Stanley Kamel, the actor who played Monk’s psychiatrist Dr. Charles Kroger, has passed away at age 65. Access Hollywood quotes a statement from a USA Network representative:

USA is deeply saddened by the news of Stanley Kamel’s passing. Stanley was an amazingly talented and extremely kind man, and an important member of the USA family. He will be sorely missed.

Kamel had a very long and varied career, and is familiar to many. I really loved his work as Dr. Kroger, and I wonder how the series will handle his loss. I am confident that the show will address the issue well, but I hope that they take the opportunity to make a fitting tribute to the actor instead of simply replacing him.

While a lot has been said lately of “young actors lost before their time” I think that even those out of their twenties are leaving us too soon.