For nearly two decades, Joe Mantegna has portrayed David Rossi, helping turn the veteran profiler into one of the most beloved characters in the Criminal Minds franchise. Now, in Season 19 of Criminal Minds: Evolution, Rossi once again finds himself facing deeply personal challenges as the BAU tackles another high-stakes case, forcing the team to confront difficult choices that test both their professional instincts and their personal relationships.
In our conversation, Mantegna reflected on the cast’s close bond, Rossi’s resilience after years of personal and professional challenges, and why the veteran profiler continues to carry both the emotional scars and determination that have defined him for so many years. He also teased what fans can expect from Rossi as Season 19 heads toward its conclusion.
Isabella Wandermurem: One of the things fans love most about Criminal Minds is how the cast feels like a real family. After all these years, what’s been your favorite part about working with everyone?
Joe Mantegna: It’s been wonderful. It’s exactly as you see it. We are as close off camera as we are on camera—in fact, probably even closer. We don’t really have the kinds of conflicts that happen within families in real life, so what you see is pretty genuine.
If I had to pick four actresses to work with for the rest of my career, I couldn’t have done better than the four women I work with. The same goes for Adam and RJ. What you see is what you get. There’s not a lot of pretending when it comes to our relationships. We really are that close, and I think we’re all very happy to be doing what we’re doing.
Isabella Wandermurem: This season has taken Rossi on another emotional journey. What has been the most rewarding part of playing him this season?
Joe Mantegna: I don’t know if there’s one specific thing, but Rossi has gone through so much over the years. He’s been married four times—twice to the same woman—and those relationships didn’t work out for different reasons. So there’s always been this balance between his personal life and the work he does.
He’s also an author, one of the people who helped create the BAU, and he’s spent years serving as a supervisory special agent. He’s a survivor. I think what’s rewarding is seeing that he’s still on the job, still has work to do, and still wants to do it.
I really respect David Rossi. I’ve spent time at the real Quantico and met the men and women who actually do this work, so I always try to honor them by portraying the job as realistically as possible. Thank goodness we have people who dedicate their lives to doing something that isn’t easy.
Isabella Wandermurem: In the recent episodes, Rossi was deeply hurt after Garcia testified to save Voit’s life. How did you approach those emotional moments between Rossi and Garcia?
Joe Mantegna: Things happen within families. At the end of the day, all of these characters have an unbreakable bond. But “unbreakable” doesn’t mean it can’t be stretched or tested from time to time.
Nobody goes through life getting along with their brothers, sisters, or parents every single day. That’s just not reality. There’s always going to be conflict, but family is family, and it takes precedence. In the end, people find a way to get back to where they need to be, and I think that’s true for these characters as well.
Isabella Wandermurem: Do you have a favorite episode from this season?
Joe Mantegna: Not really. I couldn’t single out one episode. Honestly, I lose track of which episodes are which.
I tend to think about it as one overall story arc. I’ve been on this show for almost 20 years—I joined in Season 3—so trying to pick one favorite episode would be like trying to choose the best year of your life. It’s hard to narrow it down. I’m just grateful I’ve had the opportunity to do as much as I have.
Isabella Wandermurem: Without giving away spoilers, what can fans expect from Rossi by the end of the season?
Joe Mantegna: If I had to sum it up in a few words, I’d say it’s a continuation of the fire and the ice that make up this character. Rossi will always have fire in him, but he’ll also have that colder side. He has a soft side and a hard side, and I think you’ll continue to see all of those aspects.
He’s been through a lot. David Rossi carries his scars, but he keeps moving forward. It’ll be a continuation of that journey.
