Matthew Gray Gubler
Age: 44
Birthplace: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Matthew Gray Gubler (born March 9, 1980) is an American actor, director, fashion model and painter. He is best known for his role as criminal profiler Dr. Spencer Reid in the CBS television show Criminal Minds (2005-present), of which he has also directed nine episodes. Gubler has appeared in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, (500) Days of Summer, Life After Beth, Suburban Gothic, and as the voice of Simon in Alvin and the Chipmunks and its four sequels.
Early life
Gubler was born on March 9, 1980, in Las Vegas, Nevada, the son of Marilyn (née Kelch), a rancher and political consultant, and John Gubler, an attorney. Gubler is a high school graduate of the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Visual and Performing Arts, where he majored in acting, because the school did not offer his first choice, Filmmaking. He is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he majored in film directing.
Career
Modeling
While at NYU film school, Gubler was found by a model scout and then worked as a model with DNA Model Management for Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Jacobs, and American Eagle, among others. He was ranked 46th on models.com list of top 50 male models.
Acting
After he began modeling, Gubler had an internship with Wes Anderson, who encouraged him to audition for a part in his movie The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Gubler did, and landed the role of Nico (a.k.a. Intern #1). This then led in 2005 to his leading role as Dr. Spencer Reid in Criminal Minds.
Gubler had a small role in the film RV (2006) as the disreputable Joe Joe. He voiced the character of Simon (the smart Chipmunk) in Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007), Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009), Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011), and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2015) alongside Jason Lee (Dave), Justin Long (Alvin), and Jesse McCartney (Theodore). He appeared as Bart, the main character, in How to Be a Serial Killer (2008) and as Paul in (500) Days of Summer (2009). He provided the voice of Winsor in Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur (2011). He has also provided on/off voice-work for Bagdasarian Productions (regarding the character Simon), whenever Ross Bagdasarian Jr. was unable to voice the character himself. This is most notable in the episode "Who's The Animal?".
In 2014 Gubler acted in the zombie comedy Life After Beth and the film Suburban Gothic, for which he received the Screamfest Award for Best Actor.
Gubler has done voice work for the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line. He played Jimmy Olsen in All-Star Superman and voices The Riddler in the animated film: Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014).
Filmmaking
While making The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Gubler made a documentary titled Matthew Gray Gubler's Life Aquatic Intern Journal, a behind-the-scenes view of the making of the film, which was later included in The Criterion Collection DVD release. He has directed and starred in a series of self-deprecating mockumentaries named Matthew Gray Gubler: the Unauthorized Documentary in which he parodies Hollywood behavior, which are filmed while on the set of Criminal Minds. A follow-up "Matthew Gray Gubler: The Authorized Documentary" was also made, although only one episode is currently available.
Gubler directed, edited, and co-produced the music video for "Don't Shoot Me Santa" by the rock band The Killers.
Gubler directed the Criminal Minds Season 5 episode "Mosley Lane" (5x16), which originally aired March 3, 2010, along with the episode "Lauren" (6x18), which aired a year later on March 16, 2011. The episode "Lauren" included the exit of Criminal Minds series regular Paget Brewster, who maintains a friendship with Gubler outside of work on the show. Brewster specifically asked Gubler to direct her last episode, although it was announced later that she would return for Season 7. Gubler has since directed the Criminal Minds episodes "Heathridge Manor" (7x19), which aired April 4, 2012, "The Lesson" (8x10), which aired December 5, 2012, "Alchemy" (8x20), "Gatekeeper"(9x7), "Blood Relations" (9x20) and "Mr. Scratch" (10x21). He recently directed Derek Morgan's departure from the BAU in episode "A Beautiful Disaster. (11x18).
Painting
Since 2005, Gubler has been posting paintings on his website. His media include watercolor, gouache, oil, and pastel. In September 2005, the Gallery of Fine Art in Ostrava, Czech Republic, held a showing of 12 watercolors by Gubler; all the works were sold. On September 6, 2008, his art was featured in a group show entitled "Paper Cuts" at The Little Bird art gallery in Atwater Village, California. Gubler contributed a painting of "Sandy The Mammoth" to the Western Heritage Museum & Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame. In July 2010, his paintings were featured in Juxtapoz magazine.
In October 2011 an original watercolor by Gubler entitled "Mushface" was sold at auction site eBay for $10,100. Gubler donated the proceeds to the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas.
Gubler's paintings were highlighted in a 2013 interview with BuzzFeed.
Personal life
Gubler divides his time among Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York City.
In 2009, Gubler dislocated his knee while dancing. The injury required three surgical procedures and the use of a cane for nearly a year.
On October 27, 2014, Gubler became an ordained minister. He performed the wedding of former Criminal Minds star Paget Brewster and his best friend, Steve Damstra, on November 29, 2014.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, TheThe Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou | Intern #1 | |
2006 | RV | Joe Joe | |
2007 | Alvin and the Chipmunks | Simon Seville | Voice |
2008 | Great Buck Howard, TheThe Great Buck Howard | Russell | |
2008 | How to Be a Serial Killer | Bart | |
2009 | (500) Days of Summer | Paul | |
2009 | Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel | Simon Seville | Voice |
2010 | Ugly Life of a Beautiful Girl, TheThe Ugly Life of a Beautiful Girl | Ziggy | |
2011 | All-Star Superman | Jimmy Olsen | Voice |
2011 | Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur | Winsor | Voice |
2011 | Magic Valley | Mok | |
2011 | Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked | Simon Seville | Voice |
2012 | Excision | Mr. Claybaugh | |
2014 | Life After Beth | Kyle Orfman | |
2014 | Suburban Gothic | Raymond | Screamfest Award for Best Actor |
2014 | Hot Air | Filming | |
2014 | Batman: Assault on Arkham | Edward Nygma/The Riddler | Voice |
2015 | Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip | Simon Seville | Voice |
2015 | Band of Robbers | Joe Harper | |
2016 | Trash Fire | Caleb | |
2016 | 68 Kill | Chip |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2005-present | Criminal Minds | Dr. Spencer Reid | Main role (252 episodes) |
2011 | Celebrity Ghost Stories | Himself | Season 3 Episode 4 |
2012 | Beauty Inside, TheThe Beauty Inside | Alex #26 / Alex #46 | Season 1 Episode 3+4 Daytime Emmy New Approaches Original Daytime Program or Series |
2016 | @midnight | Himself |
Other
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2005 | Claude: A Symphony of Horror | Director |
2005 | Matthew Gray Gubler's Life Aquatic Intern Journal | Editor, cinematographer, producer, writer, director |
2005 | Cactus That Looked Just Like a Man, TheThe Cactus That Looked Just Like a Man | Editor, cinematographer, producer, writer, director |
2006 | Matthew Gray Gubler: The Unauthorized Documentary | Producer, writer (concept), director |
2006 | Reagan | Whirlwind Heat's music video - director |
2007 | Don't Shoot Me Santa | The Killers music video - director, editor, co-producer |
2010-present | Criminal Minds |
Director (9 episodes)
"Mosley Lane" (Season 5, episode 16) "Lauren" (Season 6, episode 18) "Heathridge Manor" (Season 7, episode 19) "The Lesson" (Season 8, episode 10) "Alchemy" (Season 8, episode 20) "Gatekeeper" (Season 9, episode 7) "Blood Relations" (Season 9, episode 20) "Mr. Scratch" (Season 10, episode 21) "A Beautiful Disaster" (Season 11, episode 18) |
2015 | Dirt Sledding | The Killers music video - director |