelchin, who became well-known for his performance as Pavel Chekov in the "Star Trek" reboot series by J.J. Abrams. He was well-received as a younger, more energetic version of the classic character alongside Chris Pine's Captain Kirk and Zachary Quinto's Spock aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. He also became known for his roles as Kyle Reese in "Terminator Salvation," Charley Brewster in "Fright Night," and Pat in "Green Room."

Within "Criminal Minds," Yelchin made a standout appearance in the Season 2 episode, "Sex, Birth, Death," as a suspect named Nathan Harris. For most of the episode, it seems as though Harris is the prime suspect in the murder of a victim who later was proven to have been killed by serial killer Ronald Weems (Thomas Crawford). Interestingly, his character was shown to be someone who wanted to kill people but resisted his sadistic sexual impulses by attempting to kill himself before being institutionalized.

Sadly, Yelchin himself endured a strange and tragic death in real life through a bizarre freak accident back in 2016. According to reports at the time, Yelchin was pinned by his own truck at the end of his driveway which rolled down from a steep incline. He was pronounced dead at the scene from "blunt traumatic asphyxia," leaving fans and admirers shocked by his sudden and unexpected passing.

Although René Auberjonois has a relatively minor role in "Criminal Minds," he is a much-loved actor who had a massive role in one of the most obsessed-over franchises in history. Trekkies will instantly recognize this actor as Odo from "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," the sci-fi series within the "Star Trek" universe which ran from 1993 to 1999. Odo was one of the main characters in the series; a mysterious alien from an unknown race serving as the main head of security for Starfleet aboard the space station DS9.

Other notable roles include parts in "M*A*S*H," "Benson," "Boston Legal," and "The Patriot" to name only a few. He was also a frequent sight in the musical theater scene, having won a Tony Award in 1970 for his performance as Sebastian Baye in "Coco." For his stint in "Criminal Minds," Auberjonois stood out with his performance as the proxy killing military colonel, Ron Massey, who appears in the Season 7 episode, "Self-Fulfilling Prophecy."

As Massey, Auberjonois portrayed a cold and misguided kind of evil that made his character stand out in the episode as a highlight. Sadly, Auberjonois passed away from terminal cancer in 2019 at the age of 79. Having decided to forego the intense side effects of radiation treatment, Auberjonois opted for life-ending medications provided by the state of California while surrounded by his family and loved ones.

A legendary star from a bygone era, almost everyone has seen a movie or show with Ed Asner in it. Having started his career in the 1950s and continuing all the way until his death in 2021, Asner is one of the all-time great actors with an incredible filmography backing it up. Some of his most famous performances include Lou Grant in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," Santa Claus in "Elf," and Carl Fredricksen in Pixar's "Up." Asner is actually one of the most highly-decorated television actors in Emmy history, having won seven over his entire career.

Bringing in such star power may seem like overkill for a show like "Criminal Minds," but this show has a history of attracting extremely talented performances even for smaller roles. Asner played the part of Roy Brooks in the Season 10 episode, "A Place at the Table," where he was introduced as the father of Haley Brooks (Meredith Monroe), and former father-in-law of Aaron Hotchner. In real life, Ed Asner passed away from natural causes in 2021 at the age of 91, with countless celebrities and fans giving tributes to this acting legend.

Jack Donner was a prolific actor who began his career all the way back in the 1950s and continued throughout the next six decades by appearing in all sorts of movies, shows, and stage productions. Donner remained mostly a supporting actor by appearing in countless productions such as "The Man from U.N.C.L.E," "Star Trek," "General Hospital," and many more. His filmography is extensive and varied, showing up in everything from serious drama films like "J. Edgar" to absurd comedy series like "Reno 911!."

Donner's role in "Criminal Minds" fits within his modus operandi by being small, but impactful as a villainous serial killer named Charles Holcombe who appears in the Season 2 episode, "Legacy," which focuses on his abduction and torturing of a victim named Maggie (Bre Blair). Holcombe was a particularly disturbing killer to appear on the show, with standout lines such as, "I assure you, I'm not without compassion. You're in the center of a 130,000-square-foot facility. You have until sunrise to find your way out of here. If you don't, your sentence will be carried out." While he had the uncanny ability to portray creepy serial killers like this, Donner transcended that by having a diverse and interesting career in entertainment. Donner passed away in 2019 at the age of 90.