Brad Garrett has become a household name as one of the stars of the long-running sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond and his most recent show 'Til Death.  Now, the 48-year-old actor will be branching out to yet another comedy series.  This time, however, it comes with a touch of police procedural drama.

The ‘Til Death actor has just sign on to appear on Monk's upcoming seventh season, which is expected to premiere on July 18.  According to TV Guide, Garrett is set to play a handyman who helps Monk lead star Tony Shalhoub with his home renovations.

Garrett, who has won three Primetime Emmy Awards, began his career at various improve clubs in Los Angeles, including The Improv in Hollywood and The Ice House in Pasadena.  He became the first $100,000 grand champion winner in the comedy category of the TV program Star Search, which led to his first appearance on The Tonight Show.  His appearance with host Johnny Carson brought him a lot of national attention, which eventually landed him gigs as opening acts for Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli, and Frank Sinatra, just to name a few.

In other Monk news, Emmy Award-nominated actor Robert Loggia, who specializes in character roles, has also been cast in an upcoming episode of the comedy-police procedural drama.  He is set to portray an aging boxer in “Mr. Monk Takes a Punch,” an installment that is scheduled to air some time in August.

Loggia first came to prominence playing real-life American lawman Elfego Baca in a 1958 series of Walt Disney television shows.  He then starred as the proverbial cat-burglar-turned-good on the short-lived series T.H.E Cat.  His TV credits included Columbo, Starsky and Hutch, Charlie's Angels, The Rockford Files, and The Sopranos, while his movie credits included roles in An Officer and a Gentleman, Scarface and Independence Day.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: TV Guide
(Image courtesy of WireImage.com)