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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.

Contents 1 Early life and education abroad 2 Television roles 3 Charity 4 Music 5 Trivia 6 See also 7 External links

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. Afterwards, 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.

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 season later.

Linda Purl acted alongside with Shaun Cassidy in the 1979 TV movie Like Normal People - Sheldon Egbert

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.

• She is the former daughter-in-law of Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, and sister-in-law of Lucie Arnaz, having been married to Desi Arnaz Jr.
• Linda Purl is a mountain climber in her spare time.

• Matlock (television series)
• List of characters in Matlock

• Linda Purl at the Internet Movie Database
• Linda Purl's Official Home on the WWW