Wayne Rigsby
Encyclopedia
Wayne Rigsby is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama The Mentalist
, portrayed by Owain Yeoman
. Rigsby is an agent
for the fictionalized California Bureau of Investigation.
specialist in San Diego before becoming a CBI agent. Rigsby seems to be good friends with Cho
and Patrick Jane
.
. It began in "Pilot
", when Jane made an off-the-cuff comment about Rigsby wanting to invite Van Pelt back to his hotel room for sex, suggesting that she accept. Rigsby kisses Van Pelt under hypnosis in "Russet Potatoes", when Jane said he could have his heart's desire. We see her return his feelings in "Red Scare
", after Rigsby says he doesn't care about the CBI, he just wants to be with her. Near the end of the episode, they share their first real kiss.
In "Black Gold and Red Blood", Van Pelt and Rigsby seem to be dating and greet each other happily at a crime scene. However, Rigsby tells Van Pelt he thinks Jane may know about their relationship. In the following episode, "Red Bulls", Van Pelt and Rigsby argue about him not wearing a bulletproof vest to canvass an apartment building. Van Pelt is shot multiple times in the chest while questioning a young woman, but survives with a bulletproof vest on. When Van Pelt is taken to an ambulance, Rigsby says he loves her. Van Pelt slaps Rigsby and tells him next time, he has to wear a bulletproof vest.
In the episode "Bleeding Heart", he and Van Pelt announce their relationship to the team. Lisbon says she will take action and report their relationship to the head of the CBI, although in the episode, "Redline
", Lisbon changes her mind and tells Rigsby and Van Pelt not to have physical contact with each other while at the office.
In the episode "The Red Box
", the new head of the CBI, Madeleine Hightower, mysteriously discovers Rigsby's relationship with Van Pelt and informed Lisbon, although Lisbon pretended she didn't know about it.
In "Aingavite Baa", Hightower gives Van Pelt and Rigsby an ultimatum: they can be in a relationship only if one of them leaves the unit. As they walk out of Hightower's office, Rigsby and Van Pelt say they love each other. Rigsby, after being in a shootout, tells Van Pelt he will get another job so they can be together. However, at the end of the episode, Grace breaks things off by saying she doesn't want the responsibility of making Rigsby leave the CBI. Rigsby pleads with her to talk it through, but Van Pelt simply says she knows herself and walks away, leaving him heartbroken. Van Pelt is later seen walking into the office elevator crying and sobbing.
In the episode "Bloodhounds," Rigsby dates criminal profiler Dr. Montague and shows interest in seeing her again. However, using her knowledge of behavioral patterns, Dr. Montague gently turns Rigsby down, stating that he is clearly in love with someone else (which Rigsby does not deny).
Van Pelt begins dating FBI Agent Craig O'Loughlin during Season 3. In the episode "Blood for Blood
," Van Pelt accepts O'Loughlin's marriage proposal, to Rigsby's dismay. However it is revealed in Strawberries and Cream
part 2 that Craig is actually a mole for series antagonist Red John
.
The Mentalist
The Mentalist is an American police procedural television series which debuted on September 23, 2008, on CBS. The show was created by Bruno Heller, who is also the show's executive producer...
, portrayed by Owain Yeoman
Owain Yeoman
Owain Yeoman is a Welsh actor. His credits include The Nine, Kitchen Confidential and the HBO series, Generation Kill. He currently appears as Agent Wayne Rigsby in The Mentalist.-Biography:...
. Rigsby is an agent
Special agent
Special agent is usually the title for a detective or investigator for a state, county, municipal, federal or tribal government. An agent is a worker for any federal agency, and a secret agent is one who works for an intelligence agency....
for the fictionalized California Bureau of Investigation.
Early Life
Not much is known about Rigsby's childhood, aside from the fact that his father was a motorcyclist and was in a motorcycle gang. His father was in and out of jail for numerous crimes, including manslaughter; it is strongly implied Rigsby was the victim of child abuse. Rigsby worked as an arsonArson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
specialist in San Diego before becoming a CBI agent. Rigsby seems to be good friends with Cho
Kimball Cho
Kimball Cho is a character portrayed by Tim Kang on the American TV crime drama The Mentalist. Cho is an agent for a fictionalized version of the California Bureau of Investigation ....
and Patrick Jane
Patrick Jane
Patrick Jane is the protagonist on the CBS crime drama The Mentalist, portrayed by Simon Baker. Jane is a consultant for a fictionalized version of the California Bureau of Investigation and helps by giving advice and insight from his many years as a fake psychic medium...
.
Relationship with Grace Van Pelt
A recurring subplot is Rigsby's infatuation with Grace Van PeltGrace Van Pelt
Grace Van Pelt is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama The Mentalist, portrayed by Amanda Righetti. Van Pelt is a Special agent in the fictionalized California Bureau of Investigation.-Character Background:...
. It began in "Pilot
Pilot (The Mentalist)
"Pilot" is the first season and series premiere of the television series The Mentalist. It premiered in the United States on CBS on September 23, 2008. The episode was written by the executive producer of the show Bruno Heller and was directed by David Nutter...
", when Jane made an off-the-cuff comment about Rigsby wanting to invite Van Pelt back to his hotel room for sex, suggesting that she accept. Rigsby kisses Van Pelt under hypnosis in "Russet Potatoes", when Jane said he could have his heart's desire. We see her return his feelings in "Red Scare
Red Scare
Durrell Blackwell Durrell Blackwell The term Red Scare denotes two distinct periods of strong Anti-Communism in the United States: the First Red Scare, from 1919 to 1920, and the Second Red Scare, from 1947 to 1957. The First Red Scare was about worker revolution and...
", after Rigsby says he doesn't care about the CBI, he just wants to be with her. Near the end of the episode, they share their first real kiss.
In "Black Gold and Red Blood", Van Pelt and Rigsby seem to be dating and greet each other happily at a crime scene. However, Rigsby tells Van Pelt he thinks Jane may know about their relationship. In the following episode, "Red Bulls", Van Pelt and Rigsby argue about him not wearing a bulletproof vest to canvass an apartment building. Van Pelt is shot multiple times in the chest while questioning a young woman, but survives with a bulletproof vest on. When Van Pelt is taken to an ambulance, Rigsby says he loves her. Van Pelt slaps Rigsby and tells him next time, he has to wear a bulletproof vest.
In the episode "Bleeding Heart", he and Van Pelt announce their relationship to the team. Lisbon says she will take action and report their relationship to the head of the CBI, although in the episode, "Redline
Redline
Redline refers to the maximum engine speed at which an internal combustion engine or traction motor and its components are designed to operate without causing damage to the components themselves or other parts of the engine...
", Lisbon changes her mind and tells Rigsby and Van Pelt not to have physical contact with each other while at the office.
In the episode "The Red Box
The Red Box
The Red Box is the fourth Nero Wolfe detective novel by Rex Stout. Prior to its first publication in 1937 by Farrar & Rinehart, Inc., the novel was serialized in five issues of The American Magazine...
", the new head of the CBI, Madeleine Hightower, mysteriously discovers Rigsby's relationship with Van Pelt and informed Lisbon, although Lisbon pretended she didn't know about it.
In "Aingavite Baa", Hightower gives Van Pelt and Rigsby an ultimatum: they can be in a relationship only if one of them leaves the unit. As they walk out of Hightower's office, Rigsby and Van Pelt say they love each other. Rigsby, after being in a shootout, tells Van Pelt he will get another job so they can be together. However, at the end of the episode, Grace breaks things off by saying she doesn't want the responsibility of making Rigsby leave the CBI. Rigsby pleads with her to talk it through, but Van Pelt simply says she knows herself and walks away, leaving him heartbroken. Van Pelt is later seen walking into the office elevator crying and sobbing.
In the episode "Bloodhounds," Rigsby dates criminal profiler Dr. Montague and shows interest in seeing her again. However, using her knowledge of behavioral patterns, Dr. Montague gently turns Rigsby down, stating that he is clearly in love with someone else (which Rigsby does not deny).
Van Pelt begins dating FBI Agent Craig O'Loughlin during Season 3. In the episode "Blood for Blood
Blood for Blood
Blood for Blood is a hardcore band from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed by Shane Flannery in 1994, motivated by the hardcore scene in Boston and New York City at the time. In 1997 they were signed to Victory Records...
," Van Pelt accepts O'Loughlin's marriage proposal, to Rigsby's dismay. However it is revealed in Strawberries and Cream
Strawberries and cream
Strawberries and cream can refer to*a dessert made with strawberries*an inedible fungus, Hydnellum peckii...
part 2 that Craig is actually a mole for series antagonist Red John
Red John
Red John is a fictional character and the leading antagonist on the CBS crime drama The Mentalist. He is a serial killer who murders many people in California, Nevada, and Mexico...
.