Linda Purl (born September 2, 1955 in Greenwich, Connecticut) is an American actress and singer, best known for portraying Ben Matlock's daughter Charlene Matlock in the first season of Matlock.
Purl was raised in Japan, becoming the only foreigner to train at the Toho Geino Academy. While at the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo, Purl performed in several plays, gaining the role of Louis in The King and I, Bet in Oliver!, and the role of Helen in The Miracle Worker. Ms. Purl attended high school at Wykeham Rise school for girls in the arts in Washington, CT. After attending Finch College, Ms. Purl went to England to study under Marguerite Beale, before returning to the United States to study at the Lee Strasberg Institute, and later with Robert Lewis.
Purl's first major movie role was in Jonathan Demme's 1975 comedy, Crazy Mama. Subsequent movie appearances have included The High Country, Viper and Mighty Joe Young. She has also featured in many movies made for television, including Little Ladies of the Night and The Young Pioneers.
Linda Purl has played several roles on television, notably on The Secret Storm, Happy Days, and Matlock. She also played secret agent Kate Del'Amico in the short-lived series Under Cover. In Happy Days she played two different roles: Richie's occasional girlfriend Gloria in the second year of the show, and Fonzie's steady girlfriend Ashley eight seasons later. Linda Purl acted alongside with Shaun Cassidy in the 1979 TV movie Like Normal People - Sheldon Egbert
Linda Purl was also in the third season of The Waltons. The episode was called The Spoilers
She is a regular performer (and part of the original cast) of the long-running touring play Seven Deadly Sins Four Deadly Sinners produced by Marc Sinden.
Ms. Purl also does charity work, for AIDS Project Los Angeles, Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, Haven House, and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She also supports Actors and Others for Animals (see Gallery below).
Purl launched a jazz music career after leaving Matlock and has released several albums of music, most recently Out of This World --- LIVE.
