Summary
Joe Mantegna’s daughter, Gia Mantegna, appears inCriminal Mindsas a notable character. In the15 seasons ofCriminal Minds, and one season ofCriminal Minds Evolution, dozens of guest stars have featured in the series, either as unsubs or as come-and-go members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI. Even the daughter of one of the series' most popular actors makes an appearance, and a relatively long one at that for a guest star. Joe Mantegna plays David Rossi, the senior supervisory special agent who first appeared in season 3.
A mainstay of bothCriminal MindsandtheCriminal Minds Evolutioncast, Rossi was one of the original members of the BAU and a highly experienced profiler. He left the department for a few years to write books but returned in 2007 after SSA Jason Gideon’s (Mandy Patinkin) departure. Unlike the more staid and cerebral members of the team, Rossi is extroverted and abrasive, fond of old-fashioned police work rather than new technology. Mantegna’s character adds a crucial energy to the series and his daughter brought that same spirit when she appeared in her episodes.
25 Criminal Minds Episodes Based On Real Cases
There are Criminal Minds episodes that are both reasonably straight copies of real killers as well as episodes using real-life cases as a reference.
Gia Mantegna Played Assassin Lindsey Vaughn In Four Criminal Minds Episodes
Lindsey Vaughn Is A Victim Turned Unsub
Gia Mantegna first appears as Lindsey Vaughn inCriminal Mindsseason 3, episode 12, “3rd Life”.Lindsey is the daughter of Jack (Fredric Lehne), a notorious hitman. In the episode, Lindsey and her friend Kate (Hayley McFarland) are abducted and sexually assaulted, and Kate is killed before Jack arrives to murder the attackers. As an important witness in another case, Jack and Lindsey are sent to Atlanta, Georgia to begin again, and that appears to be the end of that.
In the time between entering witness protection and her reemergence, Lindsey donned a blonde wig, began a career as a hit woman, and became romantically involved with Cat.
However, nine seasons later,Lindsey reappears in season 12, episode 20, “Unforgettable”, as a member of a gang of international assassins led by Cat Adams (Aubrey Plaza). In the time between entering witness protection and her reemergence, Lindsey donned a blonde wig, began a career as a hit woman, and became romantically involved with Cat.
Lindsey preferred the same weapon her father Jack used in his hits, a .50-caliber IMI Desert Eagle handgun.
Despite the years between performances, Mantegna ensures the character feels the same across seasons, though hardened over time. Mantegna’s performance and the character’s sexuality are nuanced, and Lindsey is not a caricature. She is one of the few unsubs to be a victim in an early season only to return as a criminal. It goes to show how the BAU’s decisions have long-lasting effects years after they’re made.
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Gia Mantegna Also Appeared In The Middle & 13 Going On 30
Mantegna Has Appeared In Many Notable TV Shows And Movies
Gia Mantegna also has notable roles in the TV showThe Middleas Devin Levin and in the movie13 Going on 30as Gina. Both characters are much more innocent than Lindsey Vaughn, who’s a violent murderer. InThe Middle, Devin is Axl Heck’s (Charlie McDermott) girlfriend from seasons 6-8, whom Axl initially does not like, while Gina is one of the girls that adult Jenna (Jennifer Garner) has a sleepover with in13 Going on 30. Mantega also appears inUnaccompanied Minors,Gigantic, andUnder the Dome.
Under the Dome (2015)
Joe Mantegna Was Proud Of Gia’s Criminal Minds Performance
Matthew Gray Gubler Was Also Impressed With His Co-stars' Acting
Fans were delighted with Gia’s portrayal of Lindsey Vaughn, as was her father and co-stars. In an interview withAssignmentX, Joe Mantegna said,
She [Gia] can play a lesbian lover/murderer like nobody’s business. She had. I thought it was interesting that they decided to find out what happens with the daughter of a hit man, who when you last saw her was telling her father, ‘Kill him, Daddy,’ which kind of flipped him [Spencer] out at the time. It took him three episodes to recover from that."
Matthew Gray Gubler, who plays Spencer Reid, said,
“Oh, yeah. And Gia Mantegna, incredibly talented. She’s very talented. She takes after someone in her family. She was a fan favorite, and we were so happy to have her back.”
While Joe would probably be expected to have laudatory things to say about his daughter, Gubler’s appreciation for Gia’s performance inCriminal Mindsis a good sign that the rest of the cast and crew were glad to have her on board, if only for a short time.
Criminal Minds
Cast
Criminal Minds follows an elite team of FBI profilers from the Behavioral Analysis Unit as they analyze the nation’s most complex criminal minds, led by experienced agent David Rossi. The team works to anticipate and prevent crimes by understanding the behavior of these dangerous individuals.
