Derek Morgan (Criminal Minds)

Derek Morgan
Criminal Minds character
Shemar Moore as Derek Morgan
First appearance	"Extreme Aggressor" 1x01, September 22, 2005
Last appearance	"A Beautiful Disaster" 11x18, March 23, 2016
Created by	Jeff Davis
Portrayed by	Shemar Moore
Information
Occupation	FBI Special Agent
Title	FBI BAU Acting Unit Chief Supervisory Special Agent
Family	Hank Morgan (father, deceased) Fran Morgan (mother) Desirée Morgan (sister) Sarah Morgan (sister)
Significant other(s)	Savannah Hayes (wife)
Children	Hank Spencer Morgan (son)
Relatives	Yvonne Burns (aunt) Paul Burns (uncle, deceased) Cindi Burns (first cousin) Anthony Ford (first cousin once removed)

Derek Morgan is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds, portrayed by Emmy Award winner Shemar Moore. Morgan specializes in fixations and obsessive behaviors. He is a Supervisory Special Agent of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, (although has served as interim unit chief for Aaron Hotchner), and has appeared from the series' pilot episode "Extreme Aggressor", which was originally broadcast on September 22, 2005. Before he left in season 11, he was one of only three main characters to appear since the first season as "starring", while also becoming the only character to appear in all episodes.

Morgan is shown over the series being flirtatious towards the team's technical analyst Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness). However, the relationship is platonic. He is shown to be confident and assertive, along with being very protective towards Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), whom he helps to pick up girls. He is the muscle of the team, and usually storms in when a suspect requires apprehending physically.

Morgan and his sisters Sarah and Desirée grew up on the South Side, in an unnamed notorious neighborhood of Chicago. He is the son of an African American father and White mother (actress Kerrie Keane). Although he rarely speaks of his immediate family, he is close to his mother and sisters and returns every year for Fran's birthday. In season 2 it was stated that he was around age 33, putting his birth year around 1976. He attended Northwestern University on a football scholarship, graduating cum laude. Although it was stated that he had earned a law degree, there has never been any mention of him practicing law. He was a star quarterback until a left knee injury ended his career.