Criminal Minds is a long-time beloved police drama that has fans gushing over several memorable characters, including Jeanne Tripplehorn’s ‘Alex Blake.’ Tripplehorn’s character made her debut in season 8, replacing Paget Brewster’s Emily Prentiss in the BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit) of the FBI.
Before making her official debut on the crime drama series, Blake was a professor at Georgetown University. Her highlight was getting hired by the FBI at just 24 years old due to her expertise in linguistics. Her university is where Spencer, David Rossi, and Aaron Hotchner met Blake for the first time before she joined them at the BAU.
Although her character had profound significance in the story due to her skill as a ‘Forensic Linguistics Expert,’ she left the show at the end of season 9. Fans were quite perplexed by her sudden decision—turns out, it wasn’t sudden.
Back when she debuted in season 8, Tripplehorn revealed that she signed a two-year contract with CBS for Criminal Minds. Per TV Guide, Tripplehorn chose to leave the series because she didn’t want to renew her contract when it ended. The actress reportedly wanted to leave the series to pursue other endeavors.
What happened to Jeanne Tripplehorn's character at the end of Criminal Minds Season 9?
Showrunner Erica Messer knew of Tripplehorn’s departure from the series and hence discussed her character’s fate in advance. Speaking to the publication, Messer recalled the kind of conclusion Tripplehorn wanted, saying,
“We landed on this (conversation) and Jeanne wasn’t interested in a big flashy exit episode.”
Messer continued to explain how they both concocted the perfect exit for Alex Blake in the penultimate episode of season 9, which was split into two parts. Since things were already quite intense for Alex, events from Part 1 were more than enough to convince her to return to her teaching job.
In episodes 23 and 24, Alex and the team were investigating a string of murders in Texas. Working the case seemed to reopen several old wounds including the time Spencer Reid got shot in the line of duty while attempting to save her. In addition, she was also reminded about the death of her son Ethan which weighed down heavily on her.
With several triggers and practical nightmares, Tripplehorn’s character made her decision to leave the FBI and return to her previous job. At the end of Criminal Minds Season 9, we see Alex leaving her badge with Reid, calling it quits on a career with the crime-fighting unit.
Where is Jeanne Tripplehorn from Criminal Minds now?
After her exit from Criminal Minds in 2013, Tripplehorn pursued the project that further propelled her career: Mrs. America. She went on to land the role of ‘Eleanor Schlafly,’ in 2020 and delivered an incredible performance.
Tripplehorn starred alongside the bigwigs of Hollywood like Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson, Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, and several others, earning high praise. Some of her other remarkable shows include The Gilded Age, The Terminal List, and Undone.
Over the years, she’s also made appearances in an array of movies like The Perfect Man, the film she starred in the same year as her exit from Criminal Minds. Other highlights include The Firm, Micky Blue Eyes, and Gloria Bell.
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