While studying film at NYU, Gubler was discovered by a model scout and then worked as a model with DNA Model Management for Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Jacobs, and American Eagle,[5] among others. He has been ranked 46th on models.com's list of top 50 male models.[6]
Acting
After he began modeling, Gubler had an internship with Wes Anderson, who encouraged him to audition for a part in his movie The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Gubler did, and landed the role of Nico (a.k.a. Intern #1). This led, in 2005, to Gubler being cast in Criminal Minds.[5]Criminal Minds ran from 2005 to 2020,[7] and Gubler performed in all 15 seasons.[8][9] Gubler played the starring role of Dr. Spencer Reid,[8] a genius FBI profiler;[10] Gubler is best known for playing this role[9] and was regarded as a fan favorite.[8][11][12]Criminal Minds won the 2017 People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Drama.[13] Gubler did not appear in the 2022 reboot of the series.[8]
While making The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Gubler made a documentary titled Matthew Gray Gubler's Life Aquatic Intern Journal, a behind-the-scenes view of the making of the film, which was later included in The Criterion Collection DVD release.[15] He directed and starred in a series of self-deprecating mockumentaries titled Matthew Gray Gubler: the Unauthorized Documentary[16][better source needed] in which he parodiesHollywood behavior, which were filmed on the set of Criminal Minds. A follow-up, Matthew Gray Gubler: The Authorized Documentary, was also made.[3][16][17]
Gubler's paintings were highlighted in a 2013 interview with BuzzFeed.[23]
Writing
Gubler wrote and illustrated his first book, Rumple Buttercup: A Story of Bananas, Belonging and Being Yourself, which was released on April 2, 2019.[24] It is published as a children's book, but Gubler says it is for all ages, "for anyone who's ever felt like they didn't quite fit in, just to make them know that they're not alone... My hope in writing the book was to find a way to give the world a 136-page hug." He hand-wrote or hand-drew everything in the book – "every single word, every single illustration, including the bar code and the lengthy copyright page."[25] Within weeks of its release, the book was ranked #1 in its category on the New York Times Best Seller list.[26]
In 2023 The Little Kid with the Big Green Hand was published and was again ranked #1 in its category on the New York Times Best Seller list[27]
In 2009, while filming (500) Days of Summer in Los Angeles, Gubler dislocated his knee while out dancing. The injury required three surgical procedures and the use of a cane for nearly a year, which was written into the script of Criminal Minds.[29]
On October 27, 2014, Gubler became a certified minister[30] and officiated at the wedding of Steve Damstra and Gubler's Criminal Minds co-star Paget Brewster on November 29, 2014.[31][32][better source needed]