Dale "The Whale" Biederbeck
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Dale "The Whale" Biederbeck is a recurring villain from the TV show Monk, appearing in 3 episodes so far. In season 1, he is played by Adam Arkin, in season 2 by Tim Curry, and in season 6 by Ray Porter, all of them portrayed in fat suits. Biederbeck is arrogant, brilliant, rich, and ruthless. He claims to own "half the city", and have controlling interests in the other half. He gets his nickname from his morbid obesity (attributed to the death of his mother); he is unable to leave his bed in seasons 1 and 2. This status appears to have changed some by the time of "Mr Monk is on the Run (Part II)", as he is seen in a wheelchair rather than in bed, suggesting that he's lost some weight. Even after Monk has him arrested following his first appearance however, Biederbeck continues to control his vast empire from his jail cell.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Prior to the series
In the episode Mr. Monk Meets Dale the Whale it is revealed that Monk has severe hatred and bitterness toward Biederbeck, because he sued Trudy and Monk over an article she published about him; she called him "The Genghis Khan of world finance." Even though Biederbeck knew he couldn't win the case, he kept pumping money into the trial, forcing Monk and Trudy to shell out costs. Eventually, they had to sell their house, in which Biederbeck now claims to store his pornography. Because Trudy died before the trial ended, Monk blames Biederbeck for stealing the last years of her life.
[edit] Mr. Monk Meets Dale the Whale
In "Mr. Monk Meets Dale the Whale," a judge makes a 911 call, saying that Biederbeck is trying to kill her. The problem is that this isn't possible, since Dale is too fat to walk, let alone get out of his room and kill someone. Monk solves the case and catches Dale's personal doctor, who promptly turns state's evidence on Dale.
[edit] Mr. Monk Goes to Jail
The next time Biederbeck can be viewed in the series is in the Season 2 Finale "Mr. Monk Goes to Jail." He is adjusting to life in prison easily. He has a personal servant, luxurious furniture, a TV, and just about everything one would not normally find in a prison environment — everything except a window. He hires Monk to solve the murder of an inmate who was poisoned less than an hour before his execution. The man had owed Biederbeck $1,200, so Biederbeck naturally assumed he would become a suspect. Monk agrees that Dale isn't the culprit, since $1,200 is petty change to him (he is quoted as saying: "I wouldn't bend over to pick up $1,200, even if I could", followed by his trademark laughter). Dale mentions that he wouldn't normally be concerned over something trivial like this, except that until the case is solved and Biederbeck is proven innocent, they will not put in the window.
In return for this favor, Dale offers Monk information concerning who killed Trudy. Even though Sharona tells him not to, Monk takes the case on the off-chance that Biederbeck is telling the truth. After Monk solves the case, Dale reveals that Trudy was, contrary to Monk's beliefs, indeed the intended victim of the car bomb. He also states that Monk should look for a man named Warrick Tennyson who could be found in Manhattan, New York. This gives Monk his first real lead on Trudy's death. Eventually, Monk finds Tennyson in the Season 3 premiere, so to Sharona's, and even Monk's surprise, it's evident that Biederbeck was telling the truth after all.
[edit] Mr. Monk Is on the Run (Part Two)
Monk learns that Dale was the mastermind behind a plot to frame him for murder, while simultaneously organizing the murder of the Governor of California. The Lieutenant Governor, who is on Dale's payroll, would then pardon Dale, allowing Dale to enjoy the fact that he would be a free man and Monk would be incarcerated. Monk foils Dale's plan, and a corrupt sheriff who had been responsible for framing Monk turns state's evidence. As a result, all of Dale's privileges are stripped at the prison: His custom bed, telephone, and laptop are confiscated, special meal deliveries and manicure appointments are revoked, and he is reduced to sleeping in a cramped cot and eating prison food in the cafeteria with the other inmates.
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