What Happened To Thomas Gibson After His Criminal Minds Firing?

Since he was fired from his "Criminal Minds" role of Special Agent Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner in 2016, Thomas Gibson has maintained a greater distance from the public eye. But the actor has not completely retreated from the limelight. Gibson's life post-"Criminal Minds" has been marked by a sporadic string of film appearances — and a notable stint in live theater.

A mere year after departing "Criminal Minds," Gibson lent his voice to the character of Joseph in the 2017 film "Axis," the feature directorial debut of his former "Criminal Minds" co-star Aisha Tyler. Gibson additionally starred in the 2019 movie "Shadow Wolves" as an NSA agent who assists a Native American tracking unit. He has also completed a film called "The Writer's Bible," about a creatively challenged author. Gibson co-wrote the film as well as starring in it, but it currently has no release date.

The past decade has also seen Gibson make some forays into the realm of theater. In addition to his role in a 2024 off-Broadway production of "Ibsen's Ghost," Gibson starred in a 2025 Chicago production of "Henry Johnson," a play penned by playwright David Mamet that follows a naive middle-aged man who is jailed for embezzlement. Throughout the one-month run of "Henry Johnson," Gibson's portrayal of Johnson's fellow convict Gene was consistently hailed by reviewers as one of the show's main highlights.

Thomas Gibson's firing from "Criminal Minds" came shortly after he reportedly kicked one of the show's writers during a heated conversation. The actor had apparently already been made to attend anger management classes after a similar altercation with a "Criminal Minds" assistant director that occurred in 2010. Mounting tensions surrounding Gibson's on-set presence were allegedly exacerbated by the strained relationship he shared with his former co-star Shemar Moore. Although Moore never officially commented on Gibson's termination, he posted a now-deleted video to his Instagram saying "I believe in karma" shortly after the announcement was made.

In the wake of his firing, the actor seemed to nurse ill will toward the series that he had been a part of since its 2005 premiere. Gibson showed interest in pursuing legal action against CBS and "Criminal Minds" — however, the proposed lawsuit faced multiple obstacles and seems to have eventually fizzled out. "I feel like it took years to make a good reputation and a minute to damage it," Gibson told People in a 2016 interview. While the actor accused "Criminal Minds" of "trying to erase [him] from the show," the team behind the series maintained that there was strong reason for Gibson's exit.

"It's like a dark cloud has been lifted off that show," said one "Criminal Minds" crew member to Variety in 2016. "You never knew which Thomas Gibson was going to show up."