The death in April of actor Stanley Kamel, who portrayed the longtime therapist for eclectic detective Adrian Monk, left the series “Monk” with a sad and delicate situation entering its seventh season.
“You can’t replace or imitate him because that’s dishonest, and I wouldn’t do it,” said Hector Elizondo, who joins the show as Monk’s new psychiatrist.
Kamel played the smartly elegant Charles Kroger, whose counseling guided Monk through the murder of his wife and the loss of his police department job, as well as a multitude of quirks and fears.
Elizondo, a veteran of stage, film and TV, plays Neven Bell, who takes Monk (Tony Shalhoub) as a patient. The first episode of the season at 9 p.m. Friday on USA centers on how Monk handles his grief over Kroger’s sudden death.
“It’s not love at first sight,” Elizondo said. “Monk doesn’t trust me for awhile.”
The Washington Post
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
