Paget Brewster Departing 'Criminal Minds' at Season's End

After seven seasons, and her character's faked death, the actress is making a final break from the CBS series.

11:00 AM PST 2/15/2012 by THR Staff

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Criminal Minds Paget Brewster EP Valhalla - P 2012

Adam Larkey/CBS

Paget Brewster is leaving Criminal Minds -- and this time, it's permanent.

The 42-year-old actress took a temporary break from the hit procedural in 2011, but CBS confirms to The Hollywood Reporter that she will officially end her run at the conclusion of the current season.

Her character, Emily Prentiss, originally exited the series last year, when it was revealed she faked her death, but Brewster and co-star A.J. Cook returned as series regulars during the current season.

Criminal Minds has enjoyed a healthy audience since premiering on CBS in 2005. It's current season-to-date average hovers just over 14 million viewers.

Brewster, who joined the series in the middle of the second season, also starred in Andy Richter Controls the Universe and Showtime's Huff and started her career with a memorable arc on Friends.