LINDA PURL

Happy Birthday to the actress LINDA PURL.

After playing a small role in JORY (1973), Purl's first major movie role was in Jonathan Demme's 1975 comedy, CRAZY MAMA.

Subsequent movie appearances have included W.C. FIELDS AND ME (1976), YOUNG PIONEERS CHRISTMAS (1976), LEO AND LOREE (1980), VISITING HOURS (1982), THE HIGH COUNTRY (1984), VIPER (1988), NATURAL CAUSES (1994), MIGHTY JOE YOUNG (1998), THE PERFECT TENANT (2000), and FEAR OF THE DARK (2003).

Linda Purl has played several roles in television series, starting with THE SECRET STORM Storm – a daytime "soap opera" drama (1973–1974).

In 1978, she appeared as newlywed Molly Beaton in the ABC western drama series THE YOUNG PIONEERS.

She also acted alongside Shaun Cassidy in the 1979 TV movie LIKE NORMAL PEOPLE. Also in 1979, she starred in "WOMEN AT WEST POINT."

On HAPPY DAYS she played two different roles: Richie's occasional girlfriend Gloria in season two of the show (1974) and Fonzie's steady girlfriend Ashley eight seasons later (1982–1983).

She also played secret agent Kate Del'Amico in the short-lived series UNDER COVER and played Brett Robin in the 1994–1995 series ROBIN'S HOODS.

She has also featured in many movies made for television, including TESTIMONY OF TWO MEN, THE NIGHT THE CITY SCREAMED, LITTLE LADIES OF THE NIGHT, and SPIES, LIES & NAKED THIGHS. She voiced

Purl appeared in an all-star cast in the well-regarded historical-biographical TV mini-series ELEANOR AND FRANKLIN in 1976.

As a guest star, Purl appeared in a 1975 episode of the long-running Hawaiian-locale HAWAII FIVE-O Five-O.

She played two different roles on THE WALTONS; early in its run, in 1974 when she played sophisticate Alicia in the season three episode "The Spoilers", and in the season five episode "The Heartbreaker" (1977), when she played Mary Ellen's sister-in-law (and Jason's love interest) Vanessa and sang a couple songs in the episode.

In 1981, she starred in MANIONS OF AMERICA.

In 1984, she played Nydia, the blind flower girl in the miniseries "THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII".

In 1985 and in 1988, she appeared in a MURDER, SHE WROTE and in 1993 in MATLOCK.

She was cast in the series FIRST MONDAY (2002) as Sarah Novelli, a real estate agent and Justice Joseph Novelli's wife.

Purl appeared in the role of Pam Beesly's mother on NBC's THE OFFICE TV series, starting with the season six episode "Niagara" in 2009–2010.

In May 2010, she made a guest appearance on DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. In 2011, Purl made guest appearances on Showtime's HOMELAND, playing Elizabeth Gaines.

She played Barbara Pelt, mother of Debbie Pelt, in two episodes of HBO's TRUE BLOOD in 2012.

In 2017, Purl appeared in one episode of DESIGNATED SURVIVOR.

She currently plays a recurring character alongside current boyfriend Patrick Duffy on THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL.