25 Years Later, Where Is the Cast ofFreaks and GeeksNow?

Mar. 15, 2025

The ‘Freaks and Geeks’ cast (front, left to right) Martin Starr, John Francis Daley, Linda Cardellini, Jason Segel, (middle, left to right) Becky Ann Baker, Samm Levine, James Franco, Busy Philipps, (back, left to right) Joe Flaherty and Seth Rogen.Photo:Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

During its short run,Freaks and Geekswas nominated for threeEmmy Awards, winning for outstanding casting for a comedy series in 2000.

Despite being canceled after only 12 of its 18 episodes aired, the series jump-started the careers of many cast members — such asSeth Rogen,Jason Segel,Linda Cardelliniand more — in the worlds of film and television.

Catch up with the stars ofFreaks and Geeksas the show celebrates its 25th anniversary.

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Linda Cardellini as Lindsay Weir

Linda Cardellini as Lindsay Weir on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; Linda Cardellini leaving the Carolina Herrera fashion show during New York Fashion Week on Sept. 9, 2019, in N.Y.C.NBCU Photo Bank; Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

Linda Cardellini played Lindsay, a high schooler who tried her best to fit in with the slacker group at school (a.k.a. the freaks) despite being smart and driven.

Before starring inFreaks and Geeks, Cardellini had minor roles on shows likeKenan & KelandBoy Meets World.

She later joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Laura Barton inAvengers: Age of Ultron(2015) andAvengers: Endgame(2019). Cardellini reprised the role in Disney+‘sHawkeyeminiseries in 2021.

Additionally, the actress spent six years onERand appeared onNew GirlandMad Men(which earned her an Emmy nomination). She’s also known for her role onBloodlineand for starring alongsideChristina ApplegateonDead to Me,where she received an Emmy nomination for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series.

Cardellini gave birth to a daughter in February 2012, whom she shares with her partner Steven Rodriguez.

02of 13Busy Philipps as KimBusy Philipps as Kim Kelly in ‘Freaks and Geeks’; Busy Philipps attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 22, 2019, in Los Angeles, Calif.NBCU Photo Bank; Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesBusy Philippsplayed Kim Kelly, one of the freaks with whom Lindsay tried her hardest to fit in. Kim was alittlepreoccupied because she couldn’t stop making out withJames Franco’s character, Daniel.The actress followed up her stint onFreaks and Geekswith a role onDawson’s Creek. She has also starred in films likeWhite Chicks(2004) andHe’s Just Not That Into You(2009),as well as the seriesCougar Town.Perhaps most impressively, Philipps became one of the few women ever to helm a late-night talk show when she hostedBusy Tonight. Her latest talk show,Busy This Week, premiered on QVC+ and HSN+ on May 8, 2024.Still acting, she also starred inMean Girls(2024) and on the Peacock-then-Netflix music comedyGirls5eva.Philipps has two children,Birdie and Cricket, whom she shares with ex-husbandMarc Silverstein.

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Busy Philipps as Kim

Busy Philipps as Kim Kelly in ‘Freaks and Geeks’; Busy Philipps attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 22, 2019, in Los Angeles, Calif.NBCU Photo Bank; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

NBCU Photo Bank; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Busy Philippsplayed Kim Kelly, one of the freaks with whom Lindsay tried her hardest to fit in. Kim was alittlepreoccupied because she couldn’t stop making out withJames Franco’s character, Daniel.

The actress followed up her stint onFreaks and Geekswith a role onDawson’s Creek. She has also starred in films likeWhite Chicks(2004) andHe’s Just Not That Into You(2009),as well as the seriesCougar Town.

Perhaps most impressively, Philipps became one of the few women ever to helm a late-night talk show when she hostedBusy Tonight. Her latest talk show,Busy This Week, premiered on QVC+ and HSN+ on May 8, 2024.

Still acting, she also starred inMean Girls(2024) and on the Peacock-then-Netflix music comedyGirls5eva.

Philipps has two children,Birdie and Cricket, whom she shares with ex-husbandMarc Silverstein.

03of 13Jason Segel as Nick AndopolisJason Segel as Nick Andopolis on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; Jason Segel attends ‘The Friend’ premiere during the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on Sept. 6, 2019, in Toronto, Canada.NBCU Photo Bank; GP Images/Getty ImagesJason Segel played the lovable Nick Andopolis, who had a short-lived romance with Lindsay, was a huge stoner and loved his band more than most things (but less than weed).ThoughFreaks and Geekswas short-lived, Segel found a long-term home on the popular seriesHow I Met Your Mother, playing Marshall Eriksen for nine seasons. He also starred in films like 2008’sForgetting Sarah Marshall(which he also wrote),Bad Teacher(2011) and 2014’sSex Tape(also wrote).The actor has continued working steadily in television, starring on series likeDispatches from Elsewhere(also a creator and writer),Winning TimeandShrinking(co-creator and writer; also earned him his first Emmy andGolden Globenominations for acting) opposite Harrison Ford.Segel is currently dating actress and professional dancerKayla Radomski.

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Jason Segel as Nick Andopolis

Jason Segel as Nick Andopolis on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; Jason Segel attends ‘The Friend’ premiere during the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on Sept. 6, 2019, in Toronto, Canada.NBCU Photo Bank; GP Images/Getty Images

NBCU Photo Bank; GP Images/Getty Images

Jason Segel played the lovable Nick Andopolis, who had a short-lived romance with Lindsay, was a huge stoner and loved his band more than most things (but less than weed).

ThoughFreaks and Geekswas short-lived, Segel found a long-term home on the popular seriesHow I Met Your Mother, playing Marshall Eriksen for nine seasons. He also starred in films like 2008’sForgetting Sarah Marshall(which he also wrote),Bad Teacher(2011) and 2014’sSex Tape(also wrote).

The actor has continued working steadily in television, starring on series likeDispatches from Elsewhere(also a creator and writer),Winning TimeandShrinking(co-creator and writer; also earned him his first Emmy andGolden Globenominations for acting) opposite Harrison Ford.

Segel is currently dating actress and professional dancerKayla Radomski.

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James Franco as Daniel Desario

James Franco as Daniel Desario on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; James Franco attends a special screening of the final season of ‘The Deuce’ at Metrograph on Sept. 5, 2019, in N.Y.C.NBCU Photo Bank; Taylor Hill/WireImage

In her memoir,This Will Only Hurt a Little, Philipps described Franco as a “f—— bully” and recalled a time when he apparently threw her to the ground and knocked the wind out of her while they were meant to be shooting a scene. She wrote that Franco apologized the following day after Apatow showed him a video of the incident.

A relative unknown when he started the show, Franco’s career flourished following hisFreaks and Geeksdays. The two-time Golden Globe winner has starred in films likeSpider-Man(2002),Pineapple Express(2008),Milk(2008) and The Disaster Artist (2017) and the seriesThe Deuce. His role in127 Hours(2010) earned him an Oscar nod in 2011.

About four years later, Franco admitted that he “did sleep with students” and revealed he had struggled with sex addiction for years after becoming sober from alcohol at a young age.

“It’s such a powerful drug,” he explained. “I got hooked on it for 20 more years. The insidious part of that is that I stayed sober from alcohol all that time. And I went to meetings all that time. I even tried to sponsor other people. So in my head, it was like, ‘Oh, I’m sober. I’m living a spiritual life.’ Where on the side, I’m acting out now in all these other ways, and I couldn’t see it.”

Franco has been dating his longtime girlfriend,Isabel Pakzad, since 2017.

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Seth Rogen as Ken Miller

Seth Rogen as Ken Miller on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; Seth Rogen at the premiere of Universal Pictures’ ‘Good Boys’ at the Regency Village Theatre on Aug. 14, 2019, in Westwood, Calif.Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank; Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank; Kevin Winter/Getty Images

In 2023, Rogen told PEOPLE he “wouldn’t do” a revival ofFreaks and Geeks, saying, “It’s so rare that you do something in your career that is actually just viewed as good.”

“I know enough now not to f— with that, to just let it be good and not try to go revisit it,” he added. “And just let it exist.”

Freaks and Geekswas only the beginning for Rogen. The comic has not only acteda lotsince his debut—he boasts credits in movies likeKnocked Up(2007),This Is The End(2013) andSteve Jobs(2015) — but has written and created classics likeSuperbad(2007) andPineapple Express.

The Emmy and Golden Globe nominee has also produced Prime’s popularThe Boysseries adaptation and its spinoffGen V,Pam & Tommy, the animated seriesInvincible,Black Monday, AMC’sPreacherand much more.

In addition to acting, writing and producing, Rogen’s projects include the next spinoff from the world ofThe Boys —Vought Rising— along withConsole Wars,TheStudio,GoodFortune, a second season ofPlatonicand he reprises his voice role as Pumbaa inMufasa: The Lion King(2024).

Rogen has been married toLauren Miller Rogensince 2011, seven years after the couple met at a birthday party. The multihyphenatecredits his wife for inspiringhis cannabis home goods brand,Houseplant.

06of 13John Francis Daley as Sam WeirJohn Francis Daley as Sam Weir on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; John Francis Daley attends the premiere of ‘Stuber’ during the SXSW Conference and Festival at the Paramount Theatre on March 13, 2019, in Austin, Tex.NBCU Photo Bank; Tim Mosenfelder/Getty ImagesJohn Francis Daley was just 14 when he played Lindsay’s younger brother, Sam Weir, a quintessential geek in every sense of the word.Daley has continued acting sinceFreaksended, most notably onBonesfrom 2007 to 2014. He has starred in the filmsWaiting…(2005) and appeared in 2015’sVacation(which he wrote) and 2018’sGame Night(which he directed). Daley also co-wroteSpider-Man: Homecoming(2017) and 2023’sDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves(also directed).

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John Francis Daley as Sam Weir

John Francis Daley as Sam Weir on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; John Francis Daley attends the premiere of ‘Stuber’ during the SXSW Conference and Festival at the Paramount Theatre on March 13, 2019, in Austin, Tex.NBCU Photo Bank; Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

NBCU Photo Bank; Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

John Francis Daley was just 14 when he played Lindsay’s younger brother, Sam Weir, a quintessential geek in every sense of the word.

Daley has continued acting sinceFreaksended, most notably onBonesfrom 2007 to 2014. He has starred in the filmsWaiting…(2005) and appeared in 2015’sVacation(which he wrote) and 2018’sGame Night(which he directed). Daley also co-wroteSpider-Man: Homecoming(2017) and 2023’sDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves(also directed).

07of 13Natasha Melnick as Cindy SandersNatasha Melnick as Cindy Sanders on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; Natasha Melnick attends the 1st annual Geekie Awards at Avalon on Aug. 18, 2013, in Hollywood, Calif.NBCU Photo Bank; Gabriel Olsen/WireImageEvery teen television show has to have an “unrealistic” crush, right? Natasha Melnick played Cindy Sanders, who was soft-spoken, a cheerleader and the object of Sam Weir’s affection.Post-Freaks, Melnick appeared on shows likeUndeclaredandDo Over, eventually lending her voice to animated shows likeKing of the HillandFamily Guy.

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Natasha Melnick as Cindy Sanders

Natasha Melnick as Cindy Sanders on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; Natasha Melnick attends the 1st annual Geekie Awards at Avalon on Aug. 18, 2013, in Hollywood, Calif.NBCU Photo Bank; Gabriel Olsen/WireImage

Every teen television show has to have an “unrealistic” crush, right? Natasha Melnick played Cindy Sanders, who was soft-spoken, a cheerleader and the object of Sam Weir’s affection.

Post-Freaks, Melnick appeared on shows likeUndeclaredandDo Over, eventually lending her voice to animated shows likeKing of the HillandFamily Guy.

08of 13Samm Levine as Neal SchweiberSamm Levine as Neal Schweiber on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; Samm Levine attends the premiere of Warner Bros Pictures' ‘The Kitchen’ at TCL Chinese Theatre on Aug. 5, 2019, in Hollywood, Calif.NBCU Photo Bank; Steve Granitz/WireImageSamm Levine played Neal Schweiber, a geek who was totally and completely in love with Lindsay Weir, his best friend’s sister.The actor has appeared in many recognizable television shows and movies such asNot Another Teen Movie(2001),Life as We Know It,Inglourious Basterds(2009),Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later,Drunk HistoryandUnderdeveloped.

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Samm Levine as Neal Schweiber

Samm Levine as Neal Schweiber on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; Samm Levine attends the premiere of Warner Bros Pictures' ‘The Kitchen’ at TCL Chinese Theatre on Aug. 5, 2019, in Hollywood, Calif.NBCU Photo Bank; Steve Granitz/WireImage

Samm Levine played Neal Schweiber, a geek who was totally and completely in love with Lindsay Weir, his best friend’s sister.

The actor has appeared in many recognizable television shows and movies such asNot Another Teen Movie(2001),Life as We Know It,Inglourious Basterds(2009),Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later,Drunk HistoryandUnderdeveloped.

09of 13Martin Starr as Bill HaverchuckMartin Starr as Bill Haverchuck on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; Martin Starr attends the ‘Anxiety’s Wilma’ screening at the 15th annual HollyShorts Film Festival on Aug. 10, 2019, in Hollywood, Calif.NBCU Photo Bank; Ray Tamarra/Getty ImagesMartin Starr played Bill Haverchuck, perhaps the geekiest of all of the geeks.Starr has acted continuously since the end ofFreaks and Geeks. He had small roles in films likeSuperbadandPineapple Express, both of which starred former castmate Seth Rogen. He also played Mr. Harrington inSpider-Man: Homecoming,Spider-Man: Far from Home(2019) andSpider-Man: No Way Home(2021).In addition to roles onHawaii Five-0,Life in PiecesandSilicon Valley, Starr has starred onPartyDownand Taylor Sheridan’sTulsaKing.

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Martin Starr as Bill Haverchuck

Martin Starr as Bill Haverchuck on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; Martin Starr attends the ‘Anxiety’s Wilma’ screening at the 15th annual HollyShorts Film Festival on Aug. 10, 2019, in Hollywood, Calif.NBCU Photo Bank; Ray Tamarra/Getty Images

NBCU Photo Bank; Ray Tamarra/Getty Images

Martin Starr played Bill Haverchuck, perhaps the geekiest of all of the geeks.

Starr has acted continuously since the end ofFreaks and Geeks. He had small roles in films likeSuperbadandPineapple Express, both of which starred former castmate Seth Rogen. He also played Mr. Harrington inSpider-Man: Homecoming,Spider-Man: Far from Home(2019) andSpider-Man: No Way Home(2021).

In addition to roles onHawaii Five-0,Life in PiecesandSilicon Valley, Starr has starred onPartyDownand Taylor Sheridan’sTulsaKing.

10of 13Becky Ann Baker as Jean WeirBecky Ann Baker as Jean Weir on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; Becky Ann Baker attends the Roundabout Theatre Company 2019 gala at the Ziegfeld Ballroom on Feb. 25, 2019, in N.Y.C.NBCU Photo Bank; Michael Loccisano/Getty ImagesBecky Ann Baker already had a couple of dozen acting credits — includingMen in Black(1997),In & Out(1997),A Simple Plan(1998) and Stephen King’sStorm of the Century— when she was cast as Jean Weir, Lindsay and Sam’s mother, in Freaks and Geeks.The actress received her first Emmy nomination as a guest star in the comedy seriesGirlsin 2017. Baker later received another Emmy nod for her guest appearance on the sports dramedyTedLassoas the title character’s mom.She has also appeared inSpider-Man 3(2007),BigLittleLies,NewAmsterdam,Billions,The Good Fightand more.Baker has been married to actor Dylan Baker since 1987. They have a daughter named Willa.

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Becky Ann Baker as Jean Weir

Becky Ann Baker as Jean Weir on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; Becky Ann Baker attends the Roundabout Theatre Company 2019 gala at the Ziegfeld Ballroom on Feb. 25, 2019, in N.Y.C.NBCU Photo Bank; Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

NBCU Photo Bank; Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Becky Ann Baker already had a couple of dozen acting credits — includingMen in Black(1997),In & Out(1997),A Simple Plan(1998) and Stephen King’sStorm of the Century— when she was cast as Jean Weir, Lindsay and Sam’s mother, in Freaks and Geeks.

The actress received her first Emmy nomination as a guest star in the comedy seriesGirlsin 2017. Baker later received another Emmy nod for her guest appearance on the sports dramedyTedLassoas the title character’s mom.

She has also appeared inSpider-Man 3(2007),BigLittleLies,NewAmsterdam,Billions,The Good Fightand more.

Baker has been married to actor Dylan Baker since 1987. They have a daughter named Willa.

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Joe Flaherty as Harold Weir

Joe Flaherty as Harold Weir on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; Joe Flaherty at the Bell Gala 2009 in aid of the SickKids Foundation held at Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Canada.NBCU Photo Bank; Alamy

Joe Flaherty had been acting for some time when he stepped into the role of Harold Weir, the patriarch of the Weir family.

AfterFreaks and Geeks, Flaherty appeared on series likeEven Stevens,That ’70s ShowandThe Legend of Tarzan. His last television appearance was in 2012 on a show calledCall Me Fitz.

Flaherty diedon April 1, 2024, at the age of 82.

12of 13Shia LaBeouf as HerbertShia LaBeouf as Herbert on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; Shia LaBeouf attends the ‘Honey Boy’ premiere during the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on Sept. 10, 2019, in Toronto, Canada.NBC; Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesBlink and you’ll miss him, but young Shia LaBeouf was onFreaks and Geeksas the school mascot, Herbert, who gets injured and can no longer perform.LaBeouf had already been a child actor when he landed theFreaks and Geeksrole, and he is still working as an actor. He most notably starred on shows likeEven Stevensand in movies such asHoles(2003),Disturbia(2007),Transformers(2007) andIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull(2008).Additional credits have includedHoney Boy(2019),The Peanut Butter Falcon(2019),The Tax Collector(2020) and Francis Ford Coppola’sMegalopolis(2024).LaBeouf married actressMia Gothin 2016. Their first child,Isabel, was born in 2022.

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Shia LaBeouf as Herbert

Shia LaBeouf as Herbert on ‘Freaks and Geeks’; Shia LaBeouf attends the ‘Honey Boy’ premiere during the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on Sept. 10, 2019, in Toronto, Canada.NBC; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

NBC; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Blink and you’ll miss him, but young Shia LaBeouf was onFreaks and Geeksas the school mascot, Herbert, who gets injured and can no longer perform.

LaBeouf had already been a child actor when he landed theFreaks and Geeksrole, and he is still working as an actor. He most notably starred on shows likeEven Stevensand in movies such asHoles(2003),Disturbia(2007),Transformers(2007) andIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull(2008).

Additional credits have includedHoney Boy(2019),The Peanut Butter Falcon(2019),The Tax Collector(2020) and Francis Ford Coppola’sMegalopolis(2024).

LaBeouf married actressMia Gothin 2016. Their first child,Isabel, was born in 2022.

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Dave Allen as Jeff Rosso

Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Dave Allen played Jeff Rosso, the guidance counselor who was super invested in his students and, especially, in Sam Weir’s becoming cool.

The actor has had a successful career since 1999. His credits include roles onMalcolm in the Middle,Gilmore Girls,Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, andLove. He also appeared in films likeCrossroads(2002),Bad Teacher,Ghostbusters(2016) andBoy Band(2018).

Kylie Hemmert

source: people.com