From Lebanese descent, Tony Shalhoub is the magician in our TVs and on the wide screen. He reflects his characters so well that one wonders what Tony Shalhoub himself is really like. Accordingly to him, before Monk, people were surprised to hear that he was actually from this country and didn’t speak with an accent. He is one of the rare actors, who has the ability to play a character within the shell of another character. Its most mesmerizing display took place in one of the episodes of his Monk when Monk was pretending to be a stage actor who plays a fugitive redneck, harassing his ex-wife—not to mention the variations of the fugitive role, rooted to Monk’s mood swings. The danger is, when Mr. Shalhoub reaches such levels of fluency, the audience’s attention maybe diverted to his supreme ability instead of the play itself.

Mr. Shalhoub was introduced to the stage at the age of six. He volunteered for the high-school production “The King and I.” His formative years in theater were in the University of Southern Maine. He holds a tender view of those years and there are several reasons for this. First of all, Portland’s Old Port was under heavy rejuvenation. Buildings were being refurbished and renovated. Brick walls began to accompany freshly painted wood and iron frames. Theater troops and modern dance companies and artisans were filling the new space and air with their art. One of them was Profile Theater. Mr. Shalhoub describes himself as fortunate for being in this theater. He held practically every position possible before getting the larger roles. It was also the same year that he started his training in Yale Drama School. We also need to acknowledge his experience with the Children’s Theater of Maine. In his own words, he toured all around Maine and carried sets with him, played in the parks of Portland. The theater was not by kids, but for kids. He has completed workshops with kids in the summers, and visited various grade schools. “An incredibly productive and fertile time” says Mr. Shalhoub.

After the Yale Drama School, gradually Shalhoub has established himself as one of the most talented character actors working today. He had an especially memorable role in USA Films’ The Man Who Wasn’t There (Winner for “Best Director” at the 2001 Cannes International Film Festival), from Joel and Ethan Coen and starring Billy Bob Thornton and Frances McDormand. His numerous other feature film credits include Spy Kids, Galaxy Quest, The Siege, A Civil Action, Searching for Bobby Fischer, The Impostors, Primary Colors, Gattaca, Men in Black, Big Night, Barton Fink, Honeymoon in Vegas, Quick Change, Longtime Companion, Thir13en Ghosts, Life or Something Like It, Men in Black II, Spy Kids II, and Against the Ropes. Shalhoub made his feature directorial debut with the independent film Made Up, in which he also co-starred alongside his wife Brooke Adams and Gary Sinise.

Shalhoub’s television credits include starring in the telefilm remakes of That Championship Season, directed by Paul Sorvino, and Gypsy. He was previously a series regular on the sitcom Stark Raving Mad and the long-running hit series Wings.

Shalhoub’s New York theater work includes stagings of “Waiting for Godot,” “Conversations with My Father,” “The Heidi Chronicles” and “The Odd Couple,” as well as the New York Shakespeare Festival productions of “Henry IV Part 1” and “Richard III.”

His breakout role was as the cab driver Antonio in the NBC comedy series Wings (1991-1997). A succession of solid supporting roles in films followed. But it’s the USA Network series Monk that’s elevated Shalhoub to icon status, earning him a Best Actor Golden Globe award. His portrayal of the cleanliness-obsessed detective was an immediate critical and ratings hit, and he’s currently enjoying the perks and enduring the piques that come with that kind of recognition.