Linda Cardellini Expecting First Child

Francois G. Durand/WireImage

Freaks, geeks … and a baby on the way.

Linda Cardellini is expecting her first child with boyfriend Steven Rodriguez early next year, her rep tells PEOPLE exclusively.

“They’re excited to start a family together,” says the rep.

The actress, 36, known for her roles on ER, Freaks and Geeks and in the Scooby-Doo movies, is busy promoting her new film Return, which premiered at the Cannes film festival this year.

Starring alongside Oscar nominee Michael Shannon, Cardellini plays a war veteran who has a difficult time adjusting to her normal life when she returns home.

She was also recently back on primetime, guest-starring on the new CBS show Person of Interest with Jim Caviezel.

– Sara Hammel

Comments

klutzy_girl on October 18th, 2011

Yay, I loved her on Freaks and Greek! Congratulations to Linda and her boyfriend.

cn tower on October 18th, 2011

Increasingly I am becoming less and less familiar with the celebrities featured on this site — good thing People gives a brief primer on some of them (actress/singer/reality star….).

Tee on October 18th, 2011

Aw, I loved her on ER! Congratulations, Linda and Steven!

Nina Sortino on October 18th, 2011

I loved her in the Scooby-Doo movies!!!!!!!!!! Congrats Linda!!!!!!!

mandy on October 18th, 2011

Yay, I loved her as Sam on ER!

Amanda on October 18th, 2011

It took me a minute to figure out who she is. She was adorable in the Scooby Doo movies! Congrats to her & her boyfriend.

Janette Iniguez on October 18th, 2011

Congrats Steve and Linda!!

Amy on October 18th, 2011

Seems a little suspect- all the people writing on here how much they “love” her. I’d be willing to bet 95% of the people reading this site have no idea who she is.

Chelsea on October 18th, 2011

Congrats to them both!!! Sad she’s not still with Jason Segel. So loved Freaks & Geeks.

Shayla on October 18th, 2011

I also like Linda Cardellini [loved her Lindsay on FREAKS & GEEKS and her Sam on "er"] & I wish Linda & her significant other a very happy & healthy baby.

Amanda on October 18th, 2011

Amy, if they hadn’t listed some of the movies she was in I would have no idea. Once I saw she was in Scooby Doo I knew who she was since I’ve watched those movies a dozen times with my kids.

sara on October 18th, 2011

Amy, she’s been in some very popular TV shows and movies and also dated another well-known actor (Jason Segal) for a while. Why are you so skeptical?

Harley on October 18th, 2011

Amy – just because you don’t know who she is, doesn’t mean the rest of us don’t. I loved her in ER, also happen to remember her in the TV mini-series Comanche Moon, thank you. But you seem to be quite content in skepticism instead of wishing someone well in their pregnancy, so have at it.

Congrats to her and Steven on a wonderful little addition!

Regina on October 18th, 2011

Congrats!! loved her in the scooby-doo movies! she reminds me of Jennette McCurdy from ICarly.

cathy on October 18th, 2011

I met her at a premier and she was the nicest person ever. loved her on ER. Congratulations.. You deserve all the happiness ..

Mel on October 18th, 2011

Loved her on ER! But have also seen her in Freaks and Geeks and Legally Blonde. She’s not exactly an unknown!

Congrats to her!

Calais on October 18th, 2011

I love Linda. Shes hilarious in Scooby Doo & ER. love her on everything she’s been in.

Congratulations to Linda & Steven on their expanding family.

Anonymous on October 18th, 2011

congrats to linda and her boyfriend

Mandy on October 18th, 2011

YAY! SO HAPPY FOR HER! I was a big fan of Freaks and Geeks and loved her as Velma! I also watched E.R. religiously and when she joined it made it that much better! Luka and Sam!

Anyways, who could forget her in Legally Blonde as Chutney.

She has had some seriously great roles…. the next one is motherhood!

Congrats to Linda and her boyfriend and can’t wait to see the baby!

Lindsay on October 18th, 2011

I agree, she’s definitely not an unknown. I’m in my mid 20′s and watched her in ER. Don’t know if anyone remembers but she played Lauren, the ski chick in Boy Meets World

Congratulations to her and Steven!

Liz on October 18th, 2011

I LOVE her! Loved her as Sam on ER!

eribri on October 18th, 2011

I remember her from TONS of things and I’m 22. I didn’t recognize her name but once I clicked the story I knew her face right off the bat.

Congrats.

angelbaby33 on October 18th, 2011

Lauren- OMG, I totally remember that episode of Boy Meets World and I never realized that was her! I never watched Freaks and Geeks but I always remember her as Chutney from Legally Blonde movie. Its so funny when you have the “duh” moment after you have seen something so many times! )

JCool on October 18th, 2011

Freaks and Geeks. Genius.

Love stalking the mommies-to-be and looking forward to my impending pregnancy!

klutzy_girl on October 18th, 2011

I didn’t even realize she was Lauren on BMW until I looked her on IMDB to see what else I liked her in besides F&G and Scooby Doo. I hated that storyline on the show, and I tend to avoid those episodes when they repeat.

And I meant Freaks and *Geeks* earlier, not Greek. Oops at my typo. (We just went over Ancient Greece in one of my classes, so I guess it was on my mind.)

Can’t wait to see who’s next in this baby boom, especially since it seems to be striking random celebs.

Laurie on October 18th, 2011

She was also in “Grandma’s Boy” which is hysterical! Congrats!

Jaclyn on October 18th, 2011

Congrats to her! Loved her in ER also remember her in Brokeback Mountain as Heath Ledger’s girlfriend, she’s a great actress

soph on October 18th, 2011

Please, Amy. She’s very recognizable from TV. But nice percentage.

Kevin on October 19th, 2011

congrats to the both of you,what a GREAT looking couple.Linda,I loved your performance in Kill an Irishman and your appearence on person of interest…………………..

guest on October 19th, 2011

is she the one that was in Grandma’s Boy??

Anthony on October 19th, 2011

Thank god she’s with a nice guy and not with Jason Segal. He is such a moron.

Shannon on October 19th, 2011

Loved her on ER! Congrats!

Manda on October 19th, 2011

@ Amy – just because you don’t know who she is, doesn’t mean others don’t. Plenty of people remember her from ER and Scooby.

I never watched Freaks & Geeks but was a huge fan of ER and loved her character. My kids love Scooby and I remember thinking that she was too beautiful to play Velma and was more Daphne worthy.

So just because you don’t know who someone is, it’s pretty silly of you to just assume that no one else does.

Manda on October 19th, 2011

Congrats to the happy couple btw.

Laura on October 19th, 2011

Definitely not an unknown to me – ER is my favorite show! Of course, her role in Legally Blonde is pretty funny, too.

Congrats, Linda!

LJH on October 19th, 2011

Used to watch ER religiously. Couldn’t stand Sam most of the time, but love Linda from her other work (and her ER bloopers were usually pretty good, lol). Exciting news for her

Nancy on October 19th, 2011

I just hope Linda and Steven get married while this child is in the womb but congrats to them anyway

sara on October 19th, 2011

Why, Nancy? What century do you live in? There’s nothing wrong with having a baby while not being married. And how is it any of your business, anyway?

Smarty Pants on October 19th, 2011

I ABSOLUTE HAVE NO IDEA WHO SHE IS xD
but Congrats nonetheless

K.W. on October 19th, 2011

get married already – completely agree w/ Nancy…

CMC on October 19th, 2011

I love her! She seems very “real.”

Best of luck to her!

Reese on October 20th, 2011

Congratulations to the two!

K.W., maybe they don’t want to. It’s none of your business and doesn’t effect your life in the slightest.

Jana on October 20th, 2011

She was AMAZING on ER…congrats to her!

cutiepie29 on October 21st, 2011

She is adorable. She was in Brokeback Mountain, she played Heath Ledger’s (Ennis) girlfriend Cassie. ER, Legally Blonde, Grandma’s Boy, and on and on…

Jillian on October 21st, 2011

She is great! Loved her on Person of Interest last week!

The “Get married” comments make me laugh. What happens if they don’t???

sherri on October 21st, 2011

Congrats! My family and I were extras on her new movie Return. What a really nice person.

Sissy on October 21st, 2011

She is a character actress who has the talent to change what she looks like with the characters she has played… I just recently saw Geeks and Freaks and was amazed how many really talented actors and actresses played on that show… And lets be honest as Velma on Scooby Doo she does not look like normal…She is a beautiful woman… So I think that some people just did not recognize….

Brian on October 21st, 2011

She also appeared in Brokeback Mountain

Chris on November 30th, 2011

I went to high school with her at St. Francis. She’s been in some really good shows, especially E.R. Congrats!