Matthew Gray Gubler

Matthew Gray Gubler – Life, Career, and Memorable Insights

Get to know Matthew Gray Gubler — actor, director, artist, and storyteller. Explore his biography, creative journey, major works (especially Criminal Minds), and his most resonant quotes and lessons.

Introduction

Matthew Gray Gubler (born March 9, 1980) is an American actor, director, author, visual artist, and multi-disciplinary creative whose work spans television, film, illustration, and storytelling. He is perhaps best known for his long-running role as Dr. Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds, but his creative life extends far beyond acting. With his quirky sensibility, devotion to imaginative expression, and willingness to straddle multiple artistic domains, Gubler has become a beloved and distinctive figure in contemporary entertainment.

Early Life and Family

Matthew Gray Gubler was born on March 9, 1980, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Growing up in Las Vegas, he was exposed to creative impulses early. For high school, Gubler attended the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, where he initially pursued filmmaking, though the school did not offer that as a focus, so he studied acting.

From his childhood onward, Gubler displayed a vivid imagination — drawing, telling stories, and experimenting with different forms of expression. His parents encouraged his curiosity and artistic leanings.

Youth and Education

After graduating from high school, Gubler went on to study at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he majored in film directing.

While at NYU, Gubler often appeared in student films and collaborated with peers. He has said that although he studied directing, he was also frequently tapped to act in student projects, eventually becoming a trusted “go-to” actor for many student filmmakers.

During his time in art school, Gubler was discovered by a modeling scout, which led to modeling work for fashion brands. This modeling exposure ran in parallel with his growing interest in film, illustration, and performing.

Career and Achievements

Breakthrough & Acting Career

One pivotal moment in Gubler’s early career was his internship with director Wes Anderson. While interning, he auditioned (or was guided to audition) for a small role in Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), landing the part of Nico (Intern #1). That role helped introduce him to the film world and set in motion further opportunities.

In 2005, Gubler was cast as Dr. Spencer Reid on the procedural crime drama Criminal Minds. He remained with the show from its debut and appeared in over 300 episodes across its 15 seasons.

During his Criminal Minds tenure, he also directed several episodes of the series, giving him a chance to flex his filmmaking skills from inside the show.

In addition to Criminal Minds, Gubler’s acting credits include:

• Portraying Paul in (500) Days of Summer (2009)

• Voicing Simon in Alvin and the Chipmunks (and sequels)

• Roles in films such as Life After Beth, Suburban Gothic, Newness, 68 Kill, Endings, Beginnings, Horse Girl, among others

• Voice work in animated projects (e.g. Batman: Assault on Arkham, All-Star Superman)

Also, in 2024, it was confirmed that Gubler will return for an episode in Criminal Minds: Evolution, reprising his iconic role as Reid.

Filmmaking, Directing, and Multimedia

Gubler has always seen himself as more than an actor. He has produced, directed, and edited various projects:

• He created Matthew Gray Gubler: The Unauthorized Documentary (and a follow-up Authorized Documentary) — playful, self-referential takes on Hollywood and his own persona.

• He directed the music video for “Don’t Shoot Me Santa” by The Killers, among other music video work.

• He has directed segments and episodes of Criminal Minds itself, blending his acting and directing roles.

• He has embraced visual art (particularly painting and illustration) as a parallel creative outlet. Several of his watercolors have been shown publicly and sold, sometimes for charity.

Writing & Illustration

In 2019, Gubler published his first book, Rumple Buttercup: A Story of Bananas, Belonging and Being Yourself. The entire work — both text and illustrations — is hand-drawn or handwritten by him (including even the bar code). The book was a New York Times #1 Best Seller in its category.

In 2023, he released The Little Kid with the Big Green Hand, another illustrated collaboration, which also reached #1 in its New York Times category.

Through his books, Gubler aimed to create works that feel like hugs — affirming for those who feel a bit out of place.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Gubler’s casting in Criminal Minds came at a time when ensemble crime dramas were dominating network television, and his portrayal of a socially awkward genius helped make complex, vulnerable characters more mainstream in procedural genres.

• His dual role as actor and director on the same series reflects a more recent trend in television where actors step behind the camera to shape episodes from within.

• His success in independent publishing, illustrated children’s books, and varied multimedia shows how modern creatives often cross media boundaries rather than staying in a single lane.

• His return to Criminal Minds: Evolution indicates enduring fan interest and the power of iconic character legacy in serialized storytelling.

Legacy and Influence

Matthew Gray Gubler’s influence lies in:

• Genre blending & creative hybridity: He resists being pigeonholed as just an actor or just a director, showing how one can fluidly inhabit multiple artistic roles.

• Empathy through eccentricity: His characters and creative works often celebrate “weirdness” or difference, making those traits feel rich and human rather than marginalized.

• Visual storytelling in performance: With his interests in film, illustration, and design, Gubler brings a strong sense of visual composition and tone to both his acting and directing.

• Encouraging inclusion: His books and public voice speak to those who feel outside the norm, letting readers and fans see that difference can be a gift.

His legacy may grow strongest in how he inspires others to reject division between “serious” and “fun,” or between different creative media, and to pursue story across forms.

Personality and Talents

From interviews, public remarks, and his creative output, the following traits and talents stand out:

• Quirky sensitivity: Gubler embraces oddness and often uses humor and strangeness to open pathways into deeper emotional truth.

• Work ethic & humility: Despite his success, he often credits luck, opportunity, and collaboration. He has openly acknowledged gratitude mixed with guilt for the fortunate breaks he’s had.

• Curiosity and playfulness: Whether directing, illustrating, modeling, or writing, he seems to enjoy exploring new modes of expression.

• Emotional authenticity: In interviews, he emphasizes doing work aligned with his heart (e.g. when acting) versus purely technical craft (e.g. directing).

• Empathy for the outsider: Many of his public statements suggest he sees himself as someone who didn’t always fit, and he cherishes the role of art in giving voice to those who feel unseen.

Gubler also owns a delightfully eccentric side: in a 2015 Vanity Fair profile, he revealed that he keeps curiosities such as a friend’s wisdom teeth, or the screw from his knee surgery, in his “haunted tree house” — part of his personal aesthetic of the strange and poetic.

Famous Quotes of Matthew Gray Gubler

Here are some of his more evocative and memorable statements, which reflect his values, creative mindset, and worldview:

“I get very little sleep. But I try to stay constantly busy. My fear is that if I stop working I’ll, like, die. So throughout my life I’ve always tried to remain busy …” “To me, the music is the wrapping paper on that world.” “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.” “I really cite Walt Disney as teaching me everything I know. … In ‘Bambi,’ the mother dies, but you don’t see the corpse … you see ‘Bambi’ alone … and that has so much more impact.” “I just love entertaining. I will do anything — stand-up comedy, video games, fencing, internet shorts — I just want to keep being lucky enough to entertain people anyway I can. I try never to limit my art to a medium.” “When I’m directing I’m working from 100% of my brain, but when I’m acting I’m working from my heart.” “If you’re lucky enough to find a weird — never let them go.” “My parents instilled a very strong work ethic in me from a young age, fortunately.”

These quotes highlight the tension he often mentions between reason and emotion, discipline and play, and the belief that creativity needs freedom, risk, and persistence.

Lessons from Matthew Gray Gubler

1. Don’t limit your medium
   Gubler’s career shows that you don’t have to pick a single creative lane. Acting, directing, illustrating, writing—they can feed one another.

2. Let passion carry you through doubt
   He often speaks of surprise, gratitude, and imposter feelings; yet he persists, using those emotions as fuel rather than deterrents.

3. Authenticity in oddness
   Embrace what makes you strange. Gubler shows that uniqueness can be a strength, not a flaw.

4. Emotional connection over perfection
   His statement about acting from the heart hints that some of the best work comes from vulnerability, not pristine polish.

5. Creative work is also life work
   His desire to entertain, comfort, challenge, and make people feel seen reflects that art is a form of caring, not just showmanship.

6. Gratitude and humility matter
   Even in success, Gubler frequently acknowledges luck, mentorship, and collaborative support, reminding us that no one succeeds alone.

Conclusion

Matthew Gray Gubler is more than a memorable face on television — he is a storyteller in the broadest sense. From his iconic portrayal of Spencer Reid to his illustrated books, visual art, and behind-the-scenes direction, he shows us that creativity is expansive, generous, and deeply human. His life teaches that embracing one’s quirks, working with humility, and following one’s heart can yield a unique and resonant legacy.

If you’d like, I can dig deeper into Criminal Minds episodes he directed, or analyze his books and art in more depth. Would you like me to do that?