The ‘Freaks And Geeks’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

Even though it’s been 16 years since Freaks and Geeks was cancelled, the show has gathered a fan base that could easily challenge any creations by Joss Whedon. It’s hard to remember that this teen drama-comedy was axed midway into its first season, given its powerful impact. Even though it had a small viewership during its run, the show is repeatedly featured in “best TV shows of all time” lists, and it’s not challenging to understand the reason. The show nostalgically takes us back to the 80’s with a sense of realness and comedy. It has been a stepping stone in the careers of many big names in Hollywood, while others from the show have maintained a lower-key presence. Furthermore, it has served as a satisfying stage for some of our most beloved character actors to display their talent. So, let’s take a look at where your favorite Freaks and Geeks stars ended up. You might be surprised by some of their journeys.

Linda Cardellini

Although Lindsay Weir, the character played by Cardellini, was grappling to fit in with the various high school cliques on Freaks and Geeks, actors herself was far from being lost in the world of television. Having already had prior appearances on popular TV shows like 3rd Rock from the Sun and Boy Meets World, she was well-acquainted with the scene by the time Freaks and Geeks took to the air in 1999. Cardellini then swapped her green army jacket for Velma’s distinctive orange turtleneck in the 2002 Scooby Doo movie and its sequel in 2004. From 2003, for the coming six seasons she became a familiar face on ER, enacting the role of Nurse Samantha Taggart. The accomplished actress found her way back into the television limelight recently, earning an Emmy nomination for a special appearance on Mad Men, providing the voice for Wendy in the Disney success, Gravity Falls, and securing a place in the major lineup of the critically praised Netflix show, Bloodline. In the previous year, she enthralled audiences in the hit comedy flick Daddy’s Home where she shared the screen with the likes of Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell.

James Franco

One might ponder whether Franco could have anticipated the skyrocketing success that followed his portrayal as the troublesome Daniel Desario in the show, Freaks and Geeks. His early niche seemed to be in films aimed at a teen audience, with roles in movies like Never Been Kissed where he starred alongside Drew Barrymore, and Whatever it Takes, opposite Marla Sokoloff. Sokoloff and Franco became more than just co-stars, their relationship extending for five years beyond the silver screen.

Jason Segel

Jason Segel has built a successful career since his time portraying the lovable, heartbroken character Nick Andopolis. In 2005, he landed a major role in a TV series that was praised by critics, where he played the character Marshall Eriksen on the show How I Met Your Mother. Segel made appearances with his Freaks and Geeks co-stars in lighthearted comedies like Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall – a movie for which he also wrote the screenplay and composed original songs, I Love You, Man, and The Five-Year Engagement. Not to mention, he was the lead actor and the screenwriter for The Muppets in 2011, which was influenced by the puppeteering scenes in his earlier film, Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Seth Rogen

Starting as a clever jokester named Ken Miller, Seth Rogen quickly emerged as an exceptional actor and scriptwriter, working in collaboration with Evan Goldberg. After delivering a memorable decade-defining performance in the 40 Year Old Virgin, 2007 marked a turning point in his career with the wildly successful Knocked Up, a movie orchestrated by the genius behind Freaks and Geeks, Judd Apatow. Seth Rogen didn’t stop at acting, showing his writing prowess too in Superbad, a film that mirrored his own high school experience, crafted along with Evan Goldberg. He continued to impress with a series of blockbusters such as Zack and Miri Make a Porno, This is the End and Neighbors. Additionally, he frequently collaborates with his Freaks and Geeks buddy, James Franco, on numerous projects, including the well-known “Pineapple Express” and “The Interview”.