Zach Gilford Shares Shocking Photos of His Swollen Face, Says He Still Has 'a Little Ways to Go'

Mar. 15, 2025

Zach Gilford.Photo:Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty; Zach Gilford/Instagram

Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty; Zach Gilford/Instagram

Zach Gilford is recovering after experiencing heavy swelling on his face.TheCriminal Minds: Evolutionactor, 42, shared three selfies on his Instagram Stories on Dec. 17, showing his face at various stages as his condition progressed and he began to recover.Gilford didn’t reveal what had caused the swelling or his treatment, but thanked those who had helped reduce the inflammation to a manageable level.In the first selfie, the actor’s eyelids were enlarged, with his left eye so swollen it was completely closed.The first of Zach Gilford’s selfies on his Instagram Stories.Zach Gilford/Instagram"Sooooooo… Yesterday was fun," the formerFriday Night Lights starcaptioned the post.His second selfie showed him wearing a blue face mask as the swelling around his eyes had increased and extended to his cheekbones and brow bones.“Good thing we wrapped @criminalminds last week,” he captioned it.The swelling on Zach Gilford’s face increased.Zach Gilford/InstagramIn his third and final post, Gilford was able to open both his eyes, and the swelling on his face had decreased overall.Expressing his gratitude to those who had helped treat him, Gilford wrote, “Thanks to all the nurses, doctors, and staff at @huntingtonhospital for coaxing my face back to normalcy."”…still a little ways to go," he added.A representative for Gilford did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Zach Gilford.Zach Gilford/InstagramNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Gilford has starred in theCriminal Mindsrevival since its inception in 2022. He plays Elias Voit, a serial killer with a connections to many other murderers, who he helps.

Zach Gilford is recovering after experiencing heavy swelling on his face.

TheCriminal Minds: Evolutionactor, 42, shared three selfies on his Instagram Stories on Dec. 17, showing his face at various stages as his condition progressed and he began to recover.

Gilford didn’t reveal what had caused the swelling or his treatment, but thanked those who had helped reduce the inflammation to a manageable level.

In the first selfie, the actor’s eyelids were enlarged, with his left eye so swollen it was completely closed.

The first of Zach Gilford’s selfies on his Instagram Stories.Zach Gilford/Instagram

Zach Gilford/Instagram

“Sooooooo… Yesterday was fun,” the formerFriday Night Lights starcaptioned the post.

His second selfie showed him wearing a blue face mask as the swelling around his eyes had increased and extended to his cheekbones and brow bones.

“Good thing we wrapped @criminalminds last week,” he captioned it.

The swelling on Zach Gilford’s face increased.Zach Gilford/Instagram

In his third and final post, Gilford was able to open both his eyes, and the swelling on his face had decreased overall.

Expressing his gratitude to those who had helped treat him, Gilford wrote, “Thanks to all the nurses, doctors, and staff at @huntingtonhospital for coaxing my face back to normalcy.”

“…still a little ways to go,” he added.

A representative for Gilford did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Zach Gilford.Zach Gilford/Instagram

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Gilford has starred in theCriminal Mindsrevival since its inception in 2022. He plays Elias Voit, a serial killer with a connections to many other murderers, who he helps.

source: people.com