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Office of Ben Matlock

Ben Matlock

Benjamin Leighton Matlock

Played by: Andy Griffith, Steve Witting (young)

Debut: Diary of a Perfect Murder (Pilot; March 3rd, 1986)

Berserk Button: While fairly cantankerous on occasion, Matlock seldom displays anything resembling true rage.
- First off, do NOT EVER deceive Matlock. You will pay one way or another.
- Arguably, crooked lawyers are this to Matlock. rare example was in the episode "The Foursome", in which the prosecuting attorney (a protégé of Julie's) alters the evidence to get a conviction, and Matlock reveals her duplicity during his appeal. When the attorney, facing disbarment and imprisonment, begs Matlock for a second chance, you can see the Tranquil Fury on his face as he calmly says, "No, I don't think so." Julie for her part was also quietly furious with her protégé for disgracing the legal profession.
- Also, one surefire way to anger Ben is to interrupt his sleep and make him deal with a problem during an unholy time of night. While he will to your rescue, he will shuffle in with an unkempt manner, complain about being woken up, and be far less likely to listen to your plight and sympathize with you.
- Matlock shows no love to freeloaders in his household, taking it upon himself to evict Billy's brother Russ, AKA "Russ the Rhino", with a masseuse matron, and later evicting an entire wedding crowd after being forced to cater to them when they get held in his house for several days in connection with a murder investigation.
Clear My Name: Two instances.
- In the episode "The People Vs. Matlock", Ben is accused of bribing a witness.
- In the two-part episode "Nowhere to Turn", Ben is accused of murdering a judge. On top of that, he's in L.A., not his native Atlanta, where he really has nobody to help him.
Cool Old Guy: Matlock definitely qualifies. His irritating neighbors Les Calhoun (played by Don Knotts) and Billy Lewis (played by Warren Frost) are the antithesis of this trope, though.
Fish out of Water: Happens anytime Ben has to travel very far out of Atlanta to defend someone. An especially notable example occurs while he is defending a client in Britain. Matlock is unable to bring himself to wear the barrister's wig and gown and finds it difficult to use British court vernacular, which is more formal than the loose way of speaking in American courtrooms.
Florence Nightingale Effect: He once got hit by a car when his mind was on a tough case. He started out hating his nurse, but when she cured his headache, making him feel better and giving him the episode's epiphany, he changed his mind.
Held Back in School: In "The Court Martial", Matlock confides that he repeated the third grade as a way of saying that sometimes success doesn't come easy.
Iconic Item: Aside from his suit, Matlock has a banjo that he sometimes strums on. In addition to his banjo, he also owns a ukelele and quite a few guitars.
Mystery Magnet: Matlock seems to run into mysteries and murders on a regular basis, independent of his practice of law.
- Virtually any time Matlock goes on vacation. Matlock goes to his home town to attend a family reunion? Matlock ends up defending an accused murderer in court. Matlock goes on vacation at an Oceanside resort? Matlock ends up defending an accused murderer in court. This happens twice.
- Another time, Matlock attends a wedding. He witnesses a murder from his hotel room. Because of his obvious conflict-of-interest, Leanne represents the accused murderer.
- Matlock gives a talk to a group of undergraduates in a law club. One of them is murdered immediately thereafter.
- Matlock conducts his church choir. A member of the choir is murdered, another is wrongly accused.
Obfuscating Stupidity: This is often the way Matlock finds the truth.
The Scrooge: Matlock is a cheapskate. At first, it was out of necessity after some bad investments but, by the time he became wealthy again, he remained thrifty. In a crossover with Diagnosis: Murder, Matlock revealed that on Dr. Sloan's advice, he once invested heavily in companies that manufactured 8-track tapes, which nearly wiped him out.
Show, Don't Tell: Matlock has a habit of speculating in nearly all of his cases rather than presenting the quantifiable evidence right off the bat. It sometimes results in the prosecutors taking him apart for lack of relevancy.
Simple Country Lawyer: As a Trope Codifier, parodies of the trope often take Ben as their source.
Steve Emerson: He really works that simple country boy routine, huh?
Charlene Matlock: He is a country boy. He's just not simple.
Southern-Fried Genius:
Trademark Favorite Food: Ben adores hot dogs. It goes as far back as his first case as a defense lawyer, when his dad was still around to make them for him. Sister series Diagnosis: Murder reveals Ben developed his trademark adherence to them as well as his fondness for plain grey suits while strapped for cash in his youth, having lost nearly his entire life savings while investing in 8-track cartridges on Dr. Mark Sloan's advice, and by the time he came back into money again, they had simply become habits.
Tranquil Fury: If you stab Matlock in the back, he will show you no mercy. He'll turn right around and show you just how he ruthless he can be.
- There was one instance where Matlock discovered his own client really was guilty all along, and immediately poured holy hell down on her for acting like she could get away with murder on his dime. Instead of squeezing the truth out of her on the stand, Matlock went for the throat. He decided to incriminate her best friend as the murderer on the stand in a Batman Gambit, causing her to come clean and change her plea to guilty.
- "Nowhere to Turn", which is a Trauma Conga Line for poor Ben, opens with one of his client's friends testifying on his behalf. Ben, however, doesn't know she was put up to this, and then watches his defense evaporate when she pulls a totally asinine song-and-dance of lies on the witness stand. Knowing the damage is irreparable, Matlock is furious, ready to walk out on his client and let the jury convict him.

Ben: (sounding like he's ready to wash his hands of the creep) You're dead. ... You're dead. ... You're DEAD', AND I HATE YOU.

Charlene Matlock

Played by: Lori Lethin (Pilot), Linda Purl (Season 1)

Debut: Diary of a Perfect Murder (Pilot; March 3rd, 1986)

Charlene Matlock

rides a bike for excercise

abducted in "the don pt.1"

gets unprofessionally involved with males clients or their familytimes: ...

Leanne MacIntyre

Played by:

Debut: (;)

Leanne MacIntyre née Matlock

Tyler Hudson

Played by: Gene Holliday

Debut: (;)

Tyler Hudson

Ex-Marine

nominate himself Y Oung Atlanta Businessman of the Y Ear

Conrad McMasters

Played by:

Debut: (;)

Conrad McMasters

Sarah

Played by: Betty Lynn

secretary

"The Seduction" a parrot from a friend

Fulton County Courthouse

Julie March

Played by:

Debut: (;)

Judge Carter Addison

Carter Addison

Played by: [[Dick Van Dyke|Dick Van Dyke]]

Debut: The Judge (S 1 Ep 2; September 23rd, 1986)

His tropes can be found [[ here]].

Judge Arthur Beaumont

Arthur Beaumont

Played by: Jason Wingreen

Debut: (;)

Judge Richard Cooksey

Richard "Richie" Cooksey

Played by: Richard Newton

Debut: (;)

Judge Clagett

Clagett

Played by: Al Wiggins

Debut: (;)

Judge Cynthia Justin

Cynthia Justin

Played by: Aneta Corsaut

Debut: (;)

Judge Irene Sawyer

Played by: Lucille Meredith

Debut: The Don: Part 1 (S1Ep5;)

Judge Irene Sawyer

Lloyd Burgess

Played by:

Debut: The Judge (S1Ep2;)

prosecution attorneySeason 1 through 6

- "the judge"

Burton Hawkins

Burton "Death Row" Hawkins

Played by:

Prosecutor of Emerson case

Names to Run Away From: He is nicknamed "Death Row Hawkins" for his successful prosecution rate.

- "diary of a perfect murder"- "the stripper"- "the seduction"

Played by:

Bob Brooks

Played by:

father "the Striper"son 8lb 7oz full head of hair "so were you" - ben

Recurring Characters

Charlie Matlock

Played by: Andy Griffith

Debut: The Dame (S6Ep6; November 15th, 1991)

mentioned by Nick Baron to have been killed in a car crash "don pt1"

Les Calhoun

Lesley "Les" Calhoun'''

Played by: Don Knotts

Debut: The Lemon (S 3 Ep 1; November 29th, 1988)

The dagger symbol (†) denotes the case's initial decedent(s). This does NOT include anyone who also ends up dead after the investigations start because They Knew Too Much about the murder.
The scale symbol (⚖) denotes the defendant on trial for murder.
The index symbol (☞) denotes the killer ONLY IF they are known to the viewers right of the bat with The Unreveal and needs an Internal Reveal.

Pilot — "Diary of a Perfect Murder" — March 3, 1986

⚖ Steve Emerson

Played by: Steve Inwood

TV Journalist

Amicable Exes

punch a reporter nat infomer insuates he's an item with his attorney's daughter

hands on reserc

† Linda Coolidge

(d. 1986)

Played by: Katherine Cannon

Steve's ex-wife

Lonely Funeral: Only her mother and sister were in attendance for her quiet burial in their home city of Utica, NY.
shot in chest .38 revolver

little black book (red)

Utica new yorkmother and sister

Paul lockwood

Played by:

meet packerslinda fiancee

fundraiser

Les Mc Call

Played by:

owner of WHN

Nelson White

Played by:

linda;s former coanchor

Dr. Farnsworth

Played by:

Waether reporter at whn

Billy Ray Webber

(d. 1986)

Played by:

club opperatorA snitch from the mobEmerson's alibi for the murder

Killed While Talking

Harvey Ravenell

Played by:

laywer

Mr. & Mrs. Pearson

Played by:

sued by old man Cornell, claims dog bit

Mary Beth

Played by:

liason for webber

redhead

Ernie Marzell

Played by:

crime fatherWebber's death

father was a tailor
Ernie the Tailor

sews pants when angryonly wears suede

Lt. Daniels

Daniels

Played by:

lt of homicide

blcack cop

parent talk with ben

daughter teen mon babydady in jail

"Some yahoo"

Played by:

country
nwockedn ucnconsons
ben makes business pitch about being accosted

Season 1 Episode 1 — "The Judge" — September 23, 1986

☞ Carter Addison

Judge Carter Addison

Played by: Dick Van Dyke

tries to get away with killing his mistress.

Hanging Judge: Justified as he was trying to secure The Scapegoat

smoker pipe tobaccofirst hist ben finds

ten years as judge as of September 1986

calling police on himself

peeping tom binoculartrenchcoat

went to law school with Ben

Paid 4 Leigh's schooling

good dancer

drinks cognac

cheated on wife

burn evidence (Batman Gambit)

bribe witness $15,000

abuse authority- frame and persecute as judge- waive off parking ticket

drives a black Ford Lincoln

⚖ Kevin Meredith

Kevin Meredith

Played by: Brian Greene

pro bonokilling his girlfriend

standing over body

honor student

doesnt own caf

† Joanne Leigh

Joanne Leigh (d. b4 Sept `28th, 1986)

Played by: Bobbi Eakes

Disappeared Dad

believed in Kevinhis cruthc

blonde

knife in cheststabbed in bed

no funds from familyschool paid by Addison

model

small town girl - Hastings to Atlanta

"Lee" in the closed captions by

Claire Leigh

Played by: Piper Laurie

Joanne's motherchambermaid at the Chancellor Hotel in Hastings, Bonanza, GA.

fake cry

bluffs being a bribed witness

Harry Hobson

Played by:

worked at the hotel of Joanne Leigh's residence since its opening in the '70s.

Alliterative Name

worked ten year

knows everyonedidn't use Harry's name as familiarity

William Bryan

Played by:

condominium saw Addison hide his clothes

former Atlanta PD

Paul Devareaux

son, Daledefend Meredith

Dale Devareaux

Alliterative Name

Season 1 Episode 2 — "The Stripper" — September 30, 1986

⚖ Carla Evans

Carla Evans nee Hardiman

Played by: Kerrie Keane

red head

a stripper

single mother

† Jason Hardiman

Jason Hardiman (d. Sept 3rd, 1986)

Played by: John Carter

steal custody of his ex's son

Asshole Victim

get her fired

shot in bathrobes at lake house sept 2

died morning after shot, poisoned in hospitaldied after celebration 4 Bob Brook's son's birth

divorced in 1981

marry younger woman

Ben was his divorce attorneycustody of newborn Jimmy

"Once he owned something, he never liked to part with it" - allison

Jimmy Evans

Jimmy Evans nee Hardiman (b. 1981)

Played by: Michael Faustino

Allison Hardiman

Played by: Judith-Marie Bergan

affair with James O'Donald, her husband's business partner

Gracie Fielder

Played by: Jennifer Rhodes

Doug Templitt

Played by: Gary Frank

Stand up comedian

horiffied by shelly's killing

dramatic wig pull

split personallity

Helen Shelly

Played by: Gary Frank

friend of Doug Templitt

Shot Hardimanpoisioned hardiman in hospital

disguised as Carla disguised as nurse

cut her hand

red trench coat for murder

alledgedly threatened Carla

split personallity

answered a subpoena despite not really existing

Nurse Jackson

Played by: Anne Hanney

elderly nurse who witnessed Hardiman's killer escape.

spinster: Both Burton Hawkins and Charlene Matlock addressed her as Miss Jackson

poor eyesightneeds glasses

red glasses

Wayne Cornell

Played by: Wayne Heffley

The caretaker of the Hardiman's lake house for two years

James O'Donald

Jason Hardiman's business partner

Season 1 Episode 3 — "The Affair" — October 7, 1986

⚖ Sonia Cardenas

Sonia Cardenas

Played by: Theresa Saldana

the Cuban aid of the Harrison-Ward family

take the fall

hold the knife

"I've defended clients for nearly 25 years, but never one like this. If they're guilty or innocent, they always yell their heads off."

Blackmailed into sex and falling for murder to keep daughter safe from Castro

† Richard Ward

Richard "Dick" Ward (d. 1986)

Played by: John Christy Ewing

Rhode Island

stabbed in back

cheated on wifes1.2. with

Blackmail that Maria was smuggled in

father: Bill Ward

Christina Harrison-Ward

Played by: Carolyn Seymour

woke up to find hubby's body

family owns the house

Clark Harrison

Clark Harrison (b. cir. 1956)

Played by: Kevin Conroy

Christina's son by blood.College friend ("just a friend") of Charlene Matlock

slept with Charlene

Lila Harrison

Played by: Jenny Beck

little blonde

friends with the maid Sonia

knows how the swimtaught by Sonia

identifies Mr. Rodriguez

Daniel Ward

Played by: Jeff Conaway

The son of the late Richard and Helen Ward, and stepson of Christina Harrison-Ward

Self-Made Orphan

blame father for motheirs drinking and deathkills him

says Sonia is guiltyhow daere her deffense be here

skims callstells secretary to say he's out of town

Blackmails sonia to take the rap for murder or he'll get her daughter deportedpromises $25,000 for after he conviction.

Maria Cardenas

Played by:

in Cuba

smuggled out of cuba

Mr. Rodriquez

Sonia's cousin

Played by: Ricardo T. López

chased by Tyler

almost silencedhit by car in an alley but livesbroken bones & concuscionred '55 thunderbird

Sonia's alibi

mustached hispanic

(outside hospital shot same as in rest of series (despite being in Rhode Island))

Mrs. Rodriquez

Played by: Alina Cenal

Mother of two daughters

Harriet

Played by: Marsha Hunt

Christina's aunt

bitchy

Forbes

Played by: Max Segar

the butler

gray hairpolite

Sergeant Mac Guire

Played by:

A Rhode Island police sergeant

slippers

Helen Ward

was the deceased ex-wife of Richard Ward and the mother of their son, Daniel.

The Alcoholic

died drunk driving

1951 wedding ring given to sonia by danniel as down payment

Season 1 Episode 4 — "The Seduction" — October 14, 1986

⚖ Brad Bingham

Brad Bingham

Played by: John Beck

after she was found bludgeoned in his apartment with one of his trophies.

Alliterative Name

sleeping with his boss

womanizer, many hookups

painting Tyler's apartment

† Cynthia Hyland

Cynthia Hyland (d. October 23rd, 1986)

Played by: Lenore Kasdorf

Savannah Company of Atlanta

bludgeoned

stepmotherwidow

sleeping with her team's

Vincent Hyland

Played by: Alex Hyde-White

stepson

dead fatherwill says hers goes to him

brunette

Dave Edwards

David T. Edwards

Played by: Joshua Byrant

greets Matlock warmly, but when Hyland informs him he's Bingham's lawyer, he tells Matlock to only speak with him through his attorney.

contract of sale says full first name and initial

killed Cynthia to buy out the team

Caryn Nelson

Caryn Nelson | Caroline Nathan

Played by: Nancy Stafford

Call girl - Gentleman's Escort ServiceNOT a personal shopper

claimed to be engagedclaimed to be out shopping during a brownout

denied Bing's alibi to get outta dodge

Actress reused for Michelle Thomas

Marsha Barnes

Played by: Shannon Wilcox

on the phone with Cynthia before she was killed.

Johnny Mack

Played by: Tom Lister Jr

muscular friend of Bingham

Edward's secretary

Played by:

Lt. Davis

Played by: Richard McKenzie

Gerald

Played by: Jimmy Keegan

A kid who witnessed the aftermath of Cythnia Hyland's murder through his telescope.

attention for being a witness by classmates

tracing the rings of Saturn for a school project

2-inch parabolic mirrortripod mountedwith a 650-ft focal length

P.T. Bridgeport

Played by:

"Your mother's a jackass!"

a parrot gifted to Matlock's secretary, Sarah, by a friend that moved to Des Moines.

ben tries to pawn it off to- herman jones, "he thinks his mother's a jackass"- tyler, he's lonely

"P.T, Godspeed!"

Ellen Hawley

Played by:

a friend of Charlene that got friendly with Brad Bingham

attempted suicide?

Calvin Sykes

Played by:

Season 1 Episode 5 — "The Don: Part 1" — October 28, 1986

⚖ Nicholas Baron

Played by: José Ferrer

grows rosescultivar "Irene's Ruby"a hobby that became a business

believes in faith

believes in honorwill only take rap for crimes he committed

doesn't beg

terminally ill ~6 mon.

collapses in court

brought back in wheel chair

false confesses to the murders when he realizes Cathy did it to protect her (dont work)

† Donald Kovacs

Played by:

had an affair with Cathy Baron

† Edward Alonzo

Eddie A. (prior August 19th, sept 12)

Played by:

knew nick for almost 50 yrs

paid $25k by Cathy to kill kovakused money to by sister a house.

Paul Baron

Played by:

Eldest son of Nick

had dinner with charlenetwice

sends flowers

hates the kovaks

Cathy Baron

Catherine Baron

Played by:

wild driver

had affair with Don Kovakhad him killed when he wouldn't divorce his wife for herpaid Eddie $25k to carry hitkilled eddie personally

victorian era locketonly picture she has of her mother

Daniel Baron

Dr. Daniel Baron

Played by:

internist

only perscribes for patients

try to be clean

doc for five years

gives ben two shots for his allergies

Phillip Kovak

Played by: Joseph Hacker

donald's brother

Mrs. Kovak

Played by:

Donald's widow

Played by:

gardener

[folder:James McShane]]

D.A. James L. McShane

Played by: William Conrad

"I said when I became district attorney, that I would break the back of organized crime in this city, and this is part of that promise."

James L. McShane, Fulton County's district attorney who decided to prosecute Don Nicholas Baron personally.

calls Baron collapsing in court as "another of Matlock's theatrical tricks""dammit, jimmy, this is serious!"

hypocrite - ben said he did trick himself

[[/folder]]

Palmer

Played by:

co-counsil with McShane

got mustard on McShane's suit

Dave Christopher

Played by:

kovak's gardener

served as Kovak's driverto hilton head, sc on Mar 15thwith Cathy Baron

hearing problemgun went off by his ear "by accident"

commited seven felonies under Kovak's employ

Oh that's right you were convicted of a felonyyeah. a little.a little? more like seven! (court laughs) armed robbery, assault attempted murder, racketeering

Mr Henderson

Played by:

witnessed Eddie A's murder

Alice Jenkins

Played by: Sheree North

A painter that comes forward as an alibi for Don Baron... only to get caught in her lie and frame Matlock for buying her testimony.

A painter Jackson Park almost two weeks painting Sun Dance

provides false alibisfor-michael escott-anthony perini-robert daley

told to frame Matlock for paying her for false testimony

miss - single

christianananias (didn;t knonw here

evac'd as fake drug bust is called on Ben and Tyler

sum1 ransacked matlock officetaunt charlene w/ phones

Season 1 Episode 6 — "The Don: Part 2" — November 4, 1986

Played by:

mother of the Baron childrendivorced 20

lives in california

Roy Vincent

Played by:

Mr. Johnson

Played by: Arthur Adams

"I think you're the kind of lawyer that gets everybody and his uncle off. Frankly; I'd like to see how you do it."

juror

black mangreying black hair

Season 1 Episode 7 — "The Sisters" — November 11, 1986

☞ Julia Mc Cullough

Played by: Gail O'Grady

bitchbitchbitch

mastermind behind killing her aunt

☞ Emily Mc Cullough

Played by: Diane Behrens

pyromanic

⚖ Harold Scully

Harold Scully

Played by:

Harold Scully is the maternal uncle of his nieces Julia and Emily, who frame him for the murder of his wife, Esther.

† Esther Scully

Played by:

Mrs. Reese

Played by:

librarian

Played by:

Season 1 Episode 8 — "The Cop" — November 18, 1986

⚖

Played by:

†

Played by:

Season 1 Episode 9 — "The Angel" — November 25, 1986

⚖

Played by:

†

Played by:

Season 1 Episode 10 — "The Professor" — December 2, 1986

⚖

Played by:

Season 1 Episode 19 — "The Therapist" — March 3, 1987

⚖

Played by:

⚖

Played by:

†

Played by:

⚖

Played by:

†

Played by:

Debut: (;)

Played by:

Sandbox / Pinoccappuccino

Edit Locked

Office of Ben Matlock

Benjamin Leighton Matlock

Fulton County Courthouse

Carter Addison

Arthur Beaumont

Richard "Richie" Cooksey

Clagett

Cynthia Justin

Judge Irene Sawyer

Lloyd Burgess

Burton "Death Row" Hawkins

Recurring Characters

Lesley "Les" Calhoun'''

Pilot — "Diary of a Perfect Murder" — March 3, 1986

(d. 1986)

(d. 1986)

Daniels

Season 1 Episode 1 — "The Judge" — September 23, 1986

Judge Carter Addison

Kevin Meredith

Joanne Leigh (d. b4 Sept `28th, 1986)

Claire Leigh

Harry Hobson

Paul Devareaux

Season 1 Episode 2 — "The Stripper" — September 30, 1986

Carla Evans nee Hardiman

Jason Hardiman (d. Sept 3rd, 1986)

Jimmy Evans nee Hardiman (b. 1981)

Doug Templitt

Helen Shelly

James O'Donald

Season 1 Episode 3 — "The Affair" — October 7, 1986

Sonia Cardenas

Richard "Dick" Ward (d. 1986)

Christina Harrison-Ward

Clark Harrison (b. cir. 1956)

Sergeant Mac Guire

Season 1 Episode 4 — "The Seduction" — October 14, 1986

Brad Bingham

Cynthia Hyland (d. October 23rd, 1986)

David T. Edwards

Caryn Nelson | Caroline Nathan

Gerald

Ellen Hawley

Season 1 Episode 5 — "The Don: Part 1" — October 28, 1986

Eddie A. (prior August 19th, sept 12)

Paul Baron

Catherine Baron

Dr. Daniel Baron

D.A. James L. McShane

Season 1 Episode 6 — "The Don: Part 2" — November 4, 1986

Roy Vincent

Season 1 Episode 7 — "The Sisters" — November 11, 1986

Harold Scully

Season 1 Episode 8 — "The Cop" — November 18, 1986

Season 1 Episode 9 — "The Angel" — November 25, 1986

Season 1 Episode 10 — "The Professor" — December 2, 1986

Season 1 Episode 11 — "Santa Claus" — December 9, 1986

Season 1 Episode 12 — "The Chef" — January 6, 1987

Season 1 Episode 13 — "The Author" — January 13, 1987

Season 1 Episode 14 — "The Rat Pack" — January 20, 1987

Season 1 Episode 15 — "The Nurse" — February 3, 1987

Season 1 Episode 16 — "The Convict" — February 10, 1987