It’s been over a decade since Patrick Jane finally got his revenge on Red John, yet the show still feels like it’s constantly playing in the background of our lives. You see it on TNT marathons or scrolling through Max. Honestly, the magic of the show wasn't just the "psychic" tricks or the cases. It was the specific chemistry of the Mentalist cast. Without that exact group of people, the show would’ve just been another generic procedural about a guy who notices things.
Simon Baker was the soul of the series, obviously. But the way Robin Tunney played the "straight man" to his chaotic energy made the whole thing work. They weren't just actors hitting marks. They felt like a real, slightly dysfunctional family working out of a high-tech office in Sacramento.
Simon Baker: More Than Just a Pretty Smile
Simon Baker wasn't the first choice for Patrick Jane, but it's hard to imagine anyone else wearing those three-piece suits and driving that beat-up Citroën. He brought this weird mix of arrogance and deep, soul-crushing sadness. After The Mentalist wrapped in 2015, Baker didn't just jump into another network TV show. He went back to his roots in Australia.
He took a massive swing with Breath in 2017. He didn't just star in it; he directed and co-wrote it. It’s a surf film, but it’s really about masculinity and fear. It’s quiet. If you’re used to him being the wisecracking Jane, Breath is a total 180. More recently, he’s been in Limbo, a stark, black-and-white Outback noir that premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. He looks different now—older, grittier, usually sporting a beard that Patrick Jane would never have allowed. He’s clearly prioritizing "art" over "fame" these days.
Baker also dealt with some heavy personal stuff, like his split from his wife of 29 years, Rebecca Rigg. It was one of those Hollywood breakups that actually felt sad because they’d been together forever.
Robin Tunney and the Life After Teresa Lisbon
Robin Tunney was the glue. While Jane was off breaking every law in the book, Lisbon was the one who had to deal with the paperwork and the angry DA. Tunney has often talked about how grueling those 22-episode seasons were. You’re on set for 14 hours a day, nine months a year.
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After the show, she took a bit of a breather before starring in The Fix in 2019. It was a legal drama co-created by Marcia Clark—yes, that Marcia Clark. It didn't last long, but Tunney was great in it. These days, she’s a bit of a poker shark. No, really. She’s appeared in Celebrity Poker Showdown and is known in the Hollywood circuit for being actually good at the game. Maybe she picked up some tells from Baker on set?
She’s also a mom now. Her Instagram is less "glamour shots" and more "real life with kids," which is refreshing. She seems happy to be away from the grind of a procedural.
The Enigma of Tim Kang (Kimball Cho)
Kimball Cho was everyone’s favorite. The man never smiled, and when he did, it felt like an event. Tim Kang played Cho with such a specific, deadpan intensity that he stole almost every scene he was in.
What’s he doing now?
- He had a long run on the Magnum P.I. reboot as Detective Gordon Katsumoto.
- He’s a black belt in Taekwondo, which explains why his fight scenes always looked so legit.
- He’s heavily involved in the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Kang is one of those working actors who stays busy but keeps his private life completely locked down. You won't find him in the tabloids. He just shows up, does the work, and goes home.
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Owain Yeoman and Amanda Righetti: The Rigsby and Van Pelt Saga
The romance between Wayne Rigsby and Grace Van Pelt was the heart of the CBI office. It was the "will-they-won't-they" that actually ended in a "they did."
Owain Yeoman is actually Welsh. If you didn't know that, go watch an interview with him; his accent is thick. Since the show, he’s popped up in Turn: Washington's Spies and played a villain in Supergirl. He’s also a massive vegan activist. He’s done PETA campaigns and is constantly pushing for animal rights. He’s much more outspoken and energetic than the lovable, sandwich-obsessed Rigsby.
Amanda Righetti left the show a bit earlier than the others, around Season 6, as the story moved to the FBI in Austin. She’s stayed active in the indie film world and starred in the sci-fi series Colony. Righetti has also moved into the lifestyle and real estate space, which seems to be a common pivot for actors who want a more stable life for their families.
Why the Mentalist Cast Still Ranks High in Our Hearts
There’s a reason people still search for the mentalist cast more than they do for shows that are currently on the air. It’s comfort food. But it’s high-quality comfort food.
The show succeeded because it didn't try to be The Wire. It knew it was a "case of the week" show, but it anchored those cases in characters we actually liked. When Red John was finally revealed as Sheriff Thomas McAllister (played by Xander Berkeley), some fans were annoyed. They wanted it to be someone more prominent. But the actors sold the aftermath so well that we forgave the slightly underwhelming reveal.
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Surprising Facts You Probably Forgot
- Joe Adler (Jason Wylie): The tech genius from the later seasons? He went on to have a recurring role in Grey’s Anatomy.
- Rockmond Dunbar (Dennis Abbott): He joined late but became a staple. He had a major role in 9-1-1 but left due to the COVID-19 vaccine mandates on set, which was a whole thing in the trades back in 2021.
- The Red John Cameos: Before the big reveal, several actors played the "voice" or the "shadow" of Red John, including Simon Baker himself in one episode to keep the mystery alive.
The Austin Reboot Era
The last two seasons were a weird pivot. Moving the setting from Sacramento to the FBI in Austin, Texas, felt like a different show. Some fans hated it. Personally? I thought it breathed new life into the format. Adding Emily Swallow as Kim Fischer and later bringing in the Rigsby/Van Pelt wedding gave the show a proper victory lap.
Most procedurals just end with a generic arrest. The Mentalist ended with a wedding and a pregnancy. It gave the audience closure that few shows in this genre ever bother with.
How to Revisit the Series Properly
If you're looking to dive back into the world of Patrick Jane, don't just binge the whole thing. The best way to experience the mentalist cast again is to follow the "Red John" arc specifically.
- Start with the Pilot (obviously).
- Jump to the Season 2 finale "Red Sky at Night."
- Hit the Season 3 finale "Strawberries and Cream" (maybe the best episode of the series).
- Watch the Season 6 episode "Red John" to see the climax of the decade-long hunt.
- Finish with the series finale "White Orchids."
Watching it this way highlights the acting growth. You see Simon Baker go from a man obsessed with death to a man who finally allows himself to be happy.
The legacy of the show isn't just in the ratings. It's in how these five or six people created a world that felt safe even when there was a serial killer on the loose. They were the "Scooby Gang" for people who liked police procedurals.
If you want to keep up with them now, follow Simon Baker’s directorial work. He’s proving to be one of the most interesting filmmakers coming out of Australia. For a nostalgia hit, Robin Tunney’s social media is the best place to see the occasional "reunion" photo. They all still seem to actually like each other, which, in Hollywood, is the biggest twist of all.
To get the most out of your rewatch, pay attention to the background characters in the CBI office. Many of them were local Sacramento actors who stayed with the show for years, giving it a sense of place that many Vancouver-shot shows lack. Check out the series on streaming platforms like Max or Amazon Prime, where the high-definition transfers make the California scenery look better than it ever did on cable TV.