Matthew Gray Gubler facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Matthew Gray Gubler
Gubler in 2017
Born	(1980-03-09) March 9, 1980 (age 45) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Alma mater	New York University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2000–present

Matthew Gray Gubler (born March 9, 1980) is an American actor. He is most famous for playing Dr. Spencer Reid, a smart FBI agent, in the TV show Criminal Minds. He also directed some episodes of the show. Matthew has acted in movies like The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and 500 Days of Summer. He is also the voice of Simon in the Alvin and the Chipmunks movies.

Early Life and School

Matthew Gray Gubler was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 9, 1980. His mom, Marilyn, was a rancher and helped with politics. His dad, John, was a lawyer.

Matthew went to the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts for high school. He wanted to study filmmaking, but since it wasn't offered, he studied acting instead. Later, he went to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. There, he focused on directing films.

Career

Modeling Work

While Matthew was studying film at NYU, a model scout noticed him. He then worked as a model for famous brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Jacobs, and American Eagle. He was even listed as one of the top 50 male models.

Acting Roles

Gubler (far left) with other Criminal Minds cast members

After modeling, Matthew got an internship with director Wes Anderson. Wes encouraged him to try out for a part in his movie The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Matthew got the role of Nico, also known as Intern #1.

This led to him being cast in Criminal Minds in 2005. The show ran for 15 seasons, from 2005 to 2020. Matthew played Dr. Spencer Reid, a genius FBI profiler. This role made him very well-known and a favorite among fans. Criminal Minds won the People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Drama in 2017. Matthew did not appear in the show's reboot in 2022.

Matthew also played Joe Joe in the film RV (2006). He was the voice of Simon the chipmunk in all four Alvin and the Chipmunks movies (2007, 2009, 2011, and 2015). He also voiced Winsor in Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur (2011).

In 2014, Matthew acted in the zombie comedy Life After Beth and the film Suburban Gothic. For Suburban Gothic, he won the Screamfest Award for Best Actor.

He has also done voice work for animated superhero movies. He was the voice of Jimmy Olsen in All-Star Superman and The Riddler in Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014). Matthew has also appeared in films like Band of Robbers (2015) and Horse Girl (2020). He was also in the Hulu series Dollface in 2019.

Filmmaking and Directing

While working on The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Matthew made a documentary called Matthew Gray Gubler's Life Aquatic Intern Journal. This film showed what happened behind the scenes and was later included on the DVD.

He also directed and starred in a series of funny mockumentaries (fake documentaries) called Matthew Gray Gubler: the Unauthorized Documentary. In these, he made fun of Hollywood behavior. These were filmed while he was on the set of Criminal Minds. A follow-up, Matthew Gray Gubler: The Authorized Documentary, was also made.

Matthew directed, edited, and helped produce the music video for "Don't Shoot Me Santa" by the band The Killers. He also directed 12 episodes of Criminal Minds.

Painting and Art

In 2005, an art gallery in the Czech Republic showed 12 of Matthew's watercolor paintings, and they all sold. In 2008, his art was part of a group show in California. He also painted "Sandy The Mammoth" for the Western Heritage Museum & Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame. In 2010, his paintings were featured in Juxtapoz magazine.

In 2011, one of his original watercolor paintings, "Mushface," sold for over $10,000 on eBay. Matthew donated all the money to the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas. His paintings were also shown in an interview with BuzzFeed in 2013.

Writing Books

Matthew wrote and drew his first book, Rumple Buttercup: A Story of Bananas, Belonging and Being Yourself. It came out on April 2, 2019. Even though it's called a children's book, Matthew says it's for everyone who has ever felt like they don't quite fit in. He hoped the book would feel like a "136-page hug." He hand-wrote and hand-drew everything in the book. Within weeks, it became a #1 best-seller on the New York Times Best Seller list.

In 2023, his second book, The Little Kid with the Big Green Hand, was published. It also became a #1 best-seller on the New York Times Best Seller list.

Personal Life

Since 2009, Matthew has split his time between Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York City.

In 2009, while filming (500) Days of Summer, Matthew dislocated his knee while dancing. He needed three surgeries and used a cane for almost a year. This injury was even written into the script of Criminal Minds.

On October 27, 2014, Matthew became a certified minister. He then officiated (led) the wedding of Steve Damstra and his Criminal Minds co-star Paget Brewster on November 29, 2014.

Filmography

Film

Television

Miscellaneous

See also

In Spanish: Matthew Gray Gubler para niños