Criminal Minds: Evolution costars Zach Gilford and Liana Liberato have taken their on-screen connection off-screen. The pair are officially dating, their representatives confirmed to Us Weekly on November 25, 2025, following their first public appearance together at an event in Las Vegas.
According to a source, the romance is still “fairly new” and began after the two actors worked together on season 17 of Criminal Minds — also known as Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 — which filmed in 2024.
“They started dating after they worked together,” an insider revealed. “They were both invited to the event — it’s the first one they’ve attended together.”
The couple attended People and InStyle’s Drive-By F1 Party on November 21 ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, marking their red carpet debut.
From Setmates to Sweethearts
Gilford, 43, joined the Criminal Minds revival in 2022 as Elias Voit, a cunning serial killer hiding in plain sight. Liberato, 30, made her debut as Jade Waters in season 17, which also marked the final episode for Gilford’s now-estranged wife, actress Kiele Sanchez.
Gilford and Sanchez, who married in 2012, previously worked together on the series, though he admitted that filming dark scenes with his real-life spouse was emotionally difficult.
“It’s harder because I don’t want to hold a gun to my wife’s head,” Gilford said in an August 2024 interview. “Honestly, all those scenes are so messed up — it felt gross bringing those darker moments to life together.”
The actor filed for divorce from Sanchez in April 2025 after 12 years of marriage. The former couple share two children — daughter Zeppelin (born 2017) and son Revel (born 2020).
A Fresh Start for Both Stars
Liberato, known for her work on Light as a Feather, Based on a True Story, Scream VI, and Banana Split, has kept her personal life private until now. Her chemistry with Gilford reportedly developed naturally on set, where both shared scenes during the show’s 2024 production.
Meanwhile, Gilford continues to balance his busy television career. In addition to Criminal Minds: Evolution, he’s appeared in Friday Night Lights, Good Girls, The Midnight Club, and Midnight Mass.
Fans quickly took to social media after the pair’s Vegas appearance, expressing excitement over their unexpected romance — especially given their Criminal Minds connection.
“They looked super cute and really happy together,” one eyewitness told Us Weekly. “You could tell they were enjoying each other’s company.”
As both actors continue to film new projects, their budding relationship marks a new chapter for Gilford after his recent split — and a new Hollywood pairing fans are eager to watch unfold.
What do you think of this new on-set romance between the ‘Criminal Minds’ stars? Share your thoughts in the comments on InvestRecords.com.
