Celebrity Info
Linda Cardellini first captured public attention with her standout performance as a “mathlete” turned rebel in the critically acclaimed and cult-favorite series Freaks and Geeks (NBC, 1999–2000). Following that role, she smoothly transitioned into more mature and emotionally rich characters, showcasing her versatility in projects such as ER (NBC, 1994–2009), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), and Mad Men (AMC, 2007–2015), as well as films like Brokeback Mountain (2005) and the Oscar-winning Green Book (2018).
Born Linda Edna Cardellini on June 25, 1975, in Redwood City, California, she was the youngest of four children in a family headed by her businessman father, Wayne Cardellini, and her mother, Lorraine. Her early interest in performance began at age 10 with a singing role in a school play, and she quickly became a familiar face in school and local theater productions. After graduating from St. Francis High School in Mountain View, California, in 1993, she relocated to Los Angeles to pursue acting more seriously.
Her first major television role came when she joined the cast of ABC’s Bone Chillers (1996), a children’s series centered around supernatural events at a high school. This was followed by guest appearances on popular shows like Third Rock from the Sun (NBC, 1996–2001), and small roles in films such as Good Burger (1997). She also had recurring roles on Guys Like Us (UPN, 1998–1999) and Boy Meets World (ABC, 1993–2000), where she played a ski instructor caught in a romantic triangle between Ben Savage’s character and Topanga, portrayed by Danielle Fishel.
However, it was her portrayal of Lindsay Weir in Judd Apatow’s Emmy-winning series Freaks and Geeks that truly launched her into the spotlight. As a suburban teenager navigating personal identity and forming unexpected bonds with a group of school misfits, Cardellini’s performance stood out. Although the show struggled with ratings, its critical success helped elevate the careers of its young ensemble, which included future stars like Seth Rogen, James Franco, and Jason Segel. For Linda Cardellini, this opened doors to more substantial roles in film, including her well-known performances as the intelligent and resourceful Velma Dinkley in the live-action Scooby-Doo (2002) and its sequel Scooby-Doo: Monsters Unleashed (2004).
In 2005, she joined an ensemble cast that included Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, and Anne Hathaway in Ang Lee’s Academy Award-winning Brokeback Mountain, playing a small-town waitress involved in a fleeting but emotionally complex relationship with Ledger’s character. Around the same time, she began a six-year stint on ER, portraying the tough and resilient nurse Samantha Taggart, a single mother navigating the challenges of both her personal and professional life. Her character’s journey included dramatic storylines such as a romantic entanglement with two doctors, a tragic kidnapping, and the painful loss of her estranged mother.
After ER concluded in 2009, Linda Cardellini remained active in independent films, earning praise for her work in Return (2011). However, during this period, she was more frequently heard than seen, taking on numerous voice roles in animated series such as Mike Judge’s The Goode Family (ABC, 2009), Gravity Falls (Disney, 2012–2016), Regular Show (Cartoon Network, 2010–2017), and Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated (Cartoon Network, 2010–2013).
Her acting talents were once again brought to the forefront with her emotionally layered portrayal of a Catholic housewife embroiled in a passionate affair with Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm) on Mad Men. Her performance earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series and renewed recognition that led to more prominent opportunities. She went on to portray a lawyer entangled in a web of family secrets in Bloodline (Netflix, 2015–2017) and reprised her role as Laura Barton, the wife of Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).
Linda Cardellini also demonstrated her comedic flair in Daddy’s Home (2015) and its 2017 sequel, playing opposite Will Ferrell. She held her own in more dramatic fare as well, starring alongside Michael Keaton in The Founder (2016) and sharing the screen with Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali in the Academy Award-winning Green Book (2018).
The following year marked one of the busiest and most notable in Linda Cardellini’s career. She took on the lead role in the James Wan-produced supernatural horror film The Curse of La Llorona (2019), returned as Laura Barton for Avengers: Endgame (2019), and starred in the Netflix dark comedy Dead to Me (2019), opposite Christina Applegate. These roles reaffirmed her status as a versatile and consistently compelling performer across both film and television.
When it comes to Linda Cardellini’s filmography, one standout in terms of critical acclaim is definitely Brokeback Mountain from 2005—it’s widely regarded as her highest rated movie. Over the years, fans and critics alike have praised the film, and Linda Cardellini’s role in it certainly contributed to its success. On the other end of the spectrum, her lowest rated film tends to be Strangeland, which came out back in 1998. While opinions may vary, the general consensus places that title at the bottom of the list when ranking Linda Cardellini’s work. So, whether you’re exploring Linda Cardellini’s most celebrated performances or diving into her earlier projects, these two films mark the high and low points in her career so far.
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