Steve Rigsby is a minor antagonist of The Mentalist TV-show. He is a career criminal and the father of Wayne Rigsby. He was played by William Forsythe.
Biography[]
Before the main events, he was a member of a gang, which he left for unknown reasons. He often had problems with the law and his crimes include robbery, drug trafficking, assault and manslaughter. He also got married and had a son, Wayne, who became a police officer. We first see Steve on screen when an employee of the prison where he was sitting is killed. His son Wayne personally asks his father if he knows anything about this, but Steve does not immediately agree. However, in the bar where Steve takes his son, things almost come to a fight, but Wayne prevents his father from doing something bad. Soon, in revenge for the fact that Steve fed his son misinformation, Wayne burns his contraband cigarettes. Steve and Wayne fight. Soon Steve is asked to protect a guy named Andy Huff, who is the nephew of the head of a criminal group. However, Steve fails. Andy is killed. Steve is wounded by a criminal. Wayne finds him in serious condition and begins an investigation. Steve ends up in the hospital but escapes. Wayne finds him at a bar and asks him to stop drinking (the doctors said they removed almost all the pellets, but one piece of pellets remained in Steve's heart and it is problematic to remove it, and if it falls out, Steve will die). Steve says that he will not give up the man who wanted to kill him. He is happy that he has become a grandfather (Wayne had a son). Wayne shows Steve photos of his son Benjamin. At some point, Steve wants to see his grandson in person, but suddenly falls and loses consciousness. It was a piece of pellets that fell out. Steve dies. His death is subsequently avenged by Wayne and Patrick Jane.
Personality[]
Steve Rigsby is one of the hardened criminals in The Mentalist. He doesn't even hesitate to drink alcohol after he was badly injured and his life depended on it (which leads to his death). He regularly shames his son Wayne (who works in the police). But he truly loves his son and wants him not to repeat his mistakes when Wayne becomes a father himself. He is also affable to many people (including even police).
Trivia[]
- Like Linus Wagner and Bret Stiles, he easily is the least evil and the most amoral villain in The Mentalist.