Matthew Gray Gubler
A whimsical and deeply creative polymath who found unexpected fame as the brainy heart of a long-running crime procedural.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American actor, filmmaker, author, and model·Birthday: March 9·Generation X
Biography
Matthew Gray Gubler's path to becoming television's favorite genius was anything but conventional. A fashion model and film student from Las Vegas, he landed an internship with director Wes Anderson, which led to a role in 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.' His quirky, offbeat energy seemed destined for indie films, but in 2005 he auditioned for a CBS show about FBI profilers. Cast as the young, socially awkward Dr. Spencer Reid on 'Criminal Minds,' Gubler spent 15 seasons bringing profound empathy and vulnerability to a character with an eidetic memory. Off-screen, he directed numerous episodes of the series, showcasing a visual flair influenced by his love of classic cinema. Gubler has cultivated a parallel universe as an author of illustrated children's books, a voice actor for the 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' franchise, and a purveyor of delightfully strange art and social media content. His career is a testament to the power of niche intelligence and authentic weirdness in the mainstream.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Matthew was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matthew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Matthew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Dr. Spencer Reid for all 15 seasons of the hit CBS series 'Criminal Minds.'
- Directed over a dozen episodes of 'Criminal Minds,' shaping the show's visual style.
- Published the illustrated children's book 'Rumple Buttercup: A Story of Bananas, Belonging, and Being Yourself.'
- Voiced the character of Simon in four 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' feature films.
Did You Know?
He was discovered by a modeling scout while studying film directing at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
He has a pronounced fear of birds, a condition known as ornithophobia.
He creates most of the unusual birthday tribute videos for his 'Criminal Minds' co-stars that gain attention online.
He provided the voice of the Riddler in the 'Batman: Assault on Arkham' animated film.
“"I think the goal in life is to be like a fine wine: the older you get, the better you get. Unless you're a banana."”
