This page includes a list of the main characters in the tv show along with some information about them.
Characters
 Tony Shalhoub played Adrian Monk, the main character of the show. Monk was an amazing detective, although he suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, which kept him from getting reinstated to the police force. After the death of his wife Trudy, Monk went into seclusion and was only brought out of it three years later with the help of his nurse Sharona. He and Sharona became close friends and she became his assistant when he became a private consultant for the police in homicide investigations. Monk's ability to notice even the smallest of details, as well as his knowledge of pretty much everything, made him an invaluable asset to the police. After Sharona moved back to New Jersey to remarry her ex-husband (really dumb plot contrivance), Monk found a new assistant named Natalie Teeger, who he was helping on a case. Monk remained a consultant for the police while trying to battle his OCD and solve the case surrounding the mysterious death of his beloved wife. |
 Captain Leland Stottlemeyer, played by Ted Levine, was the captain of the San Fransisco police force. He was an excellent and well respected cop and his character really grew as the series went on. In the beginning, although he looked up to Monk, he found himself easily annoyed at his bizarre theories and problems. As the show went on though, Stottlemeyer found himself immediately believing Monk when he came up with an idea. Stottlemeyer also became very protective of him, and awaited the day when he would be able to reinstate Monk to the force. He believed in Monk's abilities, but never felt comfortable letting him back onto the force knowing that other cops lives would be depending on him. Stottlemeyer was married to a woman named Karen and had two young sons, and although his marriage was shaky at times, he genuinely loved his wife and family. |
 Jason Gray-Stanford played Lieutenant Randy Disher, Stottlemeyer's right hand man and our favorite character. Randy was not the brightest man, but he was an outstanding cop and invaluable friend. He could be depended on in a life and death situation, and he proved his worth on more than one occasion. He looked up to Stottlemeyer as a father-figure of sorts, and respected him more than anyone. Randy constantly sought out ways to gain approval from the captain and sometimes found himself going too far. He had feelings for Sharona and just when they started to really seem to be going somewhere with their relationship, she left the show. But Randy continued to be an interesting character even after her departure, and he is best used when he is not just the comic-relief character. Our main hope for the later seasons is to have more Randy!! |
 Sharona Fleming, played by Bitty Schram, was Monk's nurse and friend in the early seasons. She basically saved his life as he was in a deep depression after the death of Trudy, and it was only after three years that he was even able to leave his house again. Sharona had a son named Benjy and an ex-husband named Trevor, who she left after she found out he was cheating on her. She found it hard to raise her son without a father, but luckily Monk was able to step into that role on occasion. Sharona was a very outspoken and opinionated character, but she loved Monk and protected him as if she were his mother. She was the perfect sidekick for him and the show really lost something with her absence. Although Sharona wasn't our favorite character, she was a much better nurse and friend to him than Natalie, and we miss her on the show (even if it is just to be with Randy!). |
 Natalie Teeger, played by Traylor Howard, was Monk's new assistant that replaced Sharona. She related to Monk in that she also lost her spouse, Mitch, but she dealt with the loss better than Monk. Natalie was pretty much the same type of character as Sharona: a single parent with a pre-teen child and an attitude, but we didn't mind her as much as we thought we would. She dealt with situations pretty differently than Sharona would, although sometimes that pushed Monk into directions he didn't want to go, such as when she made him close Trudy's office to pay her expenses. Natalie bugged us on occasion, but she was not as annoying as her daughter Julie, who we couldn't stand whenever she walked on screen. |
 Stanley Kamel played Doctor Charles Kroger, Monk's therapist. Dr. Kroger was the one constant in Monk's life, and Monk depended on their sessions to get him through everything, whether it was what to buy Benjy for his birthday, a tough case he couldn't solve, or if he just needed to talk. Dr. Kroger always listened to Monk's thoughts and problems, and found himself deeply involved in the welfare of him. When Monk shared with him that he thought he might be getting over his problems, Dr. Kroger cried because he was so happy for him. Monk respected Dr. Kroger a great deal, and found it very difficult when he met a fellow patient named Harold that was a close friend to him as well as being a patient. |
 Trudy Monk, played by Stellina Rusich and Melora Hardin, was Monk's late wife. She was killed in a car bomb in a parking garage, and although Monk always thought the bomb had been meant for him, Dale the Whale told him otherwise. Trudy was a reporter that sometimes got herself into trouble with her stories, which is how she got mixed up with Dale the Whale in the first place. Trudy's death was the one thing that changed Monk's life forever, for he loved her more than anything, and she loved him the same. Monk never truly got over her death and spent all his free time thinking about her, reading her poems, or trying to solve the case about her murder. He had a lead in New York at the beginning of season 3, but that turned into a dead end. The only possible thing that could make Monk truly be content in his life would be is if he could finally solve her case and have closure on the whole thing. We preferred the first actress who played Trudy, and feel that she has been overused ever since Sharona left. |
