Anthony Marc Shalhoub was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where his father, Joseph Shalhoub, had emigrated from Lebanon to the United States as an orphan at the age of ten, later marrying Shalhoub's mother, Helen (Seroogy),who was born in Wisconsin to Lebanese parents.
As a young boy, Tony was introduced to the world of theater at the age of six, when he participated in a school production of "The King and I". He graduated from Green Bay East High School and then went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in drama from the University of Southern Maine.
After completing his undergraduate degree, Tony furthered his education at the Yale School of Drama, where he earned a Master's degree in Fine Arts. Following his time at Yale, he joined the American Repertory Theatre before making his way to Broadway, where he met his future wife, Brooke Adams, in 1992.
Tony and Brooke married that same year, and he adopted her three-year-old adopted daughter, Josie, who was born in 1989. Two years later, the couple adopted another daughter, Sophie, who was born in 1993.
In 1990, Tony auditioned for the role of Italian cabdriver Antonio Scarpacci in the popular sitcom Wings, starring Tim Daly and Steven Weber. This was followed by roles in Men in Black (1997),Men in Black II (2002),Galaxy Quest (1999),and Thir13en Ghosts (2001).
However, it was his portrayal of the obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk in the TV series Monk (2002) that brought him widespread recognition and critical acclaim. The show earned him four consecutive Emmy Award nominations between 2003 and 2006 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, and he won the award in 2003, 2005, and 2006.
Throughout the run of Monk, Tony's performance as the brilliant but eccentric detective Adrian Monk proved to be both brilliant and popular, cementing his status as a beloved and respected actor in the industry.
