Candace Bergen joins ‘Boston Legal’ cast

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By Nellie Andreeva

Hollywood Reporter

updated 10:58 a.m. ET Nov. 30, 2004

LOS ANGELES - In her first series regular role since her Emmy-winning turn on CBS’ “Murphy Brown,” Candace Bergen has joined the cast of ABC’s freshman drama “Boston Legal.”

The David E. Kelley Prods. series centers on the workings of Crane, Poole & Schmidt, a high-end civil law firm.

Bergen will play the company’s name partner Shirley Schmidt. William Shatner stars as Denny Crane, while Larry Miller recurs as Edwin Poole.

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“Boston Legal,” which has a full-season order, also stars James Spader, Monica Potter, Rhona Mitra, Mark Valley and Rene Auberjonois.

Meanwhile, co-star Lake Bell’s option is not expected to be picked up beyond the show’s first 13 episodes. The actress plays young attorney Sally Heep.

Bergen, who won five Emmys for her title role on “Murphy Brown,” most recently did a recurring stint on NBC’s upcoming “Law & Order: Trial by Jury.”

Her credits also include the features “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Miss Congeniality.”