Matthew Gray Gubler was one of the longest running stars of the hit series Criminal Minds. His perfect portrayal of Dr. Spencer Reid leads many to forget that Gubler actually isn’t his character, and despite working on one of TV’s most popular shows, he has remained largely out of the spotlight and headlines. While he may not be Spencer Reid, he is as every bit as witty, charming, funny, and smart as his character is, so, get to know the talented actor even better with these 12 things not widely known about Matthew Gray Gubler:
12. Criminal Minds Never Gets Old
After many seasons on the same television show and in the same character, many actors lament about needing to do something new or different, but that isn’t the case for Gubler, who says all these years later, it never gets old. “. It’s so bizarre it has been on for so long because in no way shape or form does it feel like that. It still feels like day two. Family is the only thing I can think of to sum it up. It’s a real honor. I love entertaining people, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. The fact that I’ve gotten to do this for a long time is so awesome.” He added, “When I’m doing this job, I feel like a different person, which is probably why it has gone by so fast. I’ve always loved performing. I am weird that I love auditioning. I’m as happy entertaining one person as I am entertaining a million people.”
Shutterstock/DFree11. He’s An Artist
Matthew Gray Gubler is an extremely talented person that extends well beyond his acting abilities. Since the mid 2000s, Gubler has posted painting he has done on his website and he uses everything from watercolor to gouache, oil, and pastel. In 2006, the Gallery of Fine Art in the Czech Republic showed 12 of his watercolor paintings and all 12 were sold. He has since had his paintings in The Little Bird art gallery in California, and the Western Heritage Museum & Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame. In 2011 he sold one of his watercolor paintings for over $10,000 on eBay and donated the money to the Smith Center of the Performing Arts in Las Vegas. In the end he describes himself as an overall storyteller. “I’m a storyteller. That’s what I am. Whether it’s pictures I draw or things I direct, I’m just trying to tell a story and make people’s lives hopefully more enchanting,” he told Glamour.
Shutterstock/Featureflash Photo Agency10. He Likes Directing
Part of Gubler’s love for storytelling has now extended into directing. Along with multiple episodes of Criminal Minds, he also directed, edited and co-produced the music video for “Don’t Shoot Me Santa” for the band The Killers. “I love directing. To me, I really feel most like myself, or that I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing if I’m directing or acting in comedies or telling ghost stories. Those are when I feel I am doing exactly what I should be in that moment. I’m really proud of everything I’ve done as a director. Every episode I’ve directed on Criminal Minds I think is flawless. [Laughs] I’m like the Kanye West of directors. I just know it, I know it! They’re great! And I can’t wait to make more videos and direct more stuff,” he explained in a 2015 interview.
Shutterstock/Kathy Hutchins9. He’s A Minister
On top of being an actor and artist, Gubler is also an ordained minister. Gubler became ordained in October of 2014 and then on November 29, 2014 he officiated the wedding of his Criminal Minds co-star Paget Brewster to Steve Damstra, who happens to be Gubler’s best friend. “Paget is my best friend. I married her and introduced her to her husband,” he revealed in an interview.
Eric McCandles / © CBS / courtesy everett collection8. Early Life
Matthew Gray Gubler was born on March 9, 1980 in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Marilyn and John Gubler. His mother worked as a political consultant and rancher while his father was an attorney. Matthew also has two siblings, a brother Gary and a sister Laura, who is a fashion designer in New York City. He graduated high school from the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Visual and Performing Arts. He majored in acting because the school did not offer filmmaking, but after high school he attended and graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where he majored in film directing.
Shutterstock/DFree7. Always Wanted to Be An Actor
Although some say that Gubler never intended to be an actor because of his love of filmmaking, he says he always knew he was born to perform. “It’s all I ever wanted to do. I have a crazy memory, and I remember being two years old at someone’s party and thinking, ‘This party is boring! I better spruce it up!’ I got up and tried to do this really dumb dance that I saw Winnie the Pooh do, and I remember falling over and thinking, ‘That’s what it’s all about.'” He has said that it is still hard to believe it all worked out. “I never thought I’d be making a living off of acting — it’s still kind of a shock for my family and friends to see my face on TV every Wednesday night.”
Cliff Lipson/©CBS/courtesy Everett Collection6. Being Called Matt
Matthew Gray Gubler is quite the mouthful, but the actor has explained he isn’t a huge fan of being called Matt because of bullies from his past. “I don’t like the word Matt, and occasionally people call me Matt, and I don’t really like it. Bullies used to call me Matt, so I don’t prefer it,” he explained. Although he has opened up about being bullied, he has also ensured that he didn’t let them ruin his childhood. “I’m so thankful for every bully I’ve ever had. It never affected me, and that’s why I’m so thankful for them. I learned early on that if anything, it made me stick closer to who I am and not try and change…it just made me very solid with who I was. I don’t see it like, ‘poor me.’ I was lucky. It taught me a beautiful lesson, and I’m really grateful for it,” he told Glamour.
Sonja Flemming/©CBS/courtesy Everett Collection5. Started As A Model
While in film school, Gubler got his career off to a great start as an intern for the famed director Wes Anderson; however, he also found himself on a different career path at the same time. While still in school, Gubler was scouted by a model talent agent and he went on to model for DNA Model Management for Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Jacobs and American Eagle. Eventually though it was Anderson who got him into acting by getting Gubler to audition for a role in his film The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
Michael Germana/Everett Collection4. He’s Unique
As the actor explained, he never let bullies change the way he was, and to this day is one of the most unique people around. In an interview with Vanity Fair, he invited the magazine into his house where he showed off his closet that is specifically for his kimonos, explained how he built his own fireplace because he wanted it to look like a “drunk gnome” built it, and has taken to making his own stuffed animals. He also explained that his fireplace has a secret hiding place in which he keeps a box that contains his friend’s wisdom teeth. The video also shows off his distinctive and hilarious sense of humor. Well the kimono closet might seem random, there is a very sweet reason behind it. “It actually relates to Christmas. Grandma Gubler, the most elegant and warm-hearted woman to ever walk the face of the earth, went to Japan when I was seven and again at nine, and brought me back a silk kimono. I loved it so much and wore it all the time. She then passed away when I was around 10, and my dad came in and gave me an adult kimono that he said she bought for me when I grew up—I’m gonna cry a little bit—but, caveat to the story—and I still don’t know the truth—but I have a sneaking suspicion that she bought it for him, and then he gave it to me,” Gubler explained in a separate interview.
Shutterstock/Featureflash Photo Agency3. Personal Life
Despite his prominence through his role on Criminal Minds, Gubler is rarely if ever seen being caught somewhere by the paparazzi and has always kept his personal life out of the tabloids. There have been many rumors about who he is dating and even one suggesting he got secretly married, but he never talks about his romantic relationships. He apparently dated model Charlotte Kemp Muhl for a while but they split in 2000. He then dated actress Kat Dennings for a few months in 2007 and has also been linked to Marisa Morris, Victoria Asher and even Taylor Swift! ” I fall in love with wonderful people and people that can’t be replicated. They are completely unique individuals, and those people are really rare and you can’t let them go. You gotta be friends with them forever because if I’m going to date someone, it’s a real big thing for me,” he told Glamour and added that while he dated Dennings “for a long time,” the two split but have remained best friends.
Erin Simkin / ©Hulu / Courtesy Everett Collection2. Net Worth
Following a bit of modeling and his debut role as “Intern #1” in 2004’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Gubler almost immediately landed his career defining role as Dr. Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds. Although he has now starred in all of the seasons, he has found time to do a few others roles as well, including voice work as Simon in the Alvin and the Chipmunks film series. Thanks to all of these roles, Gubler now has an estimated net worth of $10 million, and by the end of the series had a reported salary of $3.5 million.
Sonja Flemming/ © CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection1. Doesn’t Take It For Granted
Matthew Gray Gubler has not been blinded by his own success, and if anything, he has stated it has made him realize how truly lucky he is compared to so many wonderful actors who can’t find work. “I’ve had this unbelievable amount of good fortune and I’m just so thankful for it. But at the same time I feel exceptionally guilty. I have so many friends who are talented graduates of Juillard and are exceptional actors and I’m the lucky one that somehow got such a fortunate break.”
Cliff Lipson / ©CBS / Courtesy: Everett Collection
