‘Monk’ Turns 20: Where’s the Cast Now?

Dan Clarendon
53 Comments
Monk - Ted Levine, Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard
Hopper Stone/USA Network/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Two decades ago, on July 12, 2002, TV audiences first got acquainted with Adrian Monk, the phobia-prone, obsessive-compulsive private detective at the heart of the USA police comedy Monk.

And with its series finale eight seasons later, Monk set the record for the most-watched episode of an hour-long drama on basic cable, holding that honor until The Walking Dead shambled along. And actor Tony Shalhoub added three Emmys to his trophy shelf along the way for his portrayal of the quirky P.I.

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Monk’s longevity is a testament to the writers and cast, who sustained the show after fan-favorite actor Bitty Schram’s abrupt exit midway through Season 3. (Schram, who returned for one episode in the final season of Monk, reportedly left the show amid a contract dispute as she and other supporting cast members renegotiated their pacts.)

So in stepped actor Traylor Portman, who took over as Monk’s new assistant and ingratiated herself with wary fans. “I will always be grateful to Traylor because she came in when the show was in crisis and saved our baby,” Monk executive producer Andy Breckman told The Wall Street Journal in 2009. “We had to make a hurried replacement, and not every show survives that. I was scared to death.”

With Monk turning 20 years old on July 12, here are updates on its cast members.

Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk
Peter ‘Hopper’ Stone/USA Network/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Tony Shalhoub (Adrian Monk)

In 2018, Shalhoub won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his performance in the Broadway show The Band’s Visit. The following year, he won his fourth Emmy Award in 2019 for his supporting role as professor Abe Weissman in the Amazon Prime Video comedy The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. His other recent TV work includes a starring role as U.S. Senator Red Wheatus on the CBS political satire BrainDead.

Monk - Bitty Schram as Sharona Fleming
USA Network/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Bitty Schram (Sharona Fleming)

Schram dropped out of the spotlight after Monk ended: Her only screen credit since her 2009 Monk reprise is a small part in the 2016 movie Moments of Clarity.

Monk - Jason Gray-Stanford as Randall Disher
USA Network/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Jason Gray-Stanford (Randall Disher)

In the years since Monk, Gray-Stanford has guest-starred on the TV shows Supergirl, The X-Files, iZombie, The Boys, and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, among others. In 2020, he underwent a heart transplant after being diagnosed with heart failure, and he wrote in a subsequent TODAY essay that he would have only survived for a few weeks had he not gotten a new heart.

Monk - Ted Levine as Leland Stottlemeyer
Isabella Vosmikova/USA Network/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Ted Levine (Leland Stottlemeyer)

Levine has taken on many TV roles recently, the biggest of which include Lt. Hank Wade in the FX police drama The Bridge, retired police chief Thomas F. Bynes in the TNT period drama The Alienist, cult-ish leader Obie Garbeau II in the Showtime comedy On Becoming a God in Central Florida, and ranch owner Horst Klensasser in the ABC crime drama Big Sky.

Monk - Traylor Portman as Natalie Teeger
USA Network/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Traylor Portman (Natalie Teeger)

As of a 2014 profile in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Traylor Portman (credited on Monk as Traylor Howard, her maiden name) raising a 2-year-old son, Julien, with her architect husband, Jarel Portman. She did return to the role of Natalie Teeger in 2020 for a Monk short in Peacock’s The At-Home Variety Show, joining Shalhoub, Gray-Stanford, and Levine for the bit.

Monk Julie Teeger Emmy Clarke
Isabella Vosmikova/USA Network/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Emmy Clarke (Julie Teeger)

According to her LinkedIn profile, Clarke got a bachelor’s degree in communications and media studies after Monk ended and now works as a team lead of client solutions for TikTok.

Monk Charles Kroger Stanley Kamel
USA Network/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Stanley Kamel (Charles Kroger)

Kamel died of a heart attack midway through Monk’s run, passing away at age 65. The actor also had recurring roles on Days of Our Lives, Melrose Place, and Beverly Hills, 90210.

Monk key art
Tony Shalhoub

Tony Shalhoub

Ted Levine

Ted Levine

Traylor Howard

Traylor Howard

Jason Gray-Stanford

Jason Gray-Stanford

Bitty Schram

Bitty Schram

⨁Full Cast & Crew

USA Network

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2002–2009

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Comedy

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Mystery

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MonkBitty SchramEmmy ClarkeJason Gray-StanfordStanley KamelTed LevineTony ShalhoubTraylor Howard



Conversation53 Comments

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  1. B

    BlueBoomerang

    I have watched ALL 8 seasons and have seen every episode.

    Always a MONK fan!!

  2. O

    OrangeBike

    One of my favorite shows of all time.

  3. R

    RedBone

    Loved Monk. Still watch it

  4. B

    BlueSnow

    This was such a great show and I watch it every time it comes on. Every one and everything was perfect.

  5. R

    RedBee

    I love the show, I’ve watched it multiple times and I still watch the reruns. I wish it would come back. There is nothing compared to it on TV now.

  6. C

    CyanWeights

    I love the TV show monk I watched every episode in fact I'm watching it now on the Hallmark Channel it's one of the greatest show ever made for TV all the actors and actresses were awesome I love. Bitty Schram Even though the show was still good when she left it wasn't the same how ironic on the show she complained about her paycheck and then in real life she left the show because she thought she was under paid also they failed to mention what happened to Sharona Fleming son Benji Fleming.. and monk other psychiatrist Hector Alonso.

    1. O

      OrangeMagnet

      I love the show !!! I loved Sharona fleming episodes and natalie. I am disturbed by dale the whale so i dont rewatch those episodes. I love the touching episodes with adrian's brother and rewatch those frequently. He was not in this article either

      1. G

        GoldCocktail

        I agree. Dale the Whale was gross!

  7. R

    RedBowtie

    Love Monk. Watching right now

  8. R

    RedLobster

    Loved the subtle humor in the show. Was really sad to see it end!

  9. O

    OliveDice

    Would you believe I rewatched every episode and I am on the final two. Love Monk.

    1. C

      CyanStrawberry

      Oh you will love those final 2 episodes! Enjoy!

  10. R

    RedElephant

    It would be nice to bring Monk back as 6 part Mini series. It was a great show.

  11. G

    GreenQuill

    I love Monk Tony is Amazing

    1. G

      GreenCupcake

      Yes he is

  12. R

    RedFlask

    Great show. Absolutely crazy about Tony Shalhoub who carries its success

  13. G

    GoldBottleOpener

    I like that it was a comedy/detective show .

  14. O

    OliveFan

    We have never watched the finale but have watched the seasons over and over. Here's what happened...

  15. G

    GoldChilli

    One of my absolute favorites. Tony Shalhoub is an amazing actor and all the rest of the cast was amazing too. From the Captain and Randy's interacting with each other and Monk, to the different way Sharona worked with Monk as a no nonsense nurse, to the patience of Natalie's character as all assistant. Benji, Julie and his brother were all great characters as well. Also, the show did so well with changes many shows don't survive. When Sharona quit and when Stanley Camel died and Dr Kroger had to be replaced, bringing in Hector Elizazondo was brilliant

    he is such a great actor. We watch the reruns all the time and hope someday they'll come up with a revival of some sort.

  16. G

    GreenBone

    They left out Hector Elizondo that replaced Stanley Kamel after he passed away. Hector played Dr Bell.

  17. C

    CyanFries

    Monk is my fav love him and everyone of the cast members wish he cam back

  18. G

    GoldRing

    From the UK I could not get enough of Monk, proud owner of all 8 series of Monk.

  19. O

    OliveHelmet

    I still love this show...watch every day. I like knowing where the cast is now. Sad to here who died and happy for the new heart. Hugs to all of them to bring happeness to me. shirley

  20. G

    GreenCupcake

    Big fan of this show, I still watch

  21. B

    BluePaw

    I watch it every chance I get. I lost my husband in November. I can relate to Monk. His comedic character gives me a lift.

  22. R

    RedCarrot

    The info on Bitty Schram lack’s information. She did a lot more than one movie. Just do a search on “Bitty Schram.”

  23. R

    Reader

    This the one show that makes me actually laugh out loud, the writing on Monk was excellent, I am sad that it is over.

  24. C

    CyanFish

    it is the best show ever. i have the complete set and watch it every night at bedtime multiple times - the marci fan character is phenomenal as is his Nurse -the marriage counseling show - the garbage strike - the earth quake - to mention a few - the Natalie's troll doll - clever- kudos to all involve genius How did you all come up with all those ideas - the butler- the chess game - anxiously awaiting the movie.

  25. G

    GoldTeepee

    I'm rewatching it now on peacock...I think this is the 3rd rewatch...but I haven't watched it in years...I only have a couple episodes left...it still is one of my favorite series ever!

  26. P

    Patricia McNeil

    I love monk it was one of the best tv shows, with a comedy line as well. Tv is not the same and will never be the same. I enjoyed the rerun shows. Sometimes I record it. Great cast great show

  27. G

    GreenQuill

    Monk is now and has always been one of my favorite characters. Tony Shaloub is a really great actor. I watch the reruns every day👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

  28. R

    RedCarrot

    I think all the actors on this series were really Great! The story lines were very well written and directed. And Tony is a naturally wonderful, believable actor. I watch re-runs when ever I can… love, love it. I wish it still existed.

  29. P

    PurpleCar

    What channel nd time does it come on?? I love that show also

  30. O

    OlivePaw

    I love love this show. I binge watch it all the time. I am watching it as I type this comment.

  31. G

    GoldBug

    There so many now famous people featured in the episodes. I am curious how man of these actors got their 'big break because of their appearance on the show

  32. P

    PurpleRing

    I love the show monk. Please come back to tv or do a reboot. Maria

  33. B

    BlueBox

    I love the show and still watching the episodes 👍 My downtime before bed. I wished there were more episodes because it's a priceless show with all the characters that I love ❤️ Thank you for a wonderful and creative show 👍 Monk forever 👍👍👍

  34. G

    GreenPalmtree

    The show n characters was great I love n still watch over n over..I feel this article should of told us about some of the other characters it leaves me wonder ..guess I gotta Google Benji n etc.

  35. O

    OliveFan

    Monk is one of the most enjoyable, relatable and memorable of all serials I have seen. Despite being a Trekkie, I cannot remember the names of virtually any episode of any Star Trek, but I remember every one of Monk!

  36. C

    CyanMagnet

    I love monk, and I know a lot of people didn't like her, but I loved Sharona. They hinted at the end that Randy got together with her, but... that is not how we wanted that story played out. I loved the banter between the two actors. She was severely underpaid. Both the actress and the character.

  37. C

    CyanCandy

    There have been two perfect shows in my 57 years of life and those are Mary Tyler Moore and Monk (both had great theme songs). Monk is my most favorite. Our family still watches Monk every week and we have Monk marathons on certain holidays. It is a funny, poignant and well-written show with the best casting in t.v. history. Would love to see a reunion movie before the actors (or I...lol) get too old.

  38. G

    GreenButton

    Love, love, love them all. What a great series, old and reins!

  39. G

    GoldCocktail

    I totally binged 8 years of Monk! I was sad when I was done. Great show!

  40. P

    PurpleCocktail

    Love Monk!

  41. C

    CyanGuitar

    I absolutely loved Monk! The scripts were creative and the quirky characters made every show a delight to watch. I bought the complete series a few years back. The show always brings me a laugh!!

  42. B

    BlueHelmet

    Tony is a genius for his creation of Adrian Monk.

  43. C

    CyanStrawberry

    Loved Monk then and love it now. Am watching the series again from 1st to last episode on tv. Bought the complete series on dvds for my husband several years ago.

  44. C

    CyanCherries

    Love Monk, Watch the show everyday after work

  45. B

    BlueChefHat

    I LOVE MONK, THE WAY I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED "LUCY"!!!!!!

  46. R

    RedLobster

    Monk is as much a love story as it is a police comedy. There are very few shows that can make you laugh and cry. In my top 5 shows of all time.

  47. O

    OliveTooth

    I still watch Monk everyday. I wish that he would make more Monk shows

  48. P

    PurpleRing

    One of my all time favorite shows! I watch it every night before falling asleep.

    1. G

      GoldChilli

      Same here!