He attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, but dropped out his junior year to pursue an acting career.

[7] Later that year, he joined the main cast of Melrose Place as Brett Cooper, a role he had until the start of the seventh season in late 1998.

He first appeared on the show in the first season in 1993 as Jo Reynolds's estranged husband Charles, in the episodes "Peanut Butter and Jealousy" and "Single White Sister".

In 2011, Ashby started portraying Noah Stilinski, Beacon Hills' sheriff and father to Stiles, on MTV's Teen Wolf series.

[10] For his portrayal of Sheriff Stilinski in the sixth season, he received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor on a Television Series at the 43rd Saturn Awards.

[16] The next year, Ashby was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series for his role as Cameron.

[19][20] Linden has admitted to previously suffering panic attacks before auditions which threatened to shorten his career.