Courtesy of CBS
Following an on-set altercation in which the actor kicked a writer on the veteran procedural.
Thomas Gibson's time on CBS' Criminal Minds has come to an end.
"Thomas Gibson has been dismissed from Criminal Minds. Creative details for how the character's exit will be addressed in the show will be announced at a later date," producers ABC Studios and CBS Television Studios said in a statement.
The dismissal follows news that the actor — who had been on the veteran procedural since its start — kicked a writer on-set. As of Thursday, Gibson was facing a two-episode suspension following the incident. His character was to be written out of both episodes with that now turning into being written out of the series on which he has starred for 11 seasons.
The incident occurred when Gibson was directing an episode of the drama's upcoming 12th season and had a dispute with the hour's writer, who also happened to be on set. Insiders say they got into an argument and tempers on both sides flared with Gibson said to have instinctively reacted to aggression and kicked the writer.
"I love Criminal Minds and have put my heart and soul into it for the last 12 years," Gibson said in a statement to THR on Friday. "I had hoped to see it through to the end, but that won't be possible now. I would just like to say thank you to the writers, producers, actors, our amazing crew, and, most importantly, the best fans that a show could ever hope to have."
Gibson had been under contract for the ABC Studios/CBS Television Studios co-production for all of season 12. This was the second incident for Gibson with the series; he pushed another producer a few years ago and had to attend anger management classes, though he was not suspended.
"There were creative differences on the set and a disagreement," Gibson said in a statement to THR on Thursday. "I regret that it occurred. We all want to work together as a team to make the best show possible. We always have and we always will."
