Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore) and Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness) in Criminal Minds are two of the closest friends on the BAU, and the stars have clear chemistry — so much so that many viewers wonder if Moore and Vangsness friends in real life. Criminal Minds followed the FBI’s Behavioural Analysis Unit, and the ensemble cast is part of what has made the show so beloved. Derek is one of the longest-tenured members of the series. He is gruff the muscle of the BAU, but has a platonic soft spot for Penelope Garcia.

Derek’s best friend in the BAU is Penelope and their relationship is very close, loving, and completely platonic withotu romantic undertones. Penelope appeared in every season of Criminal Minds as well as the continuation on Paramount+. She is a technical analyst and communications officer with the BAU and a former hacker, and has an unabashedly optimistic and emotional personality — Penelope always has the best quotes in Criminal Minds. While Criminal Minds features plenty of friendships, Derek and Penelope’s is particularly enjoyable, and Shemar Moore and Kristen Vangsness’ performances make them seem like real friends.

Shemar Moore And Kirsten Vangsness’ Friendship Started At The First Table Read

Shemar Moore and Kristen Vangsness are truly friends, and their relationship on Criminal Minds is all the better for it

Shemar Moore and Kristen Vangsness became quick friends from the very first time they read together for Criminal Minds. Vangsness went in for what was only supposed to be a one-episode storyline on Criminal Minds. According to Parade, when everyone except for the main cast was asked to leave in order to watch a mandatory workplace harassment video, Vangsness, for whatever reason, decided to sit in. Tellingly, she and Moore ended up joking and talking through the video like old friends. Someone from production must have noticed their rapport because Vangsness received more lines for the shoot.

The ribald chemistry they discovered during the table read was made even more apparent during shooting. Vangsness herself says of her first time acting with Moore:

“Oh, my gosh. We have chemistry.“

Derek and Penelope share a crude sense of humor and banter back and forth in a way that may seem flirtatious but is really just a sign of incredibly close friends. Derek refers to Penelope as “Baby Girl” and Penelope often says how much she loves Derek. The pair is one of the best workplace friendships on TV and that’s because Shemar Moore and Kristen Vangsness are truly friends, and their relationship on Criminal Minds is all the better for it.

The Entire Criminal Minds Main Cast Is Close In Real Life

The BAU’s Closeness Is Mirrored On The Criminal Minds Set

Shemar Moore and Kristen Vangsness are not the only actors on Criminal Minds who have a strong real-life friendship, and most of the cast is very close outside the show. Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss) told TVLine that the cast was more than just friends and states in the article:

“We’re all very attached — and kinda corny…“

The cast and crew even have a fake award ceremony called the Goobie Awards. This closeness of the actors is reflected in their on-screen chemistry, which is what keeps Criminal Minds feeling fresh even after over 15 seasons.

Brewster even found her husband through the cast of Criminal Minds, as Matthew Gray Gubler (Spencer Reid) introduced her to her future spouse, Steve Damstra. The feeling on set is described by those involved as that of a family, with all the love, arguing, and friendship one would expect to find. That certainly helps explains why Derek and Penelope’s relationship seems so authentic. The characters behave almost like siblings, and it’s because Moore and Vangsness have a close friendship outside of Criminal Minds.