Rick Payne becomes a professor at Rockland University and marries his wife, Kate. He and his wife live somewhere in Grandview, at some point Kate Payne dies. The character is portrayed by Jay Mohr.

At the beginning of season two, Melinda Gordon first seeks Rick Payne's help to save her deceased friend, Andrea Marino, who is being attacked by dark spirits. She finds him teaching an occult class at Rockland University. She continues to seek Rick's help for varies paranormal occurrences throughout the rest of the season. Rick first meets Melinda's husband, Jim Clancy, when Melinda recommends Jim talk to him about a ghost.

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