Right now, Shemar Moore is killing it as Hondo on SWAT Exiles, but before that (and before the mothership, SWAT) he took on the role of FBI Agent Derek Morgan on Criminal Minds.
He was one of the original cast members, appearing in 251 episodes of the show. There are always questions about whether he could return, and he’s certainly never said “no.” It’s all a matter of time, schedule, and storyline. After all, when he walked, it wasn’t on bad terms.
Why Shemar Moore Left ‘Criminal Minds’
Moore stepped away for professional reasons, exiting the show in March 2016. He wanted to move onto other projects and focus on creative growth, while also looking at having more time for his personal life.
He was always open about his exit, making it clear that it was not a show decision. He just believed that his character had gone as far as it could, and it was time to do something different.
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He quickly walked into another project, showing that walking away after 11 seasons was worth the risk. He took on the lead role of Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson on CBS’s SWAT, which ran for eight seasons, also taking on a producer role. He helped to save the series from cancellation at the end of Season 6, and after its final cancellation in Season 8, he found a way to keep Hondo going with SWAT Exiles.
Outside of work, he also started a family. In 2020, he reconnected with actress and model Jesiree Dizon after the passing of his mother. They had a baby, Frankie, in January 2023.
What Happened to Derek Morgan on ‘Criminal Minds’
To make sure the door was open for Moore to return and to honor the beloved character, Morgan was written out of Criminal Minds with an epic and personal storyline. Shortly before his exit, he was captured and horrifically tortured by an UnSub, and everyone worried that the show would kill off the character.
However, he was able to escape the ordeal, killing his tormentors and getting back to focusing on his family. After all, he had a wife, Savannah, and their unborn child to get back to. Just two episodes later, Savannah was shot.
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She survived, giving birth to their son Hank, and Morgan realized that it was time to move into a different field of work. He knew his line of work wasn’t safe for his family, so he opted to quit the BAU.
Moore has already returned a couple of times. The first time was during Criminal Minds Season 13, when he helped give Garcia some emotional support on a traumatic case. Then, over the course of the next two seasons, he had brief appearances via flashbacks and dream sequences. The door is open for him to return on Criminal Minds: Evolution, but schedules need to work out.
For now, you can catch Moore on SWAT Exiles on Fridays on Starz.