THE BAU IS CALLED TO TEXAS TO SEARCH FOR AN ESCAPED KILLER KNOWN AS "THE SILENCER" AS THE TEAM WELCOMES ITS NEWEST MEMBER INTO THE FOLD, ON THE EIGHTH SEASON PREMIERE OF "CRIMINAL MINDS," WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 26

Emmy Award-Nominated Actress Jeanne Tripplehorn Joins the Cast as Linguistics Expert Alex Blake

"The Silencer" - When a Texas prisoner escapes during a transfer, he leaves behind victims with his unique trademark, sewing their mouths shut, a signature the BAU remembers as unique to the UnSub "The Silencer." While they investigate who he was and who he's become, the BAU also gets to know the newest member of the team, on the eighth season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 26 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Emmy Award-nominated actress Jeanne Tripplehorn joins the cast as linguistics expert Alex Blake, the newest member of the BAU team.

SERIES REGULARS:

Joe Mantegna (David Rossi)
Thomas Gibson (Aaron Hotchner)
Shemar Moore (Derek Morgan)
Matthew Gray Gubler (Dr. Spencer Reid)
A.J. Cook (Jennifer "JJ" Jareau)
Kirsten Vangsness (Penelope Garcia)
Jeanne Tripplehorn (Alex Blake)

GUEST CAST:

Jayne Atkinson (FBI Section Chief Director Erin Strauss)
Troy Michael Kotsur (John Myers)
Sam Hennings (Marshall John Tilghman)
Ray Mirabal (Mitch Gregory)
Tracy Fraim (Kevin Jenson)
Julia Silverman (Dr. Janine Ainsworth)
Matt Beck (Tyler Parker)
Brian Slaten (Danny Tucker)
Meagan Campbell (Laura Tucker)
Bianca D'Ambrosio (Kelly Tucker)
Jessica Ires Morris (Julie Myers)
Kayla Tabish (Girl at Rest Stop)
Aidan Collins (Young James)
Jarrod Bailey (Teenage James)

WRITTEN BY: Erica Messer, one of the series' executive producers

DIRECTED BY: Glenn Kershaw

RATING: To Be Announced