Linda Purl
Bringing an undeniable worldliness to many of her roles, Linda Purl's unique upbringing offered her an invaluable asset in her career as a performer. Born in Greenwich, Connecticut in 1955, Purl's family moved to Japan when she was only five. Raised there until the age of fifteen, Purl performed in several plays at the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo during her youth, including "The King and I," "Oliver!" and "The Miracle Worker." After returning to the U.S. to attend Wykeham Rise School, a private boarding school for the performing arts, she studied at Finch College and later at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. Purl had already broken into professional acting by this time, having appeared in a number of projects such as "The Walking Major" (1970), a joint Japanese-American production also released under the title "Aru Heishi no kake." She would land her big break in American movies with a role in Jonathan Demme's "Crazy Mama" (1975), soon going on to appear in the cult hit slasher "Visiting Hours" (1982). Purl took on the role of Charlene, daughter of the title character on the legal drama "Matlock" (NBC, 1986-1995) for the show's first season, and found further success in the legal genre co-starring on "Robin's Hoods" (USA, 1994-95). Purl turned her attention to the Broadway stage in 1998, starring in the original cast of "Getting and Spending," and later in "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." She would continue to appear in film and TV projects, notably guest starring on shows like "Cold Case" (CBS, 2003-2010) and "Homeland" (Showtime, 2011-). In 2018, Purl appeared on the medical drama "Code Black" (CBS, 2015-).
Photos
Linda Purl
Filmography
Movies
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Paul's Promise | Minnie Holderfield (Character) | $140.4K | 2022 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Doomsday Mom: The Lori Vallow Story | Unknown (Character) | - | 2021 |
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The Swing of Things | Sherry Fairfax-Rothstein (Character) | - | 2020 |
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Bender | Mrs. Thomas (Character) | - | 2016 |
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Stalked at 17 | Lauren (Character) | - | 2012 |
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Maid of Honor | Laci Collins (Character) | - | 2006 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Criminal Intent | Kirsten Sorensen (Character) | - | 2005 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Stranger at the Door | Kathleen Norris (Character) | - | 2004 |
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Frozen Impact | Dr. Christy Blanchard (Character) | - | 2003 |
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Fear of the Dark | Sandy Bilings (Character) | - | 2002 |
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The Perfect Tenant | Jessica Michaels (Character) | - | 2000 |
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Holy Joe | Joan Wolrod (Character) | - | 1999 |
54% |
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Mighty Joe Young | Dr. Ruth Young (Character) | $50.6M | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Absolute Truth | Jean Douglas (Character) | - | 1997 |
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Born Free: A New Adventure | Eleanor Porter (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Incident at Deception Ridge | Helen Davis (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Accidental Meeting | Maryanne Bellmann (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Natural Causes | Jessie MacCarthy (Character) | - | 1994 |
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Secrets | Jane Adams (Character) | - | 1992 |
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Body Language | Norma (Character) | - | 1992 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Under Cover | Kate Del'Amico (Character) | - | 1991 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Before the Storm | Unknown (Character) | - | 1991 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Spy Games | Kate Del'Amico (Character) | - | 1991 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Web of Deceit | Lauren Hale (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Addicted to His Love | Cassie Robbins (Character) | - | 1988 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Viper | Laura Macalla (Character) | - | 1988 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Spies, Lies and Naked Thighs | Beverly (Character) | - | 1988 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | In Self Defense | Susan Andrews (Character) | - | 1987 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Matlock: The Court Martial | Charlene Matlock (Character) | - | 1987 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Dark Mansions | Shellane Victor (Character) | - | 1986 |
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Outrage! | Arlene Robbins (Character) | - | 1986 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Pleasures | Eve Harper (Character) | - | 1986 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Matlock: The Don | Charlene Matlock (Character) | - | 1986 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Last Days of Pompeii | Nydia (Character) | - | 1984 |
14% |
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Visiting Hours | Sheila Munroe (Character) | - | 1982 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Money on the Side | Annie Gilson (Character) | - | 1982 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Adventures of Nellie Bly | Nellie Bly (Character) | - | 1981 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The High Country | Kathy (Character) | - | 1981 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Leo and Loree | Loree (Character) | - | 1980 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Flame Is Love | Emmaline Nevada `'Vada'` Holtz (Character) | - | 1979 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Very Special Love | Virginia Rae Hensler (Character) | - | 1979 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Women at West Point | Jennifer Scott (Character) | - | 1979 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Like Normal People | Virginia Rae Hensler (Character) | - | 1979 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Last Cry for Help | Sharon Muir (Character) | - | 1979 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Little Ladies of the Night | Hailey Atkins (Character) | - | 1977 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Black Market Baby | Anne Macarino (Character) | - | 1977 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Dangerous Love | Anne Macarino (Character) | - | 1977 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Us Against the World | Kim (Character) | - | 1977 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Young Pioneers | Molly Beaton (Character) | - | 1976 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Young Pioneers' Christmas | Molly Beaton (Character) | - | 1976 |
67% |
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W.C. Fields and Me | Ingenue (Character) | - | 1976 |
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Eleanor and Franklin | Alice Roosevelt (Character) | - | 1976 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Having Babies | Laura Gorman (Character) | - | 1976 |
92% |
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Crazy Mama | Cheryl (Character) | - | 1975 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Oregon Trail | Deborah Randal (Character) | - | 1975 |
67% |
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Bad Ronald | Unknown (Character) | - | 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Jory | Amy Barron (Character) | - | 1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Walking Major | Rose Allen (Character) | - | 1970 |
TV
Credit | ||||
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No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Bold And The Beautiful, The Beginning | Lucy (Guest Star) | 2023 |
No Score Yet | 82% | Code Black | Madeline (Guest Star) | 2018 |
No Score Yet | 100% | The Oath | Gwenn Hammond (Character) | 2018 |
71% | 53% | Designated Survivor | Julia Rombauer (Guest Star) | 2017 |
38% | 87% | Reckless | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2014 |
No Score Yet | 75% | Major Crimes | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2014 |
81% | 89% | The Office | Helene (Guest Star) | 2009-2011 2013 |
85% | 86% | Homeland | Elizabeth Gaines (Guest Star) | 2011 |
No Score Yet | 86% | Lie to Me | Meredith Spencer (Guest Star) | 2010 |
No Score Yet | 83% | Criminal Minds | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2010 |
72% | 89% | Desperate Housewives | Lillian Allen (Guest Star) | 2010 |
90% | 83% | Bones | Mrs. Diana Annenburg (Guest Star) | 2009 |
No Score Yet | 95% | Cold Case | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2005 |
21% | No Score Yet | First Monday | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2002 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Touched by an Angel | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Walker, Texas Ranger | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1998 |
20% | No Score Yet | Crisis Center | Lynn Maxfield (Guest Star) | 1997 |
43% | No Score Yet | Burke's Law | Kelly Harris (Guest Star) | 1994 |
No Score Yet | 89% | Murder, She Wrote | Terry Shannon (Guest Star) | 1985 1988 1993 |
100% | No Score Yet | Under Cover | Kate Del'Amica (Character) | 1991 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Matlock | Charlene Matlock (Character) | 1986-1987 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Unknown (Character) | 1985 |
18% | No Score Yet | The Last Days of Pompeii | Unknown (Character) | 1984 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Happy Days | Ashley Pfister (Guest Star) | 1974 1982-1983 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Manions of America | Unknown (Character) | 1981 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Waltons | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1974 1977 |