Wayne Rigsby

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.

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 arson specialist in San Diego before becoming a CBI agent. Rigsby seems to be good friends with Cho and Patrick Jane.

Relationship with Grace Van Pelt

A recurring subplot is Rigsby's infatuation with Grace Van Pelt. 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).

During the third season, Van Pelt begins dating FBI Agent Craig O'Loughlin. In the episode "Blood for Blood," Van Pelt accepts O'Loughlin's marriage proposal, much to Rigsby's dismay. However it is revealed in the third season finale that Craig is actually a mole for Red John.

In Season 4, Rigsby starts dating a public defender. Van Pelt is jealous when she finds out, hinting that she wants Rigsby back.