Actor Joe Mantegna has played his Criminal Minds character David Rossi for a long time. Supervisory Special Agent in the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, Rossi joined the series in Season 3 and became known for his extensive experience and mentorship role within the team. Having recently wrapped up its Season 19 run on the 2026 TV schedule, the series has transformed from a network procedural to more serialized storytelling on streaming with Criminal Minds: Evolution. And it’s cool to know that Mantegna also has a deeper connection to the character he’s spent such a big chunk of his life and career playing.
In a 2009 interview with The A.V. Club, Mantegna explained that it’s no coincidence that his characters in Alice, First Monday, Joan of Arcadia, and Criminal Minds all have Italian last names. It’s actually a very intentional choice that he pushed to make happen. And it’s not because he’s embarrassed by stereotypical Italian-American characters in film and TV, but more as a result of his desire to show that they can be doctors, lawyers, and members of the FBI too. He said:
