In 2002, USA Network premiered the series Monk, an American mystery-comedy-drama television series created by Andy Breckman. Tony Shalhoub played Adrian Monk, a detective with OCD who solves crimes in San Francisco. The cast also included Jason Gray-Stanford, Ted Levine, Traylor Howard, Stanley Kamel, Bitty Schram, Emmy Clarke, and Hector Elizondo. Monk ran for seven seasons from 2002 to 2009, offering an endearing police-procedural series with emotional and comedic undertones in its examination of the personal lives of the principal characters. It was a big hit for the USA Network and launched an entire era of television for them, including popular series like Psych, Burn Notice, White Collar, and Suits.
The release of Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie in 2023 gave fans the anticipated Monk reunion film, with many of the original cast members returning to their roles. Despite having ended 14 years earlier, fans were excited to see their favorite characters return, played by some of the most beloved actors working today. But the question still stands: what were these distinguished actors up to between the conclusion of the series and their decision to choose to reprise their roles in the Monk movie?
Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk
Some of Tony Shalhoub‘s more notable achievements since the conclusion of Monk include winning the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his performance in the Broadway production of The Band’s Visit and earning his fourth Emmy Award for his supporting role as Professor Abe Weissman in the Prime Video comedy The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Shalhoub’s other recent projects include appearances in the movies Linoleum and Flaming Hot, and a prominent role as U.S. Senator Red Wheatus on the political comedy TV series BrainDead.
He also voiced characters in the animated movie Rumble, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films, and the Cars franchise. In addition to reprising his role as Adrian Monk in the aforementioned Monk reunion movie, Shalhoub will also play Carlos Ghosn, the former CEO of Nissan and Renault who eluded capture by hiding himself in a music container, in the upcoming movie Fall of the God of Cars.
Traylor Howard as Natalie Teeger
Traylor Howard started her acting career very young, with her first credit being a TV commercial when she was in middle school. In the late ’90s, she joined the cast of Boston Common as Joy Byrnes, and that was when her career took off. She also worked with Ryan Reynolds on the beloved 90s sitcom Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place. Howard would go on to have a modest career after Monk ended, with a few more minor appearances, including roles in the TV film Nolan Knows Best and a guest appearance on the show Peacock Presents: The At-Home Variety Show Featuring Seth MacFarlane.
She also provided voice work for the 2010 and 2016 animated shorts Simon Says Let’s Stop Climate Change! and Simon Says Save the Climate! According to a 2014 Atlanta Journal-Constitution feature, Howard and her architect husband, Jarel Portman, are busy raising their son, Julien. Of course, no one could pass up the chance to have her in Monk once more, and Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie remains her last acting credit.
Jason Gray-Stanford as Randall Disher
Jason Gray-Stanford has appeared as a guest star on several television programs since his role in Monk, including DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, The X-Files, iZombie, and The Boys. After being diagnosed with heart failure in 2020, he underwent a heart transplant. He later claimed in an essay for Today (via Yahoo) that, without the operation, he would have only had a few weeks to live. Before his time on the show, he appeared in the movies A Beautiful Mind and Mystery, Alaska, and voiced Sherlock Holmes in the animated series Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century.
He made two on-screen appearances in 2022: in the movie Cruel Instruction and an episode of FBI: Most Wanted. In addition to playing Maron in Disney’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians television series, he, of course, also reprised his Monk role in the reunion film. He continues to work in the TV space, appearing in guest roles with his latest coming in 2025’s The Irrational.
Ted Levine as Leland Stottlemeyer
Ted Levine started his career in theaters in Chicago and gradually rose to prominence until, in the ’80s, he got his first big role in television. It was with the role of Frank Holman in NBC’s Crime Story. In movies, his most notable credits are The Silence of the Lambs from 1991, and his work with Al Pacino in the movie Heat. Some of his most important works after Monk include playing Lt. Hank Wade in the police drama The Bridge, retired police chief Thomas F. Bynes in the historical drama The Alienist, cult leader Obie Garbeau II in the comedy On Becoming a God in Central Florida, and ranch owner Horst Klensasser in the crime drama Big Sky.
He also appeared in the movie Starbright and as a guest star in an episode of Tiny Beautiful Things in 2023. He went back to play Leland Stottlemeyer in Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie. Levine’s most recent appearance was a recurring role on Mayfair Witches, and the actor currently has several projects in development.
Hector Elizondo as Neven Bell
Hector Elizondo is perhaps best known for his role alongside Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries movies. He played Joe, Queen Clarisse’s closest advisor and eventual love interest. Hathaway has said numerous times that both she and Andrews want to work on a third installment, so there is a chance he might reprise his role despite being currently retired. After Monk, the actor went on to voice characters in numerous movies and television shows, including Thundercats, The Legend of Korra, Dora the Explorer, and The Lego Batman Movie.
Additionally, he appeared in several movies and TV episodes, including Valentine’s Day, Grey’s Anatomy, Guess Who Died, Last Man Standing, and B Positive. In an episode of the animated series Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Elizondo provided the voice of Romar Adell in 2023. The actor reprised his role as a psychiatrist for Monk in the aforementioned Monk reunion movie, which is currently his last acting credit.
Stanley Kamel as Charles Kroger
Partway into Monk’s run, Stanley Kamel suffered a heart attack, which tragically resulted in his death at the age of 65. While Monk was a big part of his career, the actor was hugely successful long before the show. He was well recognized for his recurring parts on Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, and Days of Our Lives. In the ’80s, he appeared in the movies Making Love and Star 80, then worked in horror movies like Dead Men Don’t Die and Ravager. He is greatly missed in the entertainment world
Bitty Schram as Sharona Fleming
After Bitty Schram’s three-season stint on Monk came to an end, she faded from public view. Her notable performances before the show include Marvin’s Room, One Fine Day, and A League of Their Own. Other than reprising her role in Monk in 2009, Schram only has one other acting credit following the series: a brief role in the 2016 film Moments of Clarity.
Sadly, although she returned to the show as a guest after her departure, she did not appear in Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie. She does appear, however, in archival footage in the movie. Everything seems to point to her choosing to live a private life, at least for the moment.
Emmy Clarke as Julie Teeger
Actress Emmy Clarke continued to work after her time on Monk, appearing in several projects, including the television movie The Line, the feature film Apartment Troubles, the short Capture the Flag, and the show The Strange Adventures of Gravemind the Warlock. After Monk concluded, Clarke, who now serves as a team lead for client solutions at TikTok, earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and media studies. She has chosen to step away from acting for the time being.
Tim Bagley as Harold Krenshaw
Tim Bagley played a supporting character called Harold, a patient who continuously antagonized Monk. The two of them eventually sort out their differences and become friends, but their disagreements are undoubtedly compelling. Bagley, who made his debut in 1992 with a small part in Mistress, would go on to amass a substantial filmography, appearing in films such as Knocked Up and Imperfect Skies. His most recent film appearances include Only Humans and Howdy, Neighbor!
Besides his time on Monk, Bagley had an expansive career in TV before appearing as Hank in the Hit Show. After Monk, he worked alongside Lisa Kudrow on Web Therapy, had guest appearances in great shows like Glee, New Girl, Mom, Roseanne, Mr. Robinson, and many more, and of course, had a memorable character in Grace & Frankie. He played the director of a theater company for LGBTQ+ people in Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin’s iconic show.
Melora Hardin as Trudy Monk
Melora Hardin, though not a main character, plays an instrumental role in the Monk plot. She portrayed Trudy Monk, the detective’s late wife, and the mystery surrounding her death is a crucial arc throughout the series. Hardin returned to play Trudy’s ghost in Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie, and fans were thrilled to see her.
Hardin is an incredibly prolific actress, starring in recent films like Golden Vanity, Clock, and Cruel Hearts. In her television roles, Melora Hardin had an important role on The Office, received an Emmy nomination for her recurring role on Transparent, and guest-starred on several shows, including The Blacklist and CSI: Miami.
- Release Date
-
2002 – 2009-00-00
- Network
-
USA
- Directors
-
Randy Zisk, Jerry Levine
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
