- NBC’s “Freaks and Geeks” (1999 – 2000) was a television series about outcast teenagers navigating their way through high school.
- Many of the series’ cast members would go on to become to have incredibly successful Hollywood careers.
- The series marked the first big break for James Franco, Seth Rogen, Linda Cardellini, Jason Segel, and Busy Philipps.
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It’s been 20 years since television’s “Freaks and Geeks” made its way into living rooms everywhere for the first time.
Set in 1980, the beloved teen comedy-drama followed a group of misfit high-school students as they dealt with the struggles of growing up and fitting in.
Although the series only lasted for one season, it helped launch the careers of countless A-list stars.
Here’s what the cast of “Freaks and Geeks” has been up to over the past two decades.
Linda Cardellini starred as Lindsay Weir, an intelligent mathlete who rebels against her goody-two-shoes label by hanging out with a group of teen burnouts.
Throughout the series, Lindsay struggles to fit in with her new "freak" friends while maintaining her former reputation as a "geek."
Over the next two decades, Cardellini's acting career has flourished.
During the 2000s, she snagged a main role as Samantha Taggart on NBC's "ER," and later earned a recurring spot on AMC's "Mad Men."
Some fans may recognize her as Velma from The "Scooby-Doo" movies. She also recently appeared in the Oscar best-picture winner "Green Book."
As of late, she stars opposite Christina Applegate on Netflix's dark comedy "Dead To Me," which was recently picked up for a second season.
John Francis Daley played Sam Weir, one of the lead geeks and Lindsay’s younger brother.
On the show, Sam was known for his caring personality. He was frequently at the center of painfully embarrassing situations, like falling for the wrong girl and getting egged on Halloween.
Nevertheless, Sam always looked out for his sister and his friends.
Following "Freaks and Geeks," he continued to work in Hollywood as an actor and screenwriter.
From 2007 to 2014, Daley portrayed Dr. Lance Sweets on the Fox drama series "Bones."
Daley also co-wrote the 2011 comedy "Horrible Bosses" with Jonathan Goldstein, and was credited as a writer for the box-office smash "Spiderman: Homecoming."
Samm Levine played the funny and confident geek, Neal Schweiber.
Despite Neal's love for science and some "nerdy" things, he believed he was more mature and sophisticated than his friends.
Throughout the series, he also had a secret, ill-fated crush on his best friend Sam's older sister, Lindsay.
Once the show ended, Levine continued acting in comedy films and on TV series.
During the early 2000s, he appeared in several popular films like "Wet Hot American Summer" and "Not Another Teen Movie."
He recently reprised his role as the voice of Arty for the "Wet Hot American Summer" prequel on Netflix.
Martin Starr was Bill Haverchuck, the most socially awkward of the geek troupe.
Between his unusually tall stature, massive spectacles, and bizarre commentary, Bill was the geekiest of his friends.
After "Freaks and Geeks," Starr racked up an impressive roster of television and film roles.
The former "geek" popped up in Judd Apatow's comedy films "Knocked Up" and "Superbad."
In 2012, he reunited with several of his "Freaks and Geeks" co-stars for the movie "This Is The End."
Starr also appeared in the short-lived comedy series "Party Down" and currently portrays Bertram Gilfoyle, a cynical engineer, on the Emmy-nominated HBO series "Silicon Valley."
You may have also recognized him in the latest Marvel "Spider-Man" movies, where he plays a teacher.
Former "Sandlot" star Chauncey Leopardi played Alan, a bully.
Alan frequently tormented Sam and the rest of the geeks.
Leopardi kept acting throughout the decade after the show ended, but he mostly stays out of the spotlight today.
His recognized credits include Dean's friend Kyle on The CW's "Gilmore Girls" from 2003 to 2005. He hasn't acted in much else since.
Natasha Melnick was Cindy the cheerleader, and Sam’s crush.
By the end of the series, it was clear that Cindy and Sam weren't a great match.
She did some acting after the show ended.
Melnick's most recent role was playing the voice of Ruth Cochamet on "Family Guy" from 2005 to 2012.
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James Franco got his acting start playing the rebellious bad boy Daniel Desorio.
Daniel was never afraid to take risks or get into trouble. As long as he had his on-again, off-again girlfriend Kim by his side and his friends, he was content to do anything.
In the years that followed, he built an impressive career but has also been at the center of a few controversies.
In 2001, Franco won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of James Dean in the Mark Rydell-directed biopic of the same name.
Franco also became well known for frequently acting alongside his former "Freaks and Geeks" co-star Seth Rogen. The pair appeared together in "Knocked Up," "Pineapple Express," "This Is The End," "The Interview," and several other films.
That said, his rise to fame has not been without controversy.
Currently, Franco is being sued by two former students of his now-defunct acting school. They accuse Franco and his business partners of sexually exploiting female students, according to a lawsuit seen by the New York Times.
And, in 2018, five women accused Franco of engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior. Per the Los Angeles Times, Franco's attorney has disputed all of the women's allegations.
Busy Philipps played the brash and reckless Kim Kelly, who picked on Lindsay for being a geek.
Kim never held back her opinions, which made her come off as intimidating to Lindsay and the geeks. She also couldn't get enough of her "stud" of a boyfriend, Daniel.
In the two decades after the show ended, Philipps continued acting and recently hosted her own talk show, "Busy Tonight."
She's best known for her roles on The WB's "Dawson's Creek" and ABC's "Cougar Town."
The actress has also appeared in films like "Maid of Honor" and "He's Just Not That Into You."
Dave Allen played Mr. Rosso, the long-haired guidance counselor who tried a little too hard to connect with the students.
Mr. Rosso never hesitated to name-drop a rock band he liked in front of the freaks or show off his guitar skills.
Allen is still acting today and he regularly does voice work.
You may have noticed him on Nickelodeon's "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide" and, most recently, the Netflix series "Love."
Seth Rogen got his start playing the sarcastic Ken Miller.
Ken was known for his abrasive one-liners, admiration for "tuba girl" Amy, and fervent hatred of all disco music.
Today, he is one of the most popular actors, writers, and producers in Hollywood.
After the show ended, Rogen's comedy-acting career skyrocketed as he appeared in many of Judd Apatow's most iconic films, including "Anchorman," "Knocked Up," and "Funny People."
He also co-wrote and starred in the films "Pineapple Express," "Superbad," and "This Is the End."
Lately, Rogen keeps busy as the executive producer of Amazon's satirical superhero show, "The Boys." He is also the co-founder of Hilarity for Charity, a nonprofit that supports Alzheimer's awareness.
Rogen can also be heard as the voice of Pumbaa in "The Lion King" live-action movie, one of the highest-grossing films of 2019.
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Long before he was a Hollywood A-lister, Jason Segel played Nick Andopolis, a burnout stoner who was obsessed with the band Rush.
Nick had dreams of being a drummer in a rock band, but his aspirations were killed by his father's desire to enlist him in the army.
Segel continues to achieve immense success on television and build a prosperous film career.
Following his role on "Freaks and Geeks," Segel portrayed the lovable lawyer Marshall Eriksen on the critically acclaimed CBS sitcom "How I Met Your Mother."
He also starred in the comedy films "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," "The Five Year Engagement," "The Muppets," and "Sex Tape."
Fans also came to love him for his role in the film "I Love You, Man."
On top of that, Segel co-authored the young adult novel "Otherworld," which was released in 2017.
His upcoming projects include a series called "Dispatches from Elsewhere," which is scheduled to air on AMC in 2020.
Sarah Hagan was Millie, Lindsay's sheltered childhood friend who didn’t approve of the freaks’ lifestyle.
Millie didn't need drugs to have fun and preferred to "get high on life."
She continued to act on television for a few years after the series ended.
Her most well-known role is perhaps when she played Amanda on The WB's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
In the years since, she appeared on a few TV series and starred in a few shorts, like "Breaking Fat."
But acting doesn't seem to be her sole focus these days. Per Hagan's Instagram, she currently works in ceramics.
Steve Bannos played Mr. Kowchevski, the algebra teacher who wasn’t too fond of the freaks.
Kowchevski kept the kids at McKinley High School in check.
Following his brief stint portraying another teacher on the Nickelodeon series "Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide," he continued to work on TV and appeared in multiple Judd Apatow films.
Bannos had small parts in "The 40-year-old Virgin," "Superbad" and "Pineapple Express."
He most recently portrayed "Frank" on the Netflix series "Love."
Becky Ann Baker played Jean Weir, Sam and Lindsay’s kind-hearted mother.
Mrs. Weir believed the best of her kids, even when they weren't being totally honest.
Prior to this role, Becky Ann Baker had acted in stage plays such as "A Streetcar Named Desire," "June Moon" and "The Best Whore House in Texas."
After the show ended, she continued to act in movies and on television.
Baker notably earned a recurring role portraying Hannah Horvath's mom on the HBO series "Girls" and was featured prominently on the second season on the same network's hit drama "Big Little Lies"
Lizzy Caplan got her acting start playing Sara, a disco-dancing student who has a crush on Nick.
During the series finale, Sara miraculously convinces Nick to join the disco-dance team.
Following her standout performance as Janis Ian in the hit movie "Mean Girls," Caplan had a recurring role on HBO's "True Blood" and starred on Showtime's "Masters of Sex."
She also acted alongside former co-stars Rogen and Franco in "The Interview" and appeared in Franco's 2017 film "The Disaster Artist."
Caplan recently appeared on the Hulu drama series "Castle Rock."
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Rashida Jones played Karen, Kim's mean friend.
Karen also bullied Sam and painted the words "pygmy geek" across his locker.
Jones has acted in a lot of movies and on many TV shows since appearing on "Freaks and Geeks."
Today, most fans know Jones as Ann Perkins from "Parks and Recreation."
Jones has also acted in dozens of projects, including NBC's "The Office" and "I Love You, Man," which also starred Jason Segel.
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