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.
Linda Purl was born in Connecticut and raised in Japan, becoming the only foreigner to train at the Toho Geino Academy. At the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo, she played the role of Louis in 'The King and I' (in Japanese), Bet in 'Oliver' and the role of Helen in 'The Miracle Worker'. She then 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. Her stage credits include: The Broadway musical 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'; 'Getting and Spending', which ran on Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theatre.
