After eight seasons, Tony Shalhoub will be saying goodbye to his Monk character forever when the season finale of Monk airs on December 4 on USA. Although Monk has given fans quirky, private eye comedy and drama for eight seasons, the Monk character has also helped shed light on the condition of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which now has been demystified in the mainstream thanks in some special way to Tony Shalhoub and the creators of Monk.

With Monk bidding fans farewell for a final time in slightly under two months, and special guest star Bitty Schram returning to her role as Sharona in the Friday, October 23 episode, “Mr. Monk and Sharona,” we spent a few minutes with Tony Shalhoub to talk the final season of Monk, how he feels about Monk after so many years, and whether Tony Shalhoub feels he’s had an impact on the OCD community with his memorable character.

THE DEADBOLT: When you look at Monk now, what feelings do you have for the character as compared to day one?

TONY SHALHOUB: Well, day one I had no idea what I was doing. And I didn’t really have an understanding of where the writers or where I was going to take this character, how it was going to evolve. But now of course, having done 124 episodes, I was really really gratified to see that we made this character really multifaceted and full of contradictions and I think pretty well rounded. So, as an actor, that is something you always look for.

THE DEADBOLT: Is it easier or more difficult going into a season knowing it’s the last?

SHALHOUB: It’s both. You know, it sort of alternates back and forth. On the one hand, it’s easier because you understand that there’s going to be resolution and there’s going to be a finish line, an end point. And then on the other hand it just becomes such a family and you’re going to miss these people and these relationships, a sort of collective creative energy.

THE DEADBOLT: Do you have a sense that you made an impact in the OCD community?

SHALHOUB: You know, based on mail that we received from people who suffer from this disorder, and from various other people in academia, “impact” is kind of a big word. But I definitely think it’s a positive character and maybe even in some ways Monk has become a poster boy for those who suffer. But the feedback has all been so positive. I hope that it’s some effect in maybe demystifying the disorder and allowing people to see it as something not as a completely debilitating mental illness that this character suffers, but can still do his job well and can still contribute and is sort of a contributing member of society. I hope that people can see other sufferers in that same way.

THE DEADBOLT: What has Monk taught you on a personal level?

SHALHOUB: I guess it’s made me a little bit more – You know, I tend to take my time with examining things. I feel it’s made me somewhat more observant and less quick to jump to conclusions or to make snap judgements. It’s kind of slowed down my processes in that way, just allowing me kind of pour over something for longer periods, and I think that seems to have been helpful.