When most people hear the name of Matthew Gray Gubler, they instantly start thinking about Dr. Spencer Reid, the brilliant profiler from Criminal Minds. Here, he definitely stole everyone’s hearts with his intelligence and unmatched memory. But what many might have forgotten is that Gubler has a whole other franchise under his belt.

Yes, the Criminal Minds legend voiced Simon, the bespectacled chipmunk in all four Alvin and the Chipmunks movies. While these movies have received a mixed bag of reviews from critics, they were box office hits, and Gubler’s role was a big part of the fun.

Matthew Gray Gubler won everyone over with his role of Dr. Spencer Reid in Criminal Minds and played the character for all 15 seasons from 2005 to 2020. But what often gets overlooked is that at the time when he was solving crimes on television, he was also voicing a very different character in one of Hollywood’s most unexpected franchises.

Believe it or not, Gubler was the voice of Simon – the smart chipmunk with glasses in all four Alvin and the Chipmunks movies. From 2007’s Alvin and the Chipmunks to 2015’s The Road Chip, he carried a blockbuster series that made kids and families laugh all over the world.

And here’s the twist – the actor was actually a fan of the Chipmunks long before he even stepped into the franchise. In an interview via Page Six, he shared how excited he was to get the role and even called it a dream come true. He also said,

The minute I got the phone call, it was like “holy heck yes!” Actors talk about dreaming of playing Othello, but for me, it’s Simon. It’s the biggest deal to me – even the older records from the ’50s, they have my heart and to be a part of that legend is mind blowing.

Though he admits he’s not much of a singer, his passion for the role was very real. So, yes, the guy who could break down a serial killer’s psyche in Criminal Minds also spent years helping Simon, Alvin, and Theodore get out of wild adventures. And while it’s often a forgotten part of his career, it totally deserves more credit.

While this is definitely impressive, what’s also making his fans happy is that after taking a short break, he’s all set to return back on the CBS Network in not one but two shows.

After taking a brief hiatus from CBS, actor Matthew Gray Gubler is making a major return, and he’s doing not just one, but two shows. Fans of Criminal Minds are thrilled to hear that he will be returning as Dr. Spencer Reid in the upcoming third season of the reboot, Criminal Minds: Evolution.

While this comeback is still on the way, Gubler might be appearing on our screens even sooner in an all-new crime series called Einstein. This show was announced for the first time in late 2024, and things are moving quickly. According to Collider, filming for the pilot episode has officially wrapped up, and the early reviews have been quite positive.

In Einstein, the actor plays the role of Lew Einstein, a Princeton professor who also happens to be the great-grandson of Albert Einstein. While Gubler is currently the only actor announced, more casting news is expected soon.

But fans are already happy, as they’d get to see Gubler’s acting chops once again after a while.