Linda Cardellini
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 two live-action Scooby-Doo movies, and as Samantha Taggart on ER.
Contents
1 Biography
1.1 Early life
1.2 Career
1.3 Personal life
2 Television
2.1 Guest roles
3 Filmography
4 References
5 External links
Biography
Early life
Cardellini was born in Redwood City, California, the daughter of Lorraine (née Hernan) and Wayne David Cardellini. Cardellini is of Italian and Irish descent.[1] She made her first public appearance at age 10, when she sang in a school play. After the performance, she subsequently plunged herself in several school productions and started attending drama lessons.[2] 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.[3]
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 Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. 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 fifth 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.[4]
Personal life
Cardellini attended Loyola Marymount University’s College of Communication and Fine Arts, graduating in 2001 with a degree in theatre.
Cardellini dated her Freaks and Geeks co-star Jason Segel for a few years following the show’s cancellation.[5] She enjoys art (especially that of Margaret Keane) and takes martial arts classes.[6]
Television
The Price is Right (1996) - 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-present) - Nurse Samantha Taggart
Comanche Moon (2007) - 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
“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
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (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 Heaven Project (2008) - Julie