Linda Carlson obit

R.I.P. Linda Carlson of Newhart, Kaz and Westside Medical

She worked with Leonard Nimoy on Broadway and played Pearl Bodine of the Beverly Hillbillies on the big screen. She was 76.

 

She was not on the list.

The season four premiere of Newhart remains one of the funniest episodes in the series. It's the one where Dick (Bob Newhart) fills in as the host of a children's show after the star, "Pirate Pete," is injured on set. Dick bristles at the commercialism of the kiddie program. The small Vermont station broadcasting the show is run by Bev Dutton, played by Linda Carlson.

Carlson popped up in eight episodes of Newhart, but her career on television stretched several decades. Her earliest roles were arguably her biggest. She was Dr. Janet Cottrell, a lead in Westside Medical, a short-lived medical drama set in a California clinic in 1977. A season later, she was the female lead and love interest on Kaz, a drama about an ex-con turned defense attorney. Her character, Katie, was a newspaper reporter.

Kaz garnered critical acclaim (star Ron Leibman won an acting Emmy) but the series only lasted a season.

Elsewhere, she had memorable guest roles. On WKRP in Cincinnati, she played a former football teammate of Herb Tarlek who underwent a sex change. Later, she had recurring, if minor, roles on Days of Our Lives and Murder One.

She began her career on the stage. Most notably, she co-starred with Leonard Nimoy in Full Circle, directed by Otto Preminger in 1973.

On the big screen, she portrayed Pearl Bodine, the role originated by Bea Benaderet, in The Beverly Hillbillies (1993).

The actress passed away in her Connecticut home on October 26, according to The Sun. She was 76.

Actress (43 credits)

 2002 Passions (TV Series)

Jewelry Store Clerk

- Episode #1.832 (2002) ... Jewelry Store Clerk

- Episode #1.831 (2002) ... Jewelry Store Clerk

 2001 The Song of the Lark (TV Movie)

Mrs. Kronborg

 2001 Providence (TV Series)

Talk Show Host

- Love Story (2001) ... Talk Show Host

 2001 Roadside Assistance (Short)

Queen of Hearts

 1999-2001 NYPD Blue (TV Series)

Linda Krause

- Fools Russian (2001) ... Linda Krause

- Show & Tell (1999) ... Linda Krause

 1997-1999 Clueless (TV Series)

Ginger Mariens

- Parent Trap (1999) ... Ginger Mariens

- Back from Bakersfield (1998) ... Ginger Mariens

- Bakersfield Blues (1998) ... Ginger Mariens

- The Intruder (1997) ... Ginger Mariens

 1998 Michael Hayes (TV Series)

Betty Jordan

- Power Play (1998) ... Betty Jordan

 1997 The Song of the Lark (Short)

Mrs. Kronborg

 1997 Cracker: Mind Over Murder (TV Series)

Leslie Fry

- True Romance: Part 1 (1997) ... Leslie Fry

 1997 The Pretender (TV Series)

Harriet Tashman

- Dragon House: Part 2 (1997) ... Harriet Tashman

- Dragon House: Part 1 (1997) ... Harriet Tashman

 1997 High Incident (TV Series)

- Camino High (1997)

 1995-1997 Murder One (TV Series)

Judge Beth Bornstein

- Chapter Twelve, Year Two (1997) ... Judge Beth Bornstein

- Chapter Eleven, Year Two (1997) ... Judge Beth Bornstein

- Chapter Ten, Year Two (1997) ... Judge Beth Bornstein

- Chapter Nine, Year Two (1997) ... Judge Beth Bornstein

- Chapter Twenty-Three (1996) ... Judge Beth Bornstein

 

 1996 Moloney (TV Series)

Mrs. Simms

- Clueless (1996) ... Mrs. Simms

 1995 Space: Above and Beyond (TV Series)

Theresa Ashford

- The Farthest Man from Home (1995) ... Theresa Ashford

 1995 Double Rush (TV Series)

Mrs. Van Housen

- Comings and Goings (1995) ... Mrs. Van Housen

 1994 Sisters (TV Series)

Babs

- Blinders (1994) ... Babs

 1994 A Place for Annie (TV Movie)

Gerry

 1993 The Beverly Hillbillies

Aunt Pearl

 1993 The Pickle

Bernadette

 1992 Honey, I Blew Up the Kid

Nosey Neighbor

 1992 Baby Talk (TV Series)

Mrs. Coleman

- Now I Know How Lassie Feels (1992) ... Mrs. Coleman

 1990 Father Dowling Mysteries (TV Series)

Miss Bradshaw

- The Christmas Mystery (1990) ... Miss Bradshaw

 1990 Christine Cromwell (TV Series)

Frances

- Only the Good Die Young (1990) ... Frances

 1989 Days of Our Lives (TV Series)

Dr. Elaine Schaefer

- Episode #1.5983 (1989) ... Dr. Elaine Schaefer

- Episode #1.5982 (1989) ... Dr. Elaine Schaefer

- Episode #1.5981 (1989) ... Dr. Elaine Schaefer

- Episode #1.5968 (1989) ... Dr. Elaine Schaefer

- Episode #1.5963 (1989) ... Dr. Elaine Schaefer

 

 1985-1987 Newhart (TV Series)

Bev Dutton

- Reading, Writing, and Rating Points (1987) ... Bev Dutton

- Desperately Desiring Susan: Part 2 (1986) ... Bev Dutton

- Camp Stephanie (1986) ... Bev Dutton

- Replaceable You (1986) ... Bev Dutton

- Look Ma, No Talent (1986) ... Bev Dutton

 

 1987 My Two Dads (TV Series)

Harriet Crandall

- Soho's by You? (1987) ... Harriet Crandall

 1987 Mr. President (TV Series)

Constance Garrett

- Freedom of Speech (1987) ... Constance Garrett

 1987 Growing Pains (TV Series)

Margo Drummond

- Confidentially Yours (1987) ... Margo Drummond

 1985 Cagney & Lacey (TV Series)

Laura Ferrell

- Entrapment (1985) ... Laura Ferrell

 1985 Brothers (TV Series)

Gail Montgomery

- Donald's Old Flame (1985) ... Gail Montgomery

 1985 Scarecrow and Mrs. King (TV Series)

Dr. Ann Mallory

- Vigilante Mothers (1985) ... Dr. Ann Mallory

 1984 Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story (TV Movie)

Miriam Schneider

 1984 The Mississippi (TV Series)

Ruth

- Home Again (1984) ... Ruth

 1984 St. Elsewhere (TV Series)

Janet Dalton

- A Pig Too Far (1984) ... Janet Dalton

 1983 Sutters Bay (TV Movie)

Barbara Hamner

 1983 Remington Steele (TV Series)

Angela

- Hearts of Steele (1983) ... Angela

 1982 Quincy M.E. (TV Series)

Mrs. Niles

- Guns Don't Die (1982) ... Mrs. Niles (uncredited)

 1981 Pals (TV Movie)

Shirley Miller

 1981 Lou Grant (TV Series)

Carol

- Rape (1981) ... Carol

 1980 WKRP in Cincinnati (TV Series)

Nikki Sinckler

- Hotel Oceanview (1980) ... Nikki Sinckler

 1978-1979 Kaz (TV Series)

Katie McKenna

- The Avenging Angel (1979) ... Katie McKenna

- The Battered Bride (1979) ... Katie McKenna

- A Fool for a Client (1979) ... Katie McKenna

- They've Taken Our Daughter (1979) ... Katie McKenna

- A Piece of Cake (1979) ... Katie McKenna

 

 1977 Kojak (TV Series)

Ellen Sherback

- Cry for the Kids (1977) ... Ellen Sherback

 1977 Westside Medical (TV Series)

Dr. Janet Cottrell

- Sticks and Stones (1977) ... Dr. Janet Cottrell

- Tears for a Two Dollar Wine (1977) ... Dr. Janet Cottrell

- Pressure Cook (1977) ... Dr. Janet Cottrell

- My Physician, My Friend: Part 2 (1977) ... Dr. Janet Cottrell

- My Physician, My Friend: Part 1 (1977) ... Dr. Janet Cottrell