Criminal Minds, a long-running CBS crime drama, has featured numerous guest appearances. Kirsten Vangsness played FBI Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia and shared how she brought Tim Curry to the show.
Vangsness told People magazine that naming her favorite celebrity guests is challenging: “Tim Curry? Impossible. He’s just Tim Curry.” She elaborated by saying, “But there have been so many.”
Vangsness recalled an encounter at the gym where she heard a voice say, “I worship at your throne,” which was immediately followed by Tim Curry’s signature catchphrase. “It was Tim Curry,” she said. “I was like, ‘Whose voice is that?’ And it was him!”
She continued, “Tim Curry came to me and said he loved her on the show. I replied with a genuine ‘Thanks, you too!’ That’s when they decided to put him on the show.”
Vangsness mentioned joining the cast in 2005 as a recurring character but became a mainstay until the final season in 2020. Notably, Curry had no idea he was being featured; Vangsness felt responsible for his appearance despite not knowing he watched the show.
This episode highlights how personal connections and unexpected encounters can lead to memorable guest appearances on popular TV shows.