Zach Gilford Shares Shocking Photos of Face After Health Scare

Zach Gilford is recovering after suffering a health scare earlier this week – with his sense of humor still intact.

“Sooooo yesterday was fun,” Gilford, 42, captioned a series of selfies via his Instagram Stories on Tuesday, December 17. “Good thing we wrapped @criminalminds last week.”

In the first two shared photos, Gilford showed off his face having what appeared to be a reaction, which caused his face to swell and eyes to completely close shut.

The third and final picture, meanwhile, showed that his face is now on the mend.

“Thanks to all the nurses, doctors, and staff at @huntingtonhospital for coaxing my face back to normalcy. … Still a little ways to go,” he captioned the third snap, shouting out the California-based hospital. He did not disclose any further details.

Gilford has starred as Elias Voit on the Criminal Minds revival since its debut in 2022, a  prolific serial killer who spent years building his own network of murderers and aiding them in their crimes. While speaking exclusively to Us Weekly in August, Gilford revealed he was only supposed to appear on the first season before being asked to stick around.

“I only signed a one-year deal,” she explained. “And part way through the first season, [showrunner] Erica [Messer] said to me, ‘I don’t know what’s going to happen. We haven’t figured out the end of the season, but we’ve decided we’re not going to kill you. We want to keep you around.’ So, I came back and was so happy to [do it].”

The character remained a mainstay in season 2, and will return for season 3, which wrapped filming earlier this month. In addition to giving Gilford a juicy role in front of the camera, the has also provided the actor with a major career milestone: his first time in the director’s chair.

“I wanted to direct forever. I shadowed on Friday Night Lights. I’ve shadowed on almost every show I’ve been on,” Gilford gushed. “It’s just hard to get that opportunity. I’ve wanted to do it for a long time. And it was inspiring to me when I got to direct my episode because Erica and everyone was just like, ‘Make your episode. Do whatever you want.’”

“It was f—king awesome,” he added. “It was so fun.”

Gilford got his start by portraying Matt Saracen on FNL in the early 2000s before moving on to starring roles on Good Girls, Midnight Mass and more. He met his wife, Kiele Sanchez, on the set of their 2010 TV pilot The Matadors, and the pair tied the knot two years later. They have worked together multiple times since, including on Evolution.

While speaking to Us, Gilford recognized how “lucky” he’s been to be part of the Criminal Minds franchise.

“I don’t know how I got so lucky. I’ve been really lucky in my career, but it’s been cool,” Gilford shared of his experience on the CBS procedural. “Everyone who comes on that set says, ‘This is the best set I’ve ever been on,’” he told Us. “It’s so fun to get to work with your friends and they’re really the best group of people. Then, cast aside, our crew is f—king awesome. They’re so dope, they’re so cool, they’re so funny, they’re so chill and so good at their jobs. I am appreciative to be on a set [where] this is the vibe. It all trickles down from the showrunner, Erica Messer.”