Linda Cardellini

Linda Edna Cardellini, born on June 25, 1975, is an accomplished American actress known for her diverse roles in both television and film. Raised in Redwood City, California, she is the youngest of four children, born to Lorraine and Wayne David Cardellini, and is of Italian, Irish, German, and Scottish descent. Cardellini's early exposure to performing arts began with school plays, leading her to pursue acting professionally.

After graduating from St. Francis High School in 1993, Cardellini moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in television and film. She attended Loyola Marymount University's College of Communication and Fine Arts, graduating in 1997 with a degree in theater arts. Cardellini's first notable television role came in 1996 as Sarah in ABC's "Bone Chillers." She then made guest appearances on various prime-time shows, including "Step by Step," "Clueless," and "3rd Rock from the Sun."

Cardellini gained widespread recognition for her starring role as Lindsay Weir in the critically acclaimed NBC series "Freaks and Geeks" (1999–2000). This marked her major breakthrough, earning positive acclaim for her portrayal of an honor student navigating an identity crisis. She continued to make her mark in the television industry with notable roles in "ER" (2003–2009), "Bloodline" (2015–2017), and "Dead to Me" (2019–2022), earning an Emmy nomination for the latter.

In film, Cardellini is recognized for her role as Velma Dinkley in "Scooby-Doo" (2002) and its sequel, as well as appearances in "Legally Blonde" (2001), "Brokeback Mountain" (2005), "Daddy's Home" (2015), "The Founder" (2016), "Green Book" (2018), and "The Curse of La Llorona" (2019). She also ventured into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing Laura Barton in "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015) and its sequel "Avengers: Endgame" (2019), and voicing Lylla in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" (2023).

Cardellini's talents extend to the stage, and she has been involved in various projects, including her return to the stage with the Dr. God comedy group in 2010 and 2011. She received recognition as a "Distinguished Alumna" from Loyola Marymount University in 2007.

In her personal life, Cardellini dated her "Freaks and Geeks" co-star Jason Segel for several years. She later entered into a relationship with Steven Rodriguez, with whom she shares a daughter named Lilah-Rose, born in February 2012. The couple got engaged in June 2013. With a career marked by versatility and critical acclaim, Linda Cardellini continues to be a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.