What Happened To The Monk Cast?

The cast of Monk have mostly kept busy after the series ended in 2009. Here's what happened to Tony Shalhoub, Bitty Schram, Ted Levine, & the others.

Here’s what happened to the main Monk cast. The detective comedy is centered around Tony Shalhoub’s Adrian Monk, a former San Francisco Police Department homicide detective who becomes a private investigator following the mysterious death of his wife Trudy. Adrian Monk has obsessive-compulsive disorder and various phobias, and though these conditions often add complications to his life, they’re also shown in the series to have enhanced his memory and attention to detail, which make up the foundation of his detective skills.

Monk aired for eight critically-acclaimed seasons on the USA Network – from July 12, 2002 to December 4, 2009. July 2022 marks the 20th anniversary of the pilot episode of the crime show, which ran for a total of 125 episodes. Throughout the show’s long run, the cast of Monk have earned one Golden Globe Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and eight Primetime Emmy Awards. From 2009 to 2012 – even after the series concluded – Monk held the record for most-watched scripted drama in cable television history, a record that was only broken by The Walking Dead.

The Monk cast were some of the biggest television stars in the noughties, and it would be an understatement to say that the series deeply influenced both the crime and comedy genres in the last two decades. In fact, Monk‘s creative footprints can still be observed in true story-inspired crime shows like 61st Stree, Psych, and True Detective, as well as dark crime comedies like Barry, Dexter, and Better Call Saul. Adrian Monk will forever be a legend of television, and he couldn’t have done it without the support of a stellar cast. Here’s what happened to the main cast of Monk, some of the supporting actors, and what they have all been up to since the series ended in 2009.

Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk

Monk‘s overarching plot revolves around Adrian Monk trying to solve the murder of his wife, a case that only sees resolution in the series finale. Tony Shalhoub has been universally hailed for his portrayal of Adrian Monk, one of the most influential detective characters in modern television, with Monk being referenced in Psych and inspiring other crime shows. Shalhoub also appears in Pain & Gain, Galaxy Quest, and Breakable You. In 2018, Shalhoub won a Tony Award for his leading role in the Broadway musical The Band’s Visit, and then snagged his fourth Emmy for the true story-inspired The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Bitty Schram as Sharona Fleming

A fan favorite in the Monk cast, Sharona is Adrian’s nurse, whose refusal to baby Adrian ultimately helps the private investigator to better use his skills. Sharona left the show in Monk season 3, but returned for an episode in the final season to bring closure to the beloved character. Sharona is the only other character who rivals Monk’s popularity among audiences. After a contract dispute caused Bitty Schram to leave Monk, the actor has mostly shied away from the limelight, though Schram has a minor role in the movie Moments of Clarity.

Jason Gray-Stanford as Lieutenant Randall Disher

In the true crime-inspired show, the somewhat naive Lieutenant Randall Disher serves in the Homicide Division of the SFPD. In the series finale, Randall ends up with Sharona and the two live together in New Jersey. Following his stint in the cast of Monk, Jason Gray-Stanford went on to guest-star in The Boys, The X-Files, NCIS: New Orleans, and most notably the finale of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow season 7. Alongside Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Portman, and Ted Levine, Gray-Stanford appeared in the Monk short for The At-Home Variety Show in 2020.

Traylor Portman as Natalie Teeger

Introduced to the Monk cast in season 3, Natalie Teeger stepped in as Adrian’s second and final assistant after Sharona’s departure. Initially receiving a cold reception from viewers, Natalie eventually filled the void in the cast of Monk that Sharona left behind, giving Adrian the same tough love he needs but with a much more deferential attitude, even calling Adrian “Mr. Monk.” After Monk concluded in 2009, Traylor Portman appeared in the TV movie Nolan Knows Best, but has mostly dropped away from show business.

Ted Levine as Captain Leland Stottlemeyer

The head of the SFPD’s Homicide Division, Captain Leland is Adrian’s long-time friend on the force. Though Captain Leland is initially annoyed at having to work with the neurotic Adrian, the Captain learns to trust Adrian’s instincts and insights by the third season. Actor Ted Levine is infamous for having the best death scene in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Levine also has key roles in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, On Becoming a God in Central Florida, The Alienist, and Big Sky.

Stanley Kamel as Dr. Charles Kroger

Arguably the most important supporting character in the Monk cast, Dr. Charles Kroger was Adrian’s psychiatrist throughout the first six seasons of the series. Dr. Kroger eventually died of a heart attack, mirroring the real death of the actor that portrayed the character. Stanley Kamel succumbed to heart failure on April 8, 2008. The parallels between Kamel and Dr. Kroger led to Kroger’s farewell being a highly emotional event for audiences and the Monk crew alike.

Hector Elizondo as Dr. Neven Bell

Dr. Neven Bell stepped into the detective show during Monk season 7 to replace Dr. Kroger as Adrian’s psychiatrist. Hector Elizondo also appears in B Positive, Last Man Standing, and Grey’s Anatomy. Elizondo also lended his voice to several animated characters in movies and series like The Book of Life, Mickey Mouse Mixed Up Adventures, and Disney’s somewhat controversial Elena of Avalor.

Emmy Clarke as Julie Teeger

Natalie Teeger’s daughter Julie is a promising young woman who ends up going to college to study the One of the most beloved returning characters, Julie helped make Natalie a suitable replacement for Sharona in the Monk cast. Emmy Clarke was only 14 when she first appeared on Monk. Clarke also appears in Apartment Troubles, The Line, and the short film Capture the Flag.

Willie Nelson as Himself

The Monk cast includes a number of notable cameos scattered across its 125 episodes, and undoubtedly the biggest star who has appeared on the show is social activist and folk rock legend Willie Nelson. In the episode “Mr. Monk and the Red-Headed Stranger,” Willie was a suspect in the murder of his own road manager, and even plays some tunes with Adrian Monk onstage. The episode’s title is a reference to the classic Western Red Headed Stranger, which not only stars Willie Nelson but is also based on his album of the same name. Younger audiences might recognize Nelson from Zoolander 2, Lost in London, Paradox, and Waiting for the Miracle to Come.