The Most Famous Fictional FBI Agents

Published: March 8, 2024 by Stephanie Harper

Solving crimes and uncovering mysteries is something millions of kids wish they could do when they grow up. There’s a sense of accomplishment, fulfillment, and pride that comes along with figuring out who did something. Good-hearted people are wired to seek answers, and people who work for the FBI get to live that experience daily.

In the real world, the majority of kids grow up to pursue other career paths outside of the FBI. However, dozens of movies and television shows depict what life is like for those who do. Fans enjoy living vicariously through their favorite characters as they save the day on screen.

One popular television show that aired on CBS for nearly two decades was “Criminal Minds.” Spencer Reid was a fan favorite in nearly every episode. His brilliance was unmatched by most in the world. His charm resonated with fans since everything he did came from a place of purity. Another agent on the show, David Rossi, was the complete opposite. He had an old-school mentality with his approach.

Netflix’s “Mindhunter” raked in great reviews, even though it got canceled quickly. Holden Ford is an FBI agent who was portrayed as one of the first men to use profiling as a tactic to catch criminals. Reid, Rossi, and Ford are just a small handful of exemplary fictional FBI agents to love. For more FBI-related content, click here to read about the most notorious cases in history.

To compile the list of most famous fictional FBI characters, 24/7 Tempo consulted entertainment sources. These include IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, ScreenRant, Collider, and Ranker.

Spencer Reid

Program: “Criminal Minds”
Played By: Matthew Gray Gubler

Offering looks and brains is one of the reasons fans love a character like Dr. Spencer Reid. His ability to profile any criminal on “Criminal Minds” is one of the reasons the show is so popular. Matthew Gray Gubler, the actor behind the role, stuck around from 2005 until it finished in 2020.

Reid’s heart-wrenching story about his mother’s mental issues created dialogue at the time of the show’s release. Prior to that, it was rare to find many TV characters talking about mental health on a serious level.

Dana Scully

Program: “The X-Files”
Played By: Gillian Anderson

Looking into paranormal cases takes a specific set of skills. One of these skills is the ability to remain skeptical in different situations that arise. Dana Scully didn’t let doubt-causers interfere with her investigations throughout her time on “The X-Files.” In fact, she used her brain power to come up with reasons why some things didn’t make sense. Her working relationship with Fox Mulder grew increasingly complex throughout the duration of the series, one of the reasons fans loved the show even more.

Johnny Utah

Program: “Point Break”
Played By: Luke Bracey

Being a younger member of the FBI made Johnny Utah feel that he had to go above and beyond to prove himself. In “Point Break,” Johnny Utah was tasked with going undercover to try to help solve a bank robbery. He was thrilled with the idea, but he grew too friendly with some of the people he was tasked to investigate. The back and forth he faced while trying to do the right thing, along with intense action scenes, is why fans adore the fictional FBI star.

Dale Cooper

Program: “Twin Peaks”
Played By: Kyle MacLachlan

Special Agent Dale Cooper was in charge of solving the murder of Laura Palmer in “Twin Peaks.” Cooper was quirky and somewhat goofy, unlike most FBI agents. He loved cherry pie and needed coffee to survive. Despite how differently he acted compared to other agents in the field, Cooper showed he was more than capable of solving mysteries. While the show didn’t last many seasons, Cooper became an instant fan favorite.

Clarice Starling

Program: “The Silence of the Lambs”
Played By: Jodie Foster

Clarice Starling took charge as an investigator in “The Silence of the Lambs.” She showed that women can be just as strong, smart, and able to protect people. She was constantly figuring out different ways of trying to capture Hannibal Lecter, who did everything in his power to get away with his brutal crimes. Starling’s determination served as an inspiration for tons of young girls and women who wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement when the movie premiered in 1991.

Fox Mulder

Program: “The X-Files”
Played By: David Duchovny

Another character from “The X-Files” is Fox Mulder. His passion and determination to solve the crimes of the supernatural stemmed from his sister disappearing under strange circumstances. There wasn’t anything Mulder wouldn’t to do to solve his sister’s disappearance, or any other strange events that took place. His relationship with Dana Scully became an intriguing focal point of the show in later seasons as well.

David Rossi

Program: “Criminal Minds”
Played By: Joe Mantegna

Leaving the comforts of retirement to rejoin the FBI and chase down criminals is what David Rossi decided to do. Joe Mantegna is the actor behind the role. As an esteemed author and former agent, Rossi didn’t need to go back. However, it was quickly apparent much the team needed him and his expertise. Rossi’s love for his Italian culture resonated with tons of viewers around the world. Even though he wasn’t one of the first team members on “Criminal Minds,” he’s one of the most loved.

Eliot Ness

Program: “The Untouchables”
Played By: Kevin Costner

Taking down Al Capone while still enforcing the laws of the Prohibition Era is the stress Eliot Ness had to deal with in “The Untouchables.” Navigating one of those problems would’ve be challenging enough. Handling both was definitely extreme. However, Ness never complained. Instead, he focused on accomplishing both. He gave the show a sturdy character for viewers to fall back on when the going got tough.

Gracie Hart

Program: “Miss Congeniality”
Played By: Sandra Bullock

Gracie Hart is an iconic character because of her looks, brains, and courage. She went undercover to stop a bomb from going off, knowing the danger she was putting herself in. She had to fit in with different beauty contestants, which is something that was much easier said than done. While “Miss Congeniality” is a serious movie, Hart’s charm and charisma helped bring lighthearted humor to each scene.

Seeley Booth

Program: “Bones”
Played By: David Boreanaz

Combining an experienced field agent with a pathologist lacking social skills is the interesting dynamic fans saw in “Bones.” Seeley Booth was the former field agent who’d seen it all. He was used to facing off against bad guys without fear. He and his partner, Dr. Temperance Brennan, had their fair share ups and downs because of their individual prior work history. However, both learned more about each other to solve the heinous murder mysteries in front of them.

Holden Ford

Program: “Mindhunter”
Played By: Jonathan Groff

The story of the first group to use profiling as an FBI tactic was shown in “Mindhunter.” Even though the show had a short run, characters like Holden Ford became beloved. Fans appreciated Ford as he experimented with unconventional ways to solve gruesome murders. Talking to real criminals is what the original teams did back in the day. That’s what Ford’s approach looked like as well. For more FBI content, click here to read about the most famous unsolved crimes in America.