32 Facts About Aaron Hotchner

Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner is a fictional character from the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds, portrayed by Thomas Gibson.

Aaron Hotchner is a Supervisory Special Agent and the unit chief of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, and has appeared from the series' pilot episode "Extreme Aggressor", which was originally broadcast on September 22,2005.

Aaron Hotchner knows his family is getting the short shift.

Aaron Hotchner knows his job is costing him in time spent with his wife and son.

Aaron Hotchner first met his future wife Haley Brooks in high school.

Aaron Hotchner has a younger brother named Sean, a New York City-based chef.

Aaron Hotchner's mother is an alumna of Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia.

In "Natural Born Killer", Aaron Hotchner speaks to a serial killer, Vincent Perotta, and discusses the physical abuse Perotta suffered as a child at the hands of his father.

Perotta claimed that everyone who is abused as a child becomes a serial killer, with Aaron Hotchner correcting him by saying that "some people grow up to become serial killers".

From his explanation to Perotta earlier, it is implied that Aaron Hotchner's father was abusive.

In general, Aaron Hotchner is depicted as a hard-working, humorless, no-nonsense agent who rarely smiles or acts out in anger; his aloof demeanor and composure tend to be mistaken for a complete lack of emotion.

Aaron Hotchner takes great care to avoid antagonizing witnesses, local law enforcement and suspects unless he believes provoking them will cause them to reveal information, occasionally chastising his teammates for needlessly flippant or hostile behavior.

Aaron Hotchner is suspended for two weeks in 2007 following a case at a college campus in Flagstaff, Arizona that ends in disaster when both serial killer Nathan Tubbs and copycat killer Anna Begley are killed.

Aaron Hotchner is later served with divorce papers at work.

Joyner eventually dies from her injuries, and Aaron Hotchner suffers shrapnel wounds and a punctured eardrum which resulted in hyperacusis, causing temporary hearing problems.

Aaron Hotchner reveals to head profiler David Rossi that he had maintained an interest in the case over the 10 years since he had investigated it.

In season 9, Aaron Hotchner is hospitalized due to complications from the old stab wounds after collapsing in the team's conference room.

When BAU Section Chief Erin Strauss begins putting pressure on Aaron Hotchner to justify all of his tactical decisions, Aaron Hotchner decides to step down as unit chief to avoid being reassigned.

Aaron Hotchner manages to issue a code to Jack, which meant for him to go hide in his secret place.

However, Aaron Hotchner is unable to save Haley; Foyet murders her while she was still talking to him on the phone.

Aaron Hotchner is offered early retirement from the BAU in order to be with his son.

However, after Haley's sister, Jessica, offers to stay with Jack when Aaron Hotchner has to work, Aaron Hotchner decides to return to the BAU.

Aaron Hotchner explains to his father that one figure is Hotchner, while the other is a "bad guy".

Aaron Hotchner is very protective of Spencer Reid, the youngest member of the team.

Aaron Hotchner is promoted to Section Chief after Strauss resigns in the episode "Self-Fulfilling Prophecy" because she had been drinking on the job.

Aaron Hotchner is hesitant and Rossi feels that is because he is still mourning Haley.

Aaron Hotchner admits to Rossi that he will go on a bike ride with the woman.

Aaron Hotchner then asks her out on a date, which she says yes to.

Later, after running the triathlon, Aaron Hotchner finally introduces Beth to Jack.

In episode 12.6 titled "Elliott's Pond" it is revealed that Aaron Hotchner is leaving his post as longtime head of the BAU after discovering that serial killer Peter Lewis is stalking Jack.

Aaron Hotchner decides to enter the Witness Protection Program with his son to keep him safe.

Aaron Hotchner makes one final appearance in the series finale during a flashback to season 1.