Zach Gilford is on the mend following a scary incident.
The actor, 42, posted three shocking selfies to his Instagram Story Tuesday, showing his face completely swollen while detailing the stages of his recovery.
Gilford didn’t reveal what caused the inflammation but thanked those who helped him treat the issue.
In the first selfie, the “Criminal Minds” star’s eyelids were enlarged, with his left eye swollen shut.
“Sooooooo… Yesterday was fun,” Gilford captioned the post.
A follow-up picture showed the “Friday Night Lights” alum sporting a blue face mask as the swelling around his eyes increased and reached his cheekbones and brow bones.
“Good thing we wrapped @criminalminds last week,” he wrote beneath the jarring snap.
In his final post, Gilford showed progress and revealed he could open both eyes as the swelling went down.
The actor gave a shout-out to those who helped him combat the scare, writing, “Thanks to all the nurses, doctors, and staff at @huntingtonhospital for coaxing my face back to normalcy.”
Despite not disclosing his course of treatment, Gilford added there’s “still a little ways to go.”
The star has played Elias Voit in the “Criminal Minds: Evolution” revival since the series started in 2022. Voit is a prolific serial killer who spent years building a network of murderers and helping them in their crimes.
In August, Gilford revealed he was only supposed to be in the first season before being asked to continue the role.
“I only signed a one-year deal,” he told US Weekly at the time. “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].”
Season 3 wrapped filming earlier this month.
Along with a regular role, “Criminal Minds” has also given Gilford his first time in the director’s chair.
“I wanted to direct forever. I shadowed on ‘Friday Night Lights,’ ” he said. “I’ve shadowed on almost every show I’ve been on. It’s just hard to get that opportunity.”
Gilford added, “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. It was so fun.”
The “Good Girls” alum also took a moment to reflect on how blessed he is to be part of the CBS procedural.
“Everyone who comes on that set says, ‘This is the best set I’ve ever been on,’ ” Gilford told the outlet. “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,” he added.
The third season of “Criminal Minds: Evolution” is expected to premiere on Paramount+ in early 2025.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
