The Criminal Minds Character Everyone Forgets Luke Perry Played

During Episode 3 of "Criminal Minds" Season 4, titled "Minimal Loss," we are introduced to an incredibly intense situation. Prentiss and Reid have gone undercover to investigate alleged child abuse at a cult gathering in Colorado, but they are quickly put into a hostage situation after a Colorado State Police raid on their location goes terribly wrong. Prentiss and Reid are then held captive by the cult's leader, Luke Perry's Benjamin Cyrus. It is quickly revealed by the superb acting performance from Perry that Cyrus is a clever, angry, and troubled person. He proceeds to hold the entire convent hostage as well and ends up beating up Prentiss for being an FBI agent.

After multiple refusals during negotiations, law enforcement and the BAU are eventually able to get Cyrus to surrender — although he rigged the entire building to explode. Morgan ends up killing Cyrus and both the BAU members and all of the children are brought to safety, but Cyrus's adolescent wife grabs the detonator and kills herself and every remaining cult member in the building. It was a traumatic and tragic ending for the entire BAU team.

Perry would go on to guest star in many other shows and eventually land a recurring role in "Riverdale," which he stayed with until his untimely death in March of 2019 after suffering a stroke (via CNN).