All four main characters returned for the sixth season:
Tony Shalhoub as former homicide detective
Adrian Monk,
Traylor Howard as Monk's faithful assistant
Natalie Teeger,
Ted Levine as SFPD captain
Leland Stottlemeyer, and
Jason Gray-Stanford as
Lieutenant Randy Disher.
Stanley Kamel returned for his final season as Monk's psychiatrist,
Dr. Charles Kroger. After Kamel's death during the hiatus following the sixth season, writers for the seventh season chose to have the character also die of a heart attack.
Emmy Clarke continued to portray Natalie's daughter,
Julie Teeger, and
Sharon Lawrence completed her run as Stottlemeyer's girlfriend,
Linda Fusco.
Melora Hardin portrayed
Trudy Monk, Monk's deceased wife. Ray Porter took over the role of
Dale the Whale, a part formerly held by
Adam Arkin and
Tim Curry.
Sarah Silverman returned as Monk's number-one fan and founder of the Monk-o-Philes,
Marci Maven, after a three season hiatus. Silverman earned an Emmy nomination for this role.
Tim Bagley reprised his role as
Harold Krenshaw, Monk's number-one rival.
Cody McMains also returned for a second appearance as Troy Kroger, Dr. Kroger's teenage son.
Larry Miller made a second appearance as Garrett Price, Monk's lawyer, since his first appearance in season 3.
Gail O'Grady appeared a second time since the pilot episode, "
Mr. Monk and the Candidate", but as a different character, Lovely Rita. ==Episodes==