Detective Robert Goren is the central character for the show, he specializes in criminal profiling and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of psychology and psychopathy. Somewhat eccentric, quirky and gifted at finding clues where no-one else can find them, his methods don't always go down too well with his superiors. Prior to joining the Major Case Squad he worked in NYPD's Narcotics department and despite his results gained in a sting operation when his team arrested 27 drug dealers, all of which ended in conviction, he wasn't popular.
Goren was born and bred in the Carnasie district of Brooklyn, before becoming a civilian police officer, Goren was stationed in the Army's C.I.D unit in Korea where he met his former mentor, Declan Cage. Declan was loaned out to Goren's unit, who wanted him to profile a serial killer out there and Declan taught the young Goren to think like the killers do and to get into their heads. Declan returned to Goren's life in 2006 when his daughter, Jo tried to gain her father's affection and attention by killing 3 women and kidnapping Eames. Declan didn't return until the summer of 2008 and murdered both Nicole Wallace and Goren's brother, Frank destroying their friendship completely.
Goren's Army secondment also has made him adept at languages and the detective is fluent in: German, French, Korean and Chinese and some knowledge of ASL ( although not enough to hold a long conversation). He also learnt Arabic and the Koran when he wanted to impress a young Turkish girl at his base in Germany that he liked.
Detective Goren has a family history of mental illness, his mother who was a librarian was diagnosed at 32 with schizophrenia and her husband, the father he knew of walked out on his wife not long afterwards. For a while Goren blamed his mother for the absence of the man in his life, however he soon disowned his father for leaving them and for the man's indifference to him as a child. When the man passed away, Goren was left to clean out his apartment and discovered that the man had been lonely and alone. He recently discovered during his mother's illness, she was receiving treatment for Lymphoma, that she had an affair with Mark Ford Brady who was a serial killer and on death row, and that it was possible that he was this man's biological son. Detective Goren gained the positive results of a DNA test in 2008 after asking the M.E, Dr Elizabeth Rodgers to do one.
Goren's school life wasn't a happy one and although educated and encyclopedic of mind, the detective had difficulties adjusting ( possibly due to his home life) and when they took the "Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory " test he was sent for counciling by his tutor, he also remarked to Eames that his biology teacher thought he wasn't a fun child like the others in his class, which suggests that the young Goren was very distant, troubled and alone. As a teenager though he had friends and one he is still in contact with, Lewis is a machanic and car expert in the city and he used to joyride with him in an act of rebelion which could of got him killed on many occasions but since he is a detective they were obviously never arrested. Goren has also had girlfriends in the past ( none of which were liked by his mother) and one he is still in contact with, Irene works in a Brooklyn based Brokers, he also casually mentions in series 2 that he once dated a girl named Lola who was allergic to cats despite having them as pets, and that she used anti-histimine spray under her tongue to help.
Detective Goren also had an older brother, Frank who was like his father and gambled. The brothers were estranged since Frank had disappeared from the family early on. The brothers accidentally met up during a case in early 2007 and their relationship was strained. Frank had become a vagrant and was living hand to mouth, he was also a drug addict. Goren never told his mother, who believed Frank was a scientist, of his situation. Later in the year, after their mother's death, Frank reappeared and Goren discovered he had fathered a son, Donny. Goren decided to go undercover in the prison psychiatric ward where his nephew was incarcerated on his own, this incident put both his career and his mental health on the line and also made him even less popular with his Chief of Detectives since he already thought that Goren was unstable and a liability.
Angry at Frank and himself, he went to see him about Donny ( as he had escaped) however, when he discovered his brother was still using he publicly disowned him claiming he would wait for a splash if he were to commit suicide. Unfortunately Goren never got to make up with Frank as in the summer following their altercation, on their mothers birthday, Frank met up with Goren's nemesis Nicole Wallace and was seduced then murdered by her ( on the orders of Declan Gage).
Donny is still missing after a year and has yet to be found, Goren however has recently been to see other family members and is fond of a young girl called Molly whom he said to Eames when he was viewing the photographs of her that she was his niece.
Detective Goren appears to of recovered from his past ordeals of seasons 6 and 7 and is back doing what he does best, catching bad guys.
Detective Goren will unfortunately be leaving our screens in the Season 9 two-parter opening episode,which features both teams, actor Vincent D'Onofrio has been quoted as saying that Goren may appear in guest appearances in the series but he is leaving to do other film projects and is giving the show to Jeff Goldblum and his new partner.
Update: In the final scenes of the second half of the season opener, whose title was changed eventually to Loyalty. Eames tells Goren that she has to fire him in order to save him from a trial and charges from the FBI. Goren tells her that its okay and that its been a long time coming, which tearfully she says isn't making it easier for her, the dynamic duo share an emotional hug and a kiss goodbye and Goren says to her "see you around sometime".
The character won the Hallmark UK Television "Best Law and Order Detective" as voted for by the viewers in their promotional competition, the episode " Purgatory" was aired after the announcement.
Trivia and Statistics:
*Full Name: Robert O Goren
*D.O.B: August 20th 1961
*Height: 6ft 4in
*Shoe Size: 13 ( US ) 12 ( UK )
*Rank: Detective First Grade ( Junior )
*Status: Single (Bachelor)
*Left Handed
*Tried to gain his the love and attention from his "father" by being successful at football, however the man took no notice of him or his abilities and the young Goren lost his "love" for the game.
*Believes that people need options in life and that women have the right to opt for an abortion procedure if they have that option available to them.
Link To Eames Page