Linda Purl was spotted during a rare public outing in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 2. Purl is beloved for her roles in the ’80s series “Happy Days,” “Matlock” from 1986 to 1987, and more recently, the comedy series “The Office,” but it has been some time since many fans have seen her, and her recent photos show her looking well.
Linda Purl Makes Rare Public Appearance on Her 71st Birthday
In photos obtained by the Daily Mail, Purl, who also appeared briefly on the soap operas “General Hospital” and “The Bold and the Beautiful,” is dressed in casual clothing with seemingly no makeup. She was wearing a long-sleeve blue shirt, a red baseball cap, and comfortable black pants. She also had her eyeglasses attached to her shirt.
Purl was getting a cake from Gelson’s Market, the publication reports, adding that it was for her 71st birthday. Purl was born on September 2, 1955.
Although Purl is seldom photographed in public these days, she does give fans a rare glimpse into her life on Instagram. Her most recent post was a video she shared on Friday, September 4. The clip highlights the charitable food company Duffy’s Dough, which was co-created by “Dallas” actor Patrick Duffy.
Linda Purl Reflects on ‘Happy Days’
One of Purl’s most memorable roles was as Ashley Pfister on “Happy Days,” and she reflected on the experience in an interview with Woman’s Day in March 2025. She revealed that she still speaks with her on-screen boyfriend, Henry Winkler, and that the best thing about the show was the friendships she made.
“The longest-standing gift of that series is the web of friendship between all the boys, Marion Ross and everybody who brought that show to life,” she said. “Cathy Silvers (who played Jenny Piccalo) has remained a dear friend of mine. We all keep tabs on one another even though we are not in the daily weave of each other’s lives. Donny Most (who played Ralph Malph) and I have done concerts together for the past 15 years. I think these close friendships are because of the atmosphere Garry built. It was a happy home, and even with the separation of time, the bonds remain strong.” Garry Marshall created the series.
Linda Purl Bravely Shares Her Mental Health Struggles
GettyPurl’s interview was also eye-opening as she bravely discussed her one-woman play titled “Crazy Mama,” and shared her own mental health struggles. “I have dealt with depression in my own life, and I was fortunate enough to get through it,” she said. “There were depths of my soul I would never have known had I not gone through that experience. Going through this also gave me a level of compassion I did not have before I sat in that dark place. I feel empathically for anyone who is going through something that is making them sad.”
She revealed that her depression had been caused by stress, and that she overcame it with the support of two close friends and the power of prayer. “I can tell you this, no matter how awful the circumstances are, it is not the end of the story,” she said.
