Does Josh Stewart's Will die in Criminal Minds? Character's fate and star's exit, explored

Josh Regnall Stewart played Detective William 'Will' LaMontage, a recurring character in Criminal Minds. After nearly two decades, Josh Stewart, in January 2024, declared his exit from the show.

Josh Stewart's character, Detective Will, was absent throughout Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2. When SSA Jennifer Jareau, his wife, was asked about her husband's whereabouts, she replied he was stacked up with work. As per Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 Josh Stewart's Detective Will is not dead. However, his absence from Season 2, cancer scare in Season 1, and most importantly Stewart's departure from the show have left viewers worried about Detective Will's fate.

Josh debuted in the second season, in an episode called 'Jones', investigating a serial killer case that involved his father. While solving the case, he took help from BAU, where he first met SSA Jennifer Jareau, and soon the two started dating. In Season 3 of Criminal Minds, SSA Jennifer Jareau and Will's relationship progressed as JJ became pregnant with their child in the Episode 'The Crossing'.

However, after several ups and downs, in Criminal Minds, Season 7, part finale episode Hit and Run, stuck in a life and death tense situation, JJ and Will understood their feelings for each other. They got married by the end of the episode. However, in the revival series by Paramount+, Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 1 Episode 4 Pay Per View, Will revealed to JJ that his health check-up for insurance did not go well and the doctors were guessing a life-threatening cancer.

Criminal Minds is an American police procedural show based on FBI profilers in the BAU unit whose job is to hunt down criminals by analyzing their behavior. Created by Jeff Davis, the CBS show aired from 2005 to 2020. When CBS dropped the show, Paramount+ picked it up and rebranded it as Criminal Minds: Evolution which debuted on November 24, 2022.

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Why did Josh Stewart leave Criminal Minds?

Josh Stewart declared his exit from the show via a X post. While he has not mentioned any reason for his departure, it may be due to new career opportunities or a contract end. Ahead of the release of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2 on January 18, 2024, quoting a post he wrote,

"No, sadly, my days of playing Will LaMontage Jr. are over. You guys have been the absolute best."

After nearly two decades of playing Detective Will LaMontage in Criminal Minds,

Criminal Minds' showrunner Erica Messer opened up about not casting Josh Stewart for Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 2. In an interview with TVLine she said,

"We tried to make it work for this year and it just didn't work out. We love Will, JJ loves Will.. and that's always a part of her world and her character."

When Erica Messer was asked about JJ mentioning Will being busy with work in the season 2. She revealed to TVLine,

"Yeah again, not much time has passed and this season is like six weeks of story. It's just a blip in everybody's life."

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Erica Messer revealed the circumstances of Detective Will's exit. She said,

"We tried to make a deal and it didn't happen and that's all I really know. It's not really an issue this season, but moving forward we have to acknowledge that in some way. We didn't have any plans to write him out, so if we get future seasons, we'll have to acknowledge that."

Thus, the viewers can expect their favourite character, Detective Will's fate to unravel in Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3.

Ahead of the release of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 3 on May 8, 2025, the show has been renewed for a fourth season. Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 4 might be released in 2026 or 2027.

Read More: Paramount+ shares a major update on 'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Season 4 ahead of Season 3 premiere

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