Going from Ilya Rozanov to a narcissistic stalker, Storrie is showing off his range on the Paramount+ show.

Who does Connor Storrie play on Criminal Minds: Evolution? How the Heated Rivalry star fits into season 19’s big mystery

Going from Ilya Rozanov to a narcissistic stalker, Storrie is showing off his range on the Paramount+ show.

By Rachel LaBonte

June 11, 2026 11:46 a.m. ET

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RJ Hatanaka as Tyler Green, AJ Cook as Jennifer Jareau, and Connor Storrie as Lance Kingston on 'Criminal Minds: Evolution'. Credit:

- Connor Storrie makes his Criminal Minds: Evolution debut in season 19, episode 4.

- He plays Lance Kingston, a man stalking his ex-girlfriend who becomes a key figure in the ongoing Sicarius investigation.

- Storrie will appear in three more episodes this season, with his debut installment ending in a cliffhanger.

It’s perhaps the most surprising casting news of the year: *Heated Rivalry* breakout Connor Storrie has joined Paramount+’s *Criminal Minds: Evolution* in a recurring role.

The actor, who blew up last year thanks to his performance as Russian hockey player Ilya Rozanov, scored a key role on the long-running crime drama, though he was notably cast before he became a household name and Met Gala attendee. His *Criminal Minds* appearance marks his most high-profile scripted role since the Crave/HBO Max series debuted in late 2025, and it will no doubt bring in a slew of viewers new to the Behavioral Analysis Unit.

*Criminal Minds: Evolution* season 19, episode 4 — titled “The Witching Hour” — features Storrie’s debut and plunges him right into the ongoing Sicarius saga. For anyone who’s eager to see the young actor dive into a new role, but has no idea what’s going on with the show itself, allow ** to break it down.

Who is Connor Storrie playing on Criminal Minds?

Connor Storrie as Lance Kingston on 'Criminal Minds: Evolution'.

Ilya Rozanov, this man is not.

Storrie plays Lance Kingston, a not-so-great guy who is officially described as “a charming yet manipulative narcissist.” He’s brought in by the BAU as a potential lead in their ongoing Sicarius investigation (more on that later), which has expanded to include a young woman named Laura Boyd (Jessi Case).

Lance is Laura’s stalker ex-boyfriend — though he claims they’re merely “taking a break” — and as JJ (A.J. Cook) points out during an interrogation, he’s got a rap sheet pointing to a violent past. That alone makes him someone to be wary of, but the BAU doesn’t pull him in because of his concerning history. Instead, evidence points to him being a deranged fan of Elias Voit (Zach Gilford), *Criminal Minds: Evolution*’s big bad.

How does Connor Storrie’s character connect to the Sicarius storyline?

Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss, Aisha Tyler as Tara Lewis, and Zach Gilford as Elias Voit on 'Criminal Minds: Evolution'.

Since *Criminal Minds*' *Evolution* years began in 2022, the BAU has been tracking the Sicarius killer, a.k.a. Voit. He used to run a network of serial killers, providing them with the tools needed to live out their darkest fantasies while evading law enforcement. He’s a twisted mastermind, and he’s pushed several members of the BAU to their limits.

These days, though, Voit has been approaching redemption while in prison, fighting off his psychopathic instincts while coming to terms with the circumstances that made him who he is.

In episode 2, Voit sat down for a podcast interview with conspiracy theorist Brian Garrity (Paul F. Tompkins) to send a message to anyone who might idolize him: Don’t. He calls anyone following his exploits “pathetic,” which rubs one particular fan the wrong way.

Voit starts getting concerning mail, including some very private photos of one Laura Boyd that were taken by — you guessed it — her ex-boyfriend Lance.

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The BAU brings Lance in to talk, aiming to glean whether he’s Voit’s obsessive fan. It would be the type of meaty role one could expect for a high-profile guest star like Storrie, especially since *Criminal Minds* has a history of casting recognizable actors as their big bads (Mark Hamill, Aubrey Plaza, etc).

However, after JJ, Tara Lewis (Aisha Tyler), and Luke Alvez (Adam Rodriguez) all take a crack at Lance, they decide he can’t be The Fan. As the episode’s closing moments reveal, though, there’s more ahead for Storrie.

What’s next for Connor Storrie’s character?

RJ Hatanaka as Tyler Green, Aisha Tyler as Tara Lewis, Connor Storrie as Lance Kingston, Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez, and A.J. Cook as Jennifer Jareau on 'Criminal Minds: Evolution'.

To fully dig into what’s next, we’re getting into some extra spoiler territory for this episode. Read at your own risk!

Lance might not be The Fan, but it’s clear that Voit’s admirer is keeping tabs on him and following close enough to get their hands on those private photos. Luke first hints at the possibility of The Fan going after him, but it’s Voit who zeroes in on Lance’s significance to the mysterious figure. He points out that The Fan probably has digital tabs on Lance and will thus know all the BAU has been up to once Lance starts posting online. What’s more: The Fan specifically directed the BAU to Lance, a “sacrificial pawn.”

“Wait, where’s Lance now?” Voit asks.

The episode ends with the sight of an unconscious Lance in the trunk of a car, abducted by some unseen assailant. Whatever The Fan has planned, Lance continues to be a part of it, and it might not end well for him.

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*Criminal Minds: Evolution* showrunner Erica Messer told TV Insider that Storrie was only supposed to be in the fourth episode. However, like the rest of Hollywood, the creative team quickly saw his talent and adjusted their plans, with Messer revealing that “he was so good that we were like, ‘No, he’s going to have a bigger role than we thought.’”

As a result, he will appear in four episodes total, ending with the penultimate installment on July 16. Based on images released by Paramount+, it looks like The Fan is going to torture Lance, perhaps with the goal of sending a message to the BAU. However, Storrie is also shown aiming a gun, so he’ll get the upper hand eventually.

One thing is clear for now: *Criminal Minds* is very excited to have Storrie on board.

Where can I watch Criminal Minds?

All episodes of *Criminal Minds: Evolution* — and the show’s original run — are streaming on Paramount+.

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Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Crime”