Special Agent David Rossi is a real person for actor Joe Mantegna.

Real in the sense that the character's name on the long-running TV series Criminal Minds comes from a LA police officer Mantegna knows. But the rest is pure Mantegna.

"In some ways, I try to make the character an extension of myself," he says. "I learned this awhile ago when I worked on (the drama) First Monday with James Garner. I was told it's absolutely important in a television series to relate to a character that you might be doing for many years."

Read more

Source: http://www.palmspringslife.com/