Emmy Award Winner Richard Schiff ("The West Wing") Guest Stars as

FBI Director Jack Fickler

"Two of a Kind" - Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, Janeane Garofalo, Michael Kelly, Beau Garrett, Matt Ryan and Kirsten Vangsness star in the series premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS: SUSPECT BEHAVIOR, Wednesday, Feb. 16 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.  Emmy Award Winner Richard Schiff ("The West Wing") guest stars as FBI Director Jack Fickler.

In the premiere episode of the CRIMINAL MINDS spin-off, Cooper and his Red Cell team are called to Cleveland to investigate a series of child abductions.

CRIMINAL MINDS: SUSPECT BEHAVIOR is a drama about an elite team of agents within the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) who use unconventional methods of investigation and aggressive tactics to capture the nation's most nefarious criminals.  Unit chief Special Agent Sam Cooper is a mentally and physically fierce natural leader who is not afraid to put his career on the line in order to stand by his convictions.  Cooper strives to avoid political bureaucracy and has handpicked an eclectic group of profilers to work outside the confines of Quantico.  They include strong-willed and outspoken Beth Griffith, the newest member of the team who joins them from the FBI Threat Assessment Task Force; former British Special Forces soldier Mick Rawson, who is confident and handsome and works as a highly skilled marksman with an undiluted eye for rooting out evil; John "Prophet" Sims, a former convict with a street-smart edge and a calm, Zen-like presence who is determined to make amends for past sins; Gina LaSalle, an attractive, tough agent armed with a cunning sense of perception; and Penelope Garcia, a computer wizard who has spent years aiding Agent Hotchner and his BAU team on its toughest cases.  This exceptional group of FBI operatives is strong in their beliefs and steadfast in their mission to bring the country's most dangerous criminals to justice. 

SERIES REGULARS:

Sam Cooper........................... Forest Whitaker

Beth Griffith........................... Janeane Garofalo

John "Prophet" Sims................... Michael Kelly

Gina LaSalle................................ Beau Garrett

Mick Rawson.................................. Matt Ryan

Penelope Garcia.................. Kirsten Vangsness

(More)

CBS Television...2

GUEST STARS:

Jack Fickler............................... Richard Schiff

Davis Scofield......................... Raphael Sbarge

Jeanette Rawlins........................... Adina Porter

Molly Weller................................. Jolie Jenkins

Detective

 Rockwell.................. William Francis McGuire

Drew Leland.................. Thomas Vincent Kelly

Medical Examiner......................... Joe Ochman

Samantha Weller....................... Jade Pettyjohn

Connor Weller............... Charles Henry Wyson

Det. Trussman.................. Christopher Michael

Tim Weller................................ Mario Schugel

Aisha Rawlins......................... China Anderson

Recreation

  Center Worker........................... Deb Sullivan

Dion Cross............................... Marcus Brown

Janitor......................................... Jack Axelrod

DIRECTED BY:  John Terlesky

WRITTEN BY:  Rob Fresco

GENRE: DRAMA, CRIME

RATING:  To Be Announced

On the Web:  http://www.cbs.com/primetime/criminal_minds_suspect_behavior/

Photos are available at http://www.cbspressexpress.com/.

*   *   *

Press Contact:              Diane Ekeblad                  818-655-1585         diane.ekeblad@cbs.com

Photo Contacts:            Gaye Anne Bruno             818-655-1542         gayneanne.bruno@cbs.com

                                    Kathleen Prutting              818-975-8533         kathleen.prutting@cbs.com