Josh Stewart’s long-running career in Criminal Minds: Evolution has come to an end. The actor announced via Twitter that his time playing NOPD detective William LaMontagne Jr. is over, thanking his fans for their support ever since he originated the role way back in 2006. Stewart first joined the cast of CBS‘s Criminal Minds in season 2 and appeared at least once per season until the series finale in season 2. He then returned for season 1 of Criminal Minds: Evolution, but apparently he won’t be continuing onto season 2.
Josh Stewart Won’t Be Returning to Criminal Minds as William LaMontagne Jr.
In 2006, Criminal Minds introduced Josh Stewart as William LaMontagne Jr., a New Orleans-based police detective who first helped the BAU team track down a serial killer that was previously presumed dead. He would return in season 3 to help the team catch a killer going after other New Orleans’ cops, and would eventually fall in love with Agent Jennifer “J.J.” Jareau (AJ Cook), the BAU’s Communication Liason. The couple would be married in the two-part season 7 finale, titled “Hit and Run”, and have two sons: Henry, born in season 4, and Micheal, born in season 11.
Josh Stewart’s Twitter announcement that he was leaving Criminal Minds: Evolution came after Will’s appearance on season 1 of the reboot, where he told J.J. he was afraid he had cancer. His illness turned out to be benign, just an enlarged thyroid, but the Evolution showrunners have said he’s “not out of the woods yet.” Or, as Erica Messer told TVLine regarding the character:
It’s based on a true-life illness that we wanted to honor. We wanted to plant that seed now…next [season], hopefully, he’s going to be OK. But he’s not necessarily out of the woods forever.”
Erica Messer
For his part, Josh Stewart’s announcement to Twitter just announced that his days on Criminal Minds: Evolution were “over” and thanked his fans for “[being] the absolute best.” The reasons behind his departure from the show aren’t currently clear, leaving many fans heartbroken at the thought of a possible character death in the show’s future.
Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 will begin filming sometime this month, executive produced by Messer with Breen Frazier, Chris Barbour, Glenn Kershaw and Mark Gordon. Season 1 is currently available on Paramount+, Pluto TV, and Hulu.
