NCIS’s Pauley Perrette and Criminal Minds’ Kirsten Vangsness: Inside Their Surprising Relationship – See the New Photo!
NCIS star Pauley Perrette and Criminal Minds actress Kirsten Vangsness have been close friends for decades, and their bond remains strong. The duo recently attended Sarah McLachlan’s 30th-anniversary concert for her album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy at the Hollywood Bowl in June. Kirsten shared a rare glimpse into their friendship by posting a photo of them at the show, alongside an older picture of them in a similar pose. “This is our traditional pose of sisterhood,” Kirsten captioned the post, showing Pauley with her arms wrapped around Kirsten’s shoulders from behind.
Pauley and Kirsten both had long runs on their respective hit CBS series, with Pauley portraying Abby Sciuto on NCIS starting in 2003 and Kirsten playing Penelope Garcia on Criminal Minds starting in 2005. Pauley departed from NCIS in 2018, while Criminal Minds was canceled in 2020 but later revived in 2023 as Criminal Minds: Evolution, with Kirsten reprising her role.
Their friendship deepened over the years as they frequently crossed paths at CBS events. Pauley also shares a friendship with Kirsten’s Criminal Minds co-star, Matthew Gray Gubler. In a 2009 interview, the three jokingly suggested a crossover episode, imagining Penelope and Abby as best friends from school and Matthew’s character, Dr. Spencer Reid, as a former classmate of Abby’s at MIT.
While they never guest-starred on each other’s shows, Kirsten and Pauley have supported each other in meaningful ways. Kirsten appeared on Pauley’s record “Beautiful Child,” which aimed to prevent suicide among LGBTQ youth through The Trevor Project. They also participated in an “It Gets Better” PSA for the same cause. In 2013, they presented together at the Streamy Awards, where they humorously challenged themselves to hold hands throughout their time on stage, even while opening an envelope. Backstage, they bonded over their shared love of “free cheese,” highlighting their quirky humor and similarities.
Pauley has been a frequent guest on Kirsten’s podcast, Kirsten’s Agenda. Kirsten has expressed admiration for Pauley’s “unconditional kindness,” calling it “magnetic.” She also affectionately refers to Pauley with nicknames like “sparkle horse” and “punk rock magic princess of all things good,” showcasing the depth of their friendship and mutual respect.
