Andy Breckman is the creator of the American mystery-comedy-drama television program Monk. Tony Shalhoub played Adrian Monk, and the cast also included Jason Gray-Stanford, Ted Levine, Traylor Howard, Stanley Kamel, Bitty Schram, Emmy Clarke, and Hector Elizondo. Monk, which ran from 2002 to 2009, is mostly a police procedural series, with some emotional and comedic undertones in its examination of the personal affairs of the principal characters.
According to Deadline, Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie, a Monk reunion film that will pick up after the series’ conclusion, was ordered by Peacock for production in 2023. Many of the original cast members will return to their roles, while Breckman will write the script. 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
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 provided voices for 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.
Jason Gray-Stanford
Jason Gray-Stanford has appeared as a guest star on a number of 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.
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 upcoming Percy Jackson and the Olympians television series, he will also reprise his Monk role in the forthcoming reunion film.
Ted Levine
The most notable recent television roles for Ted Levine include 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 on an episode of Tiny Beautiful Things in 2023. He will resume his role in the forthcoming Monk reunion film.
Traylor Howard
Traylor Howard has had a few roles since Monk ended, including those in the TV film Nolan Knows Best and a guest appearance in 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. In the upcoming reunion movie, she will reprise her role in Monk once more.
Stanley Kamel
Partway into Monk’s run, Stanley Kamel suffered a heart attack, which tragically resulted in his death at the age of 65. The actor was well recognized for his recurring parts on Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, and Days of Our Lives.
Bitty Schram
After Bitty Schram‘s three-season stint on Monk came to an end, she faded from public view. Her notable performances prior to the show include Marvin’s Room, One Fine Day, and A League of Their Own. Other than reprising her role in Monk once in 2009, Schram only has one other acting credit following the series: a brief role in the 2016 film Moments of Clarity. She is not set to reprise her Monk role in the forthcoming reunion film.
Emmy Clarke
Actress Emmy Clarke continued to work after her time on Monk, appearing in a number of 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 works as a team lead of client solutions for TikTok, obtained a bachelor’s degree in communications and media studies. She is not currently scheduled to resume her role in the Monk reunion movie.
Hector Elizondo
After finishing his work on Monk, Hector Elizondo went on to voice characters in a large number of movies and television shows, including Thundercats, The Legend of Korra, Dora the Explorer, and The Lego Batman Movie. Additionally, he appeared in a number of 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 will reprise his role as a psychiatrist for Monk in the aforementioned Monk reunion movie, in addition to appearing in the Max & Me animated historic production.
