Jon Wellner Upgraded To Series Regular On CSI

It took seven seasons as a recurring character, but CSI’s Jon Wellner has finally gotten a promotion. To a series regular that is; he’ll still be playing the same role on the show. When the 13th season of the venerable procedural drama hits the air, Wellner will be a regular. Hopefully things will be a little more stable on the series in the upcoming season.

Wellner has been playing Henry Andrews, a toxicology specialist, on the series for seven seasons already, since season 5, and now The Hollywood Reporter says he’s finally going to be a regular. He joins Jorga Fox in the new series regular role, although her status on the series has fluctuated rather more over the years than has Wellner.

CSI has had more than its share of big changes this past season, with a move to a new time slot and some major cast shake-ups. Ted Danson came in to replace Laurence Fishburne, and then Elisabeth Shue took over the opening left by departing Marg Helgenberger. George Eads and Eric Szmanda have already had new contracts signed, locking them in for another year. So that’s at least a few familiar faces who will be sticking it out a while longer on the series. The future is looking quite a bit smoother for CSI, which just wrapped its 12th season with the addition of another new cast member set to return for season 13: peri Gilpin will be back to play Ted Danson’s wife.