Linda Purl Movies
Connecticut native Linda Purl grew up in Japan, where her father, a Union Carbide executive, had been transferred. Under the watchful eye of her mother, a former ballerina, Purl began acting professionally in Japanese stage and TV productions at the age of seven. Ten years later, she made her American film debut in Jory (1972). Never a conventional ingenue, she has played everything from mentally retarded teens to rape victims to psychotic killers, as well as a few real-life personalities like Alice Roosevelt Longworth and globetrotting journalist Nellie Bly. Purl has the distinction of playing two different recurring characters on the same television series. During the 1974-75 season of Happy Days, she was seen as Richie Cunningham's (Ron Howard) high-school girlfriend Gloria; she returned to the series in 1982 as Ashler Pfister, a divorced mother with whom Fonzie (Henry Winkler) was briefly involved romantically. Linda has also appeared regularly on such series as The Secret Storm and Beacon Hill; more recently, she played an assistant DA put in charge of a group of young ex-convicts on the syndicated weekly adventure series Robin's Hoods (1994). Linda Purl was at one time married to Desi Arnaz Jr.. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi- 2005
No sooner has entrepreneur Devon Major (Sebastian Spence) emerged from a messy divorce than he is accused of murdering his ex-wife. Astonishingly, Devon requests that his wife's divorce attorney Susan Grace (Vanessa Angel) represent him at his trial. Despite Susan's avowed hatred of Devon, she agrees to take the case, conferring with District Attorney Kirsten Sorenson (Linda Purl) to get additional information on her client, who is simultaneously being investigated on a money-laundering charge by US treasury agent Mark Fairfield (David Palffy). It turns out that some extraordinary clever person has cooked up an elaborate hoax in order to literally get away with murder and robbery--but who is it, and how do Kirsten and Mark figure into the Hitchcock-like denoument? Made for cable, Criminal Intent was first telecast July 8, 2005, on the Lifetime network. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
When the death of her once-beautiful sister leaves lonely Laci (Linda Purl)'s grieving brother-in-law a newly-single husband and father, the disturbed woman's attempts to take her late sister's place in the marriage only lead to murder in director Douglas Jackson's bloody tale of wedding vows gone awry. Laci will do anything to make her dream of becoming a loyal wife and loving mother come true, and when her sister is killed in a tragic car accident, Laci quickly moves into her brother-in-law's home with every intention of fulfilling all her late sibling's many marital and parental obligations. When Laci discovers that the love of her life is making plans to marry another woman, however, the psychotic sister sets into motion a murderous plan that may find one wedding replaced by two funerals. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Linda Purl, Linden Ashby, (more)
- 2004
25 years ago, Katherine (Linda Norris) put her son Jamie up for adoption. Now happily married to Greg Norris (Perry King), Katherine is surprised when a young man claiming to be Jamie (Andrew Kraulis) shows up at her door. Captivated by the boy's charm and honeyed words, Katherine and Greg welcome Jamie into their home, much to the disgust of her daughter Tara (Meredith Henderson) who senses that there's something not quite right about her supposed brother. How right Tara is: It turns out that Jamie, in cahoots with his sleazy girlfriend Delia (Sophie Gendron), has cooked up a sinister long-range scheme aimed at his "parents"--beginning with trying to induce a heart attack for Greg in order to collect an enormous insurance policy. The made-for-cable Stranger at the Door was first telecast by the Lifetime channel on June 21, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The plane carrying a new liver for seriously ill youngster Jason Blanchard (Myles Jeffrey) crashes during a hailstorm. Also lost during the icy deluge are Jason, his mother, and his siblings. Defying the odds, Jason's devoted father, Dan (Ted McGinley), is convinced that his family is alive and that the precious liver is still intact. With the storm still raging, Dan embarks upon his own frenzied search. Debuting March 14, 2003, Frozen Impact was one of a string of medium-budget disaster films starring former TV-series luminaries and produced for the PAX network. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
In this independent horror film from writer/director K.C. Bascombe (Swindle, The Contract), Jesse James plays Brian Billings, a young boy suffering from an intense fear of the dark. His older brother Dale (Kevin Zegers) thinks the phobia is childish and unwarranted, but when the power goes out while the boys are home alone, Dale begins to become aware of the true evil that does indeed lurk in their house when the lights go out. Fear of the Dark also stars Linda Purl and Rachel Skarsten. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kevin Zegers, Jesse James, (more)
In this thriller, a woman discovers that the young man living on her property isn't as nice as she initially believed. Jessica Michaels (Linda Purl) rents out the guest house at her estate to David Summer (Maxwell Caulfield), a quiet man who is neat, well-behaved, and courteous. Jessica figures that she could hardly ask for more from a tenant, though her daughter Laura (Stacy Hogue) is convinced that David is up to no good. And it turns out that Stacy's right; many years ago, David's father was killed, and he has come to believe that Jessica is to blame, and moving into the guest house is part of a carefully laid plan to take his revenge. The Perfect Tenant also features Earl Holliman, Melissa Behr, and Tracy Nelson. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Linda Purl, Maxwell Caulfield, (more)
- 1998
Stricken with the degenerative neurological disease ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease), professional artist Richard (Gregory Harrison) must quickly decide the sort of legacy he will leave behind for his wife Sally (Linda Purl) and his three sons. Feverishly, Richard rushes to finish several paintings in hopes of a huge commission--but money alone is not what his family really needs. Angels Monica (Roma Downey), Tess (Della Reese) and Andrew (John Dye) adopt various guises to convince Richard that the greatest gifts he can bestow upon his loved ones are Faith and Hope. Haley Joel Osmont (Sixth Sense) appears as Richard's son John Henry, who at story's end brings new meaning to the old adage "Life Goes On." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This 1998 version of Mighty Joe Young begins with a Gorillas in the Mist-type prologue and then jumps forward twelve years to find Bill Paxton leading a safari expedition to capture the legendary giant (two-ton) gorilla, the subject of the film's title. Paxton's intentions are admirable; he wants to remove the majestic beast from the imminent danger of poachers and set him up on a posh nature reserve in California. The x-factor comes in the form of Charlize Theron's beautiful jungle girl, Jill Young. Jill has been Joe's soul mate from birth and is the only human who can communicate with him. She is also the reason Paxton's maverick-on-the-run lingers at the reserve after his task is completed. From there, the plot is spurred on by the nefarious actions of a poacher with an Ahab complex and a battery of money hungry scientists who want to exploit Joe. Naturally, all of this puts a burr under the towering simian's skin, causing him to break free and go ape in L.A.'s concrete jungle. ~ Tom Meek, Rovi
- Starring:
- Charlize Theron, Bill Paxton, (more)
- 1996
Clearly inspired by the events surrounding the Bill Clinton sex scandal, the made-for-TV The Absolute Truth starsJane Seymour as Alison Reid, crusading anchorwoman for the top-rated TV magazine show "Focus." Upon obtaining evidence that powerful senator and presidential candidate Jake Slaughter (Bruce Greenwood) has sexually harassed his press secretary Jean Douglas (Linda Purl), Alison wants to make her findings public--but fears that she will damage the reputation of Jean, who happens to be her best friend. Not so nobly motivated is the production staff of "Focus", which uses questionable tactics to bring the truth forward, thereby revealing that Slaughter has secured Jean's silence by threatening to expose an unpleasant secret from her own past. An ironic ending caps this feature-length ethical debate, which originally aired April 30, 1997 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1996
In this made-for-TV sequel to 1966's Born Free, Jonathan Brandis and Ariana Richards play Rand and Val, a pair of American teenagers who, while in Africa, come to the rescue of a lioness who has been tamed by hunters. The lioness' best hope for survival is to be returned to the wild, and now Rand and Val have the daunting task of teaching the animal a lifetime of survival skills in a mere three weeks. Born Free: A New Adventure also features Linda Purl and Christopher Noth. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jonathan Brandis, Ariana Richards, (more)
- 1994
In this made-for-TV action adventure, some criminals terrorize a Seattle-bound bus filled with innocent passengers after a kidnapping goes awry. Michael O'Keefe stars as Jack Boulder, a just-released ex-con who, along with some resourceful characters, helps his fellow bus passengers defend themselves against kidnappers who have been duped out of their ransom money. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael O'Keefe, Linda Purl, (more)
- 1994
In this political thriller set in Bangkok, a young woman finds herself drawn into a scheme designed to assassinate Henry Kissinger, the former Secretary of State. The film offers wonderful views of the Thai city. The film opens with the death of American Rachel McCarthy, who is murdered in her limo as she travels to the airport to meet her daughter Jessie whom she has not seen in over a decade. Jessie, a bit of an innocent, goes to her mother's estate and discovers that her mother had been part of an international plot. Vietnamese refugees were involved. The point of the conspiracy is to sabotage a treaty between the U.S. and Vietnam. Along the way she encounters many fascinating characters. The most important are U.S state Dept official, Fran Jakes, agent Michael Murphy with the CIA, and Major Somchai, Thai detective. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Linda Purl, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, (more)
- 1993
Having solved many another murder case in the past, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) is finally given a crack at the JFK assassination! It seems that a Dallas private eye disappeared at the same time that Kennedy was shot, and now, thirty years later, there is positive proof that the P.I. was also murdered. Jessica suspects that the two killings may have been connected--and as a bonus, both may be linked to a current case that she is working on. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1993
Produced for the USA cable service, Accidental Meeting stars Linda Purl as Maryanne and Linda Gray as Jennifer. Meeting by chance, the two women begin discussing the men in their life. Maryanne expresses a wish to see her boss dead, while Jennifer would sooner see an odious male of her acquaintance drop dead. When Maryanne's hateful employer is killed, Jennifer re-enters her life, admitting to the murder and demanding equal reciprocation. While Accidental Meeting's 1951 role model Strangers on a Train is virtually suitable for the whole family, the later film is laden with "parental guidance suggested" violence and sex. Accidental Meeting premiered March 17, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Linda Purl, Linda Gray, (more)
- 1992
When a TV producer strikes up a romance with an old flame, a star in his new TV series, their relationship is threatened by mysteries she won't explain to him. ~ Tana Hobart, Rovi
- 1992
Based on a steamy Danielle Steel novel, this drama centers on the strange relationship between a television producer and the star of his latest series. They had a romance before, but now she has become an enigma, always running off to fulfill some vague obligations. The producer also discovers that other members of the show are concealing fascinating secrets as well. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Christopher Plummer, Stephanie Beacham, (more)
- 1992
Heather Locklear plays a businesswoman who's moving ever upward on the executive ladder. Alas, though lucky in her job, she's unlucky in love. Locklear's secretary Linda Purl takes it upon herself to offer helpful advice on matters of the heart. But it turns out-and here's the BIG SURPRISE-that Purl has ulterior motives. With two screenwriters, you'd think that the producers could have come up with something less contrived and cliched. Edward Albert and James Acheson costar in this made-for-cable melodrama, which was first telecast July 15, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
The weekly, 60-minute TV adventure series Under Cover starred Anthony John Denison and Linda Purl as husband-and-wife secret agents Dylan and Kate Del'Amico. Employed by the National Intelligence Agency (read: CIA), Dylan and Kate were sent out on their various missions by head man Stuart Merriman (Josef Sommer). In this two-hour pilot episode, first telecast January 7, 1991, Dylan is tipped off to an assassination scheme in the former USSR. This means that, once more, the Del'Amicos must leave behind their "cover" as normal suburbanites to make the world safe for...whatever. Under Cover ran until February 16, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Anthony John Denison, Linda Purl, (more)
In this lively made-for-TV espionage comedy, an off-the-wall CIA agent involves an interpreter in his hunt for a professional hit man assigned to murder the President. The real craziness begins when they discover that the killer is one of their ex-wives and that she is living next door. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1990
In the made-for-television film Web of Deceit, a West coast lawyer (Linda Purl) returns to her hometown of Atlanta to defend an unfairly accused teenager (Paul de Souza) of rape and murder. As she investigates the case, she re-ignites an old love affair with the prosecuting attorney, who just may be a suspect in the killing himself. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi
- Starring:
- Linda Purl, James Read, (more)
- 1988
When this seriocomic TV film first aired March 28, 1988, it was titled Addicted to His Love. Evidently to pacify certain feminist factions, the film was rechristened Sisterhood for syndication. Either way, this is the story of a smooth lothario, played by Barry Bostwick. In the course of 97 minutes, Bostwick finds time to romance and betray four women, played by Linda Purl, Coleen Camp, Erin Grey and Dee Wallace-Stone. Instead of getting mad upon learning that they're sharing Bostwick's affections, the four ladies join forces to get even. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1988
- R
Director-producer Peter Maris directed this suspense drama based on a script by Frank Kerr. James Macalla (Chris Robinson) is a prominent university researcher whose mysterious death is not investigated to the satisfaction of his distraught wife, Laura (Linda Purl). Laura sets off to find the real killers and discovers that they are linked to a shadowy band of government operators. The group, Viper, is backed by the CIA in its mission of combatting terrorists. But the group has become a rogue operation whose goal involves the killing of university staffers in order to enrich themselves. Laura risks her own life to expose what is happening. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi
- Starring:
- Linda Purl, James Tolkan, (more)
- 1988
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) heads Southward to visit an old friend, celebrated playwright Eugene McLendon (Barry Nelson). Inevitably, a murder occurs: the victim this time is Eugene's crooked business manager Jonathan Keeler (Elliott Reid). Deciding to stay on and help out when Eugene is suspected of the murder, Jessica is startled when the ailing playwright suddenly proposes marriage! Among the special guest suspects in this episode is Lois Nettleton, doing a hilarious turn as a Southern stage star. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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