Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner is a fictional character from the CBS crime drama series Criminal Minds, played by Thomas Gibson. The character is a Supervisory Special Agent within the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, and has appeared from the series' first episode, originally broadcast on September 22, 2005. Hotch begins the series married to his high school sweetheart Haley (Meredith Monroe).

They have a son named Jack (Cade Owens), though they later divorce over Hotch's dedication to his job. Haley Hotchner's character is later killed off in the 2009/2010 season. Gibson was cast as Hotch role having previously starred in the comedy series Dharma and Greg.

Of the transition to Criminal Minds, he explained: "It's very nice to do a little bit of the darkness after a little bit of the lightness. Variety is the spice of life. I enjoy both and hopefully I will be able to do as big a variety as I possibly can." Gibson's family live in San Antonio, Texas, while he commutes to Los Angeles to film Criminal Minds on a weekly basis, something he feels gives him an insight into Hotch's divided priorities.

Discussing the effect working in the BAU has on the agents' personal lives, Gibson opined: "I think it can't help but take some toll. And the first casualty may not be the agents themselves, but their families, spouses and children." Prior to Hotch and Haley's divorce, in a 2007 interview Gibson stated that he hoped the two would make their relationship last, explaining: "Marriage can certainly survive lots of hardships. You think about in real life the marriages that survive.

They certainly suffer...and I think it's going to be very interesting to see how they work it out because I know it's certainly taking its toll." Discussing the conflict between Hotch's career and home life, Gibson detailed: Gibson characterized Hotch as having "moments of levity", but continued: "Unfortunately, he has a very, very, probably-dusty-it's-so-dry sense of humor. It's pretty dark.

It's pretty bone dry. We all need a little levity, but I wouldn't necessarily look for him to break into song and dance. I think Hotch feels there's a lot at stake all the time." Prior to the departure of Mandy Patinkin's Jason Gideon from the series, Gibson described Gideon and Hotch as "an old married couple", deeming them father figures to the rest of the BAU and professional peers to one another.

Of Hotch's relationship with the rest of the BAU team, Gibson commented: Hotch first met his future wife Haley Brooks in high school. They married soon thereafter, and were initially happy together. Before joining the FBI, Hotch worked as a prosecutorE301 for the District Attorney's office.E319 He has a younger brother named Sean (Eric Johnson), a New York City-based chef.E116 Their father was a workaholic lawyer who survived cancer,E219 and suffered a heart attack aged 47, dying while Sean was still a child.E116 Upon joining the FBI, Hotch was initially assigned to the Field Office in Seattle, Washington, before transferring to Quantico, Virginia.

Similar to 0 things you like: