Linda Cardellini

Infobox actor


caption = Linda Cardellini as Samantha Taggart in ER TV series.
imagesize = 225px
name = Linda Cardellini
birthdate = birth date and age|1975|6|25
location = Redwood City, California, USA
birthname = Linda Edna Cardellini
spouse =
homepage =
yearsactive = 1996-present

Linda Edna Cardellini (born June 25, 1975) is an American television and film actress. She is perhaps best known for her roles as high school student Lindsay Weir on "Freaks and Geeks," as Velma Dinkley in the live-action "Scooby-Doo" films, and as Samantha Taggart on "ER".

Biography

Early life

Cardellini was born in Redwood City, California, the daughter of Lorraine Hernan (née Hernan) and Wayne David Cardellini. She is of Irish and Italian ancestry. ["Linda Cardellini{dot}Org" (page), "http://linda-cardellini.org/", webpage: [http://linda-cardellini.org/linda/bio.php] ] She made her first public appearance at age 10, when she sang in a school play. After the performance, she plunged into several school productions and started attending drama lessons. ["The Linda Cardellini Picture Pages" (page), "superiorpics.com", webpage: [http://www.superiorpics.com/linda_cardellini/] ] She graduated from nearby Mountain View's St. Francis High School in 1993.

Career

Cardellini received her first big break in 1996 when she landed a starring role as Sarah on ABC's Saturday morning live-action children's series, "Bone Chillers". Following this, she made guest appearances on prime-time programs such as "Step by Step", "Clueless", "3rd Rock from the Sun", and "Boy Meets World" as Lauren, a girl that came between the show's star couple. Cardellini spent the summer of 1999 in Europe as part of a touring production of "Lancelot", a 14th century Dutch tragedy. ["AskMen.com - Linda Cardellini" (page), "AskMen.com", webpage: [http://www.askmen.com/women/actress_200/212_linda_cardellini.html] ]

Cardellini had her first major success when she landed one of the starring roles in the NBC series "Freaks and Geeks", which debuted during the 1999-2000 season. As Lindsay Weir, an honor student in the midst of an identity crisis, the actress earned positive response that subsequently catapulted her fame. In 2002, Cardellini starred in the live-action adaption of "Scooby-Doo", in which she brought to life the cartoon character of Velma Dinkley. She would later reprise the role of Velma in 2004's "". In 2003, she joined the cast of the hospital drama "ER" as Samantha Taggart, a free-spirited nurse.

Her other film work includes roles in "Dead Man on Campus", "Legally Blonde", "Brokeback Mountain", and a starring role in Happy Madison's "Grandma's Boy" as Samantha. She was also the voice of Ursula in the role-playing video game, "Gladius". She is currently entering her sixth season as Samantha on "ER". In 2007, Cardellini was chosen to play lovelorn Clara in CBS' miniseries "Comanche Moon", a prequel to 1989's "Lonesome Dove". ["Where are the "Freaks and Geeks" now?" (page), "ew.com", webpage: [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20052164,00.html] ]

Personal life

Cardellini attended Loyola Marymount University's College of Communication and Fine Arts, graduating in 2001 with a degree in theatre arts. She was also an active member of the Delta Zeta sorority.

Cardellini dated her "Freaks and Geeks" co-star Jason Segel for a few years following the show's cancellation. ["'Back Pack'? They're out front now" (page), "USAToday.com", webpage: [http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-05-31-back-pack_N.htm] ] She enjoys art (especially that of Margaret Keane) and takes martial arts classes. ["Bio: Linda Cardellini" (page), "gbdesigns.com", webpage: [http://www.gbdesigns.com/freaksandgeeks/bios/cardellini_linda.html] ]

Television

* "The Price Is Right" (1993) - Herself (she initially won a fake fireplace but lost the subsequent individual game with host Bob Barker)
* "Bone Chillers" (1996) - Sarah
* "Guys Like Us" (1998-1999) - Jude
* "The Lot" (1999) - June Parker
* "Freaks and Geeks" (1999) - Lindsay Weir
* "ER" (2003-2009) - Nurse Samantha Taggart
* "Comanche Moon" (2008) - Clara Forsythe

Guest roles

* "3rd Rock from the Sun" (1997) - Lorna
* "Pacific Palisades (TV series)" (1997) - Sara
* "Clueless (TV series)" (1997) - Audrey
* "Step by Step" (1997) - Casey
* "Boy Meets World" (1998-1999) - Lauren
* "Promised Land (1996 TV series)" (1998) - Amber
* "Kenan & Kel" (1998) - Becky
* "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (2002) - Herself
* "The Twilight Zone" (2003) - Allison "Ally" Warner
* "Player$" (2003) - Herself
* "On Air with Ryan Seacrest" - Herself
* "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (2004) - Herself
* "HBO First Look" (2004) - Herself
* "Fridays" (2004) - Herself
* "The Sharon Osbourne Show" (2004) - Herself
* "Last Call with Carson Daly" (2004) - Herself
* "Robot Chicken" (2005) - Velma (voice)
* "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" (2005) - Herself
* "Human Giant" (2007) - Mother ("Mother & Son Moving Co.")
* "Sing Along" - Virginia Coalition (2008) (Music Video)

Filmography

* "Good Burger" (1997) - Heather
* "Dead Man on Campus" (1998) - Kelly
* "Strangeland" (1998) - Genevieve Gage
* "Dying to Live" (1999) - Leslie Chambers
* "The Prince and the Surfer" (1999) - Melissa
* "Legally Blonde" (2001) - Chutney Windham
* "The Unsaid" (2001) - Shelly Hunter
* "Scooby-Doo" (2002) - Velma Dinkley
* "Gladius" (2003) - Ursula (voice)
* "Certainly Not a Fairytale" (2003) - Adelle/Writer
* "" (2004) - Velma Dinkley
* "LolliLove" (2004) - Linda
* "Jiminy Glick in Lalawood" (2004) - Natalie Coolidge
* "Brokeback Mountain" (2005) - Cassie Cartwright
* "American Gun" (2005) - Mary-Anne
* "Grandma's Boy" (2006) - Samantha
* "The Lazarus Project" (2008) - Julie

References

External links

* [http://linda-cardellini.org Linda-Cardellini.Org]
*imdb name|id=0004802|name=Linda Cardellini
* [http://www.tv.com/linda-cardellini/person/37307/summary.html?q=Linda%20Cardellini&tag=search_results;title;0 Linda Cardellini] at TV.com
* [http://blog.thesyn.com.s17153.gridserver.com/2008/02/11/video-virginia-coalition-sing-along Linda Cardellini starring in the Virginia Coalition video "Sing Along"]