Trudy Anne Ellison Monk is a fictional character, who is the deceased wife of Adrian Monk on the television series Monk. Adrian's attempt to solve the case of her murder is the show's longest-running plot arc, and her death left Adrian "emotionally paralyzed". She worked as a columnist for The San Francisco Examiner, and as a reporter for San Francisco Chronicle, writing hard-hitting exposes.Trudy was played by Stellina Rusich in the first two seasons and Melora Hardin from the third season on; in the season-five episode "Mr. Monk and the Class Reunion", a younger Trudy is portrayed in a flashback by Lindy Newton.