Set in the city of Atlanta, Matlock was the story of Ben Matlock, an Attorney at Law.
Played by television veteran Andy Griffith, this wily southern lawyer used his country sensibilities and cunning mind to unlock the most sensational cases.
Ben (a graduate of Harvard Law School) charged $100,000 a case and was known for his high rate of success in defending clients. He was also known for eating hot dogs (usually with grape soda) and wearing white suits (he had a closet full of them).
Aided by his strong-willed daughter, Charlene (Linda Purl), clerk Cassie (Kari Lizer), and good-hearted private investigator Tyler Hudson (Kene Holliday), Ben always found his way to the truth and ensured that justice was done. Charlene left in 1987 to begin her own law practice in Philadelphia.
When the series switched from NBC to ABC, Ben and his other (previously unmentioned) daughter, Leanne McIntyre (Brynn Thayer), formed a partnership and operated a firm called Matlock and McIntyre, Attorneys-at-Law, in Atlanta.
Leanne also left to start her own practice in California in 1994. Ben replaced her with Attorney Michelle Thomas (Nancy Stafford) and changed the firm’s name to B.L. Matlock, Attorney-at-Law, with “Michelle Thomas, Attorney-at-Law” appearing under his name in smaller letters.
The series derived from a 1986 made-for-TV-movie called Diary of a Perfect Murder, in which a television reporter is accused of murdering his ex-wife and appeals to Matlock for help. After the success of the film, it was a shrewd move to bring Andy Griffith back to television for a regular series.
Matlock ran for nine seasons and spawned a handful of made-for-television movies before it ended.
Benjamin L. Matlock
Andy Griffith Charlene Matlock
Linda Purl
Tyler Hudson
Kene Holliday Michelle Thomas Nancy Stafford
Cassie Phillips Kari Lizer Conrad McMaster
Clarence Gilyard Jr. Leanne McIntyre
Brynn Thayer Lt. Bob Brooks
David Froman
DA Lloyd Burgess
Michael Durrell
Judge Richard Cooksey
Richard Newton
