The Ladies of "Criminal Minds" Quiz

Answer: Penelope Garcia

Technical analyst Penelope Garcia is the glue that holds the Behavioral Analysis Unit together. She has been played by Kirsten Vangsness since the beginning of "Criminal Minds" (2005-?). After the death of Penelope's parents in an auto accident, Garcia dropped out of school but continued teaching herself computer skills.

She became such a good hacker that the FBI recruited her to help solve crimes.

Answer: Jennifer Jareau

A.J. Cook has been playing Jennifer Jareau, known as "JJ", on and off since 2005. JJ was the BAU's liaison with the police and the media. Cook left the role at the end of season six for financial reasons but returned again the following season as a profiler.

Her absence was explained by her promotion to the Pentagon. JJ is married with a son, Henry. She was originally from Pittsburgh, PA and when she was eleven, her older sister committed suicide.

Answer: Emily Prentiss

Paget Brewster has played Special Agent Emily Prentiss off and on since Elle Greenaway resigned in 2006. Prentiss became Unit Chief, resigned to take a position in London with Interpol and came back in season twelve to again become Unit Chief after Aaron Hotchner's resignation. Prentiss' mother (played by Kate Jackson) was an ambassador so they moved around a lot.

She was also familiar with Rossi and Hotch before becoming a member of the BAU.

Answer: Tara Lewis

Dr. Tara Lewis first joined "Criminal Minds" in season eleven in 2015. She was an Army brat who was bullied as a child when her father was stationed in Germany. Lewis grew up with her brother Gabriel who stood up for her. Her background is as a forensic psychologist and she has interviewed many psychotic criminals.

She is played by Aisha Tyler who was on "The Talk", does voices for "Archer" and "BoJack Horseman", and has been on "Ghost Whisperer" and "CSI".

Answer: Alex Blake

When Emily Prentiss left to join Interpol, her position at the BAU was replaced, in 2012 to 2014, by Dr. Alex Blake, a linguistics expert and professor at Georgetown University. She comes from a family of law enforcement officers, and has a history of working with Erin Strauss, who let her take the fall for arresting the wrong suspect. Jeanne Tripplehorn's stay as Dr. Blake was a short one as her past and Reid's injury made it too difficult for her at the BAU.

Answer: Elle Greenaway

Elle Greenaway was introduced in the pilot episode of "Criminal Minds" in 2005, specializing in sexual crimes. She has a background in law enforcement and her father was a police officer killed in the line of duty. Unfortunately, Greenaway only lasted until the following season.

She was shot by an "unsub" (unknown suspect) and shot another, causing her to resign from the BAU after developing PTSD, where she no longer felt safe. Lola Glaudini played the role of Elle.

Answer: Kate Callahan

Jennifer Love Hewitt joined "Criminal Minds" in its tenth season in 2014. Hewitt replaced Jeanne Tripplehorn after Alex Blake left the BAU. Hewitt played Kate Callahan who studied criminal psychology and worked in the FBI's Sex Crime Unit for eight years.

Her backstory reveals that her sister and brother-in-law were killed on 9/11 and she has custody of their young daughter. Kate (and Jennifer) left the BAU at the end of 2015 due to her pregnancy.

Answer: Erin Strauss

Jayne Atkinson began playing the role of Erin Strauss in 2007. Erin was the section chief of the BAU and Aaron Hotchner's direct supervisor. She was not a profiler but, rather, an administrator who seemed to be doing everything in her power to break up the BAU team.

She was usually cold and distant, was known to have a problem with alcoholism, and had a contentious relationship with the other members of the team. In 2014 Strauss' tenure ended with her death.

Answer: Ashley Seaver

In 2010, an FBI cadet named Ashley Seaver was assigned to the BAU as a "probationary agent". Rossi asked her to join the team due to her background, i.e., Ashley's father is Charles Beauchamp, a North Dakota serial killer. Ashley uses her mother's maiden name to distance herself from her father. Rachel Nichols plays Ashley who uses her knowledge to help understand and catch the 'unsubs'.

The following year we are told Ashley has transferred to another unit.

Answer: Kate Joyner

We meet Kate Joyner in 2008 where we learn that she was originally with Scotland Yard before joining the FBI at the New York Office. Her father was British and her mother was American. Kate has a strong resemblance to Hotch's wife. She had worked previously with Hotch and called him for the BAU's help with a serial killer terrorizing New York City.

It turned out to be a terror cell operating with disastrous consequences. Sienna Guillory played the ill-fated Kate.

Answer: Savannah Hayes

We now move from agents to the families of the BAU team. In 2013 (season nine) we are introduced to Dr. Savannah Hayes, a doctor at Bethesda General Hospital. She becomes Derek Morgan's girlfriend, wife and the mother of his son, Hank Spencer Morgan. Despite setbacks, murders and kidnapping, their relationship is solid and Derek has finally found the love and family he deserves. Rochelle Aytes plays Savannah and Shemar Moore plays Derek, as they ride off into the sunset in 2016.

Answer: Diana Reid

From 2006 through 2017, Jane Lynch ("Glee") has portrayed the schizophrenic mother of the brilliant Dr. Spencer Reid. Diana Reid, formerly a college professor, is also brilliant but she has been battling schizophrenia for years, and has been in and out of sanitariums. Spencer's father, William, left Diana, and Spencer had her committed when he was eighteen. Diana and Spencer are devoted to each other, and their scenes together are poignant.

Answer: Joy Struthers

David "Dave" Rossi is an author and Supervisory Special Agent at the BAU in Quantico, Virginia. Rossi was a Marine and fought in Vietnam, and helped found the BAU. He has been married three times. In season ten, in the episode "Fate", Rossi discovers he has a journalist daughter from his second marriage, named Joy Struthers, whom he never knew about. Amber Stevens plays Joy in season ten and eleven (2014 and 2015).

Answer: Hayden Montgomery

It is not until 2016 that we meet up with David Rossi's second wife. Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph ("Oliver and Company" and "Sister Act 2") plays Hayden Montgomery, a diplomat who works and lives in Paris, France. After the divorce from Rossi (the job always came first), Hayden remarried and never told Dave or Joy that David was Joy's real father. In season thirteen, Dave and Hayden realize that their relationship is over, but they can enjoy grandparenting together.

Answer: Haley Hotchner

In 2005, when "Criminal Minds" first aired, Haley Brooks Hotchner appeared in the pilot episode as the wife of Aaron Hotchner. Haley met Aaron in high school and they married and had a young son named Jack. Apparently, FBI Agent Profiling takes a huge toll on relationships and they got divorced. Haley was brutally murdered by serial killer George Foyet in season five in 2013. Meredith Monroe, from "Dawson's Creek", played the role of Haley Hotchner.