Linda Purl was born in Connecticut and raised in Japan, becoming the only foreigner to train at the Toho Geino Academy. She then continued her studies under the tutelage of Marguerite Beale in England, earning Bronze medals in Speech and Drama from LAMDA. Linda returned to the States to study at the Neighborhood Playhouse, Lee Strasberg Institute and later with Robert Lewis, an original member of The Group Theatre and co-founder of The Actor's Studio.
   Stage credits include Broadway: "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"; "Getting and Spending"; Off Broadway: "The Baby Dance" (with Stephanie Zimbalist); Off-Off-Broadway: "Hallelujah, Hallelujah!". Regional work: the original production of the Pulitzer Prize winning play "Dinner With Friends" Humana Festival at Actors Theatre of Louisville; "Getting and Spending", The Globe Theatre; "The Road To Mecca" (with Miss Julie Harris), "The Baby Dance", Long Wharf; "John Brown's Body", Lobero Theatre; "Nora" (with Michael York), "All the Way Home' (with Miss Kim Hunter), "The Three Penny Opera" (with Miss Betty Buckley), "The Baby Dance" (also at the Pasadena Playhouse), Williamstown Theatre Festival; "The Real Thing", "Hedda Gabler", Mark Taper Forum Rep; "Beyond Therapy", "Romeo and Juliet", L.A. Public Theatre; "A Doll's House", Allied International Productions; "The Man Who Could See Through TIme", South Coast Repertory; "The Merchant of Venice", Globe Theatre; "Grease", Sacramento Music Theatre; "On a Clear Day ", San Bernardino Civic Light Opera; "Fallen Angels", Olney Theatre; "Oliver", "The King and I", Toho Imperial Theatre, Tokyo; "Love Letters" with both Stacey Keach and Desi Arnaz, Jr.; "Tusitala" (with Miss Julie Harris), Berkshire Theatre Festival; "Little Foxes", ?A Streetcar Named Desire?, Rubicon Theatre Company; ?The Guys?, Berkeley Rep.
   Linda's television credits range from "Happy Days" as Ashley Pfister (Fonzie's fiancee) to Charlene Matlock on "Matlock" to Joe Mategna's wife on the acclaimed Supreme Court series "First Monday" co starring James Garner. Linda has over 30 television movies credits to her name, such as "Born Free", "The Last Days of Pompeii" (with Sir Laurence Olivier), "The Manions of America" (with Pierce Brosnan), "Like Normal People" the award winning docu-drama about a mentally retarded couple co-starring Shaun Cassidy. Linda's feature film credits include Disney's "Mighty Joe Young", "The Walking Major" (with Toshiro Mifune), "Crazy Mama" (directed by Jonathan Demme) and "Leo and Loree" (produced by Ron Howard).
   Linda has received six Dramalogue Best Actress Awards and two Dramalogue Awards as "Best Producer". She has received two Robby Awards for "Best Actress" and is a three time nominee of the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Award for "Best Actress". She is the recipient of the Connecticut Critics' Award for "Outstanding Performance in a Play" for her work in "The Baby Dance".
   Linda has recorded broadcasts of Arthur Miller's "Broken Glass", "The Odd Couple" with Nathan Lane and "Nora" with the late David Dukes for National Public Radio, also "Milford Haven" (created by her sister Mara Purl) for the BBC II.
   Linda has performed her cabaret act at The Rose Tattoo, The Cinegrill, The Gardenia, The Jazz Bakery as well as performed in concert at the Luchman Hall, Los Angeles; White Barn Theatre, Westport, Ct; Toho Imperial Theatre, Tokyo; Pike's Peak Center, Colorado Springs; Town Hall, NYC. Linda's recordings include solo cuts on "George and Ira Gershwin: A Musical Celebration", "Cole Porter: A Musical Toast", "Adler, Boch, Coleman", "A Hollywood Christmas" and her solo album "Alone Together". She is an Associate Artist of the American National Theatre, co-founder and served as Founding Executive Director of the Colorado Festival for World Theatre and is Festival Director of the Rubicon International Theatre Festival. Due for release July 5 is a live CD recorded at the Boulder Theatre in Boulder, Nevada with special Guest Artist Desi Arnaz, Jr. Lifetime airs her new movies 'Criminal Intent' and 'Maid of Honour' later in 2005.