Forbidden Zone Incident
A familiar face across decades of television, Linden Chiles brought steady character work to the small screen.
Linden Chiles was an American character actor who appeared in numerous television series from the 1960s through the 1990s. He is known for his roles as Charles Hanson on CBS's *East Side/West Side*, Steve Kirkland on NBC's *Convoy*, Henry DeWitt on NBC's *Banacek*, and Paul Hunter on NBC's *James at 15*. Chiles also made four guest appearances on CBS's *Perry Mason*, playing the defendant in three episodes and a murderer in one. His career spanned decades, with guest spots on shows like *The Twilight Zone*, *The Fugitive*, and *Murder, She Wrote*.
- Location
- Topanga, California
- Primary Antagonist
- None
- Key Defender
- None
- Affiliation
- None
- Media Origin
- None
- Outcome
- None
- Status
- None
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Chiles was born in St. Louis, Missouri on March 22, 1933, but grew up in Barrington, Illinois. He graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism, majoring in advertising. He also studied at Purdue University and UCLA and served in the Army. His early life and education set the stage for a career that would see him become a reliable presence on American television.
In Their Own Story
On *Perry Mason*, Chiles played the defendant Joe Davies in 'The Case of the Jealous Journalist' (1961), Herbert Simms in 'The Case of the Promoter's Pillbox' (1962), and Clyde Darrell in 'The Case of the Telltale Tap' (1965). In a fourth appearance, he played murderer Vernon Elliot in the 1963 episode 'The Case of the Surplus Suitor'. In 1967, he guest-starred on *Mannix* in the episode 'Turn Every Stone'. His television credits also include *Going My Way*, *The Man from U.N.C.L.E.*, *The Time Tunnel*, *Land of the Giants*, *The Invaders*, *The Munsters*, *Hawaii Five-0*, *The Rockford Files*, *Barnaby Jones*, *The Virginian*, *Cannon*, *Simon & Simon*, *Quincy, M.E.*, *Falcon Crest*, *Ironside*, and *Baywatch*.
Reader's Guide
Linden Chiles died on May 15, 2013, after falling from the roof of his home in Topanga, California. He was 80 years old. His career is documented through his many television appearances, including his recurring roles on *East Side/West Side*, *Convoy*, *Banacek*, and *James at 15*. His work on *Perry Mason* alone provides four distinct examples of his range, from defendant to murderer. For fans of classic television, Chiles represents the dependable character actor who elevated every episode he appeared in.
Did You Know?
- Linden Chiles graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism, majoring in advertising.
- He served in the Army before beginning his acting career.
- Chiles played the defendant in three episodes of *Perry Mason* and the murderer in a fourth.
- He died on May 15, 2013, after falling from the roof of his home in Topanga, California.
- Chiles was born in St. Louis, Missouri but grew up in Barrington, Illinois.
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