Freaks and Geeks, which debuted in 1999, remains one of NBC’s most enduring cult masterpieces. The 1980s drama, which was created by Paul Feig and features Judd Apatow as an executive producer, centers on a gang of outcasts as they deal with high school, bullies, and adolescent rebellion. The audience sees adolescence through the eyes of Lindsay and Sam Weir, including freaks, geeks, and everyone in between, in an awkward and comedically original way. Due to poor ratings, the show was terminated after one season, broadcasting only 12 of the 18 filmed episodes.
Despite having a brief run, “Freaks and Geeks” ended up giving several Hollywood A-listers their big break. Many of the ensemble members, including Linda Cardellini, Seth Rogen, James Franco, Busy Philipps, Jason Segal, John Francis Daley, Martin Starr, Samm Levine, and others, went on to have very successful careers in comedy, music, television, and cinema with the aid of Apatow. What are the “Freaks and Geeks” actors doing these days? Let’s examine their current situation.
Table Of Content
- 1 Busy Philipps wears a lot of hats
- 2 Chauncey Leopardi is forever Squints
- 3 Dave Allen’s a staple of the small screen
- 4 James Franco was accused of sexual misconduct
- 5 Jason Segel pivoted to more dramatic fare
- 6 John Francis Daley is an accomplished screenwriter
- 7 Linda Cardellini has had a one-of-a-kind career
- 8 Lizzy Caplan’s career isn’t in trouble
- 9 Martin Starr’s film credits keep stacking up
- 10 Samm Levine stays busy with acting and podcasting
- 11 Sarah Hagan scored more TV roles
- 12 Seth Rogen has a comedy empire
- 13 Shia LaBeouf’s behind-the-scenes trouble
Busy Philipps wears a lot of hats
Kim Kelly, the unstable and incessantly depressed burnout from “Freaks and Geeks,” was portrayed by Busy Philipps. Kelly, who Lindsay at first found to be a bit of a bully, ends up having a miserable home life. The NBC-banned episode “Kim Kelly Is My Friend” delves into Kim’s past in great detail and depicts some quite explicit scenes involving Kim, her family, and her boyfriend, Daniel. Kim sometimes displays nasty behavior as a result of her damaged relationships, but she ultimately calms down and develops a stronger bond with Lindsay.
Philipps has landed parts in “Dawson’s Creek,” “Cougar Town,” “White Chicks,” and Peacock’s musical dramedy “Girls5eva” after the program was canceled. Her autobiography, This Will Only Hurt A Little, was also written. She has also ventured into the sponcon realm and begun monetizing her online presence. People essentially have a really misinformed idea about your wealth because you were on a big TV show, she said in an interview with The Guardian. By the time I was 28 years old, I had appeared on three major TV shows.
Additionally, Philipps directed movies and hosted the regrettably short-lived talk program “Busy Tonight.” And all she’s doing is keeping things moving. “There’s still no slowing down,” she said in a 2019 interview with Entrepreneur, “even when I discover bits of success and situations in my life like this one right now. I’m still pushing and asking myself, ‘What’s the next thing? How do I make progress in that direction?
Chauncey Leopardi is forever Squints
In 1993’s “The Sandlot,” Chauncey Leopardi played the cheeky Michael “Squints” Palledorous before he became Alan White. Although not his first acting credit, this adorable and humorous performance was his breakthrough and first cult classic. Beginning at age six, Leopardi spent a significant portion of the 1990s in supporting roles on shows like “Boy Meets World,” “The X Files,” “Casper,” and “Father of the Bride.” On “Freaks and Geeks,” Leopardi portrays Alan, a cruel bully who is also sympathetic and who, in reality, is just lonely. Before taking a hiatus from acting, the actor starred as Kyle Gibson on “Gilmore Girls” after the show ended, played an episode of “CSI,” and even returned to his role as Squints in “The Sandlot: Heading Home.” He intended to make his own initiatives, as he described to OhMars in 2008.
Leopardi now spends the majority of his time with his three kids. And sure, people still refer to him as “Squints” when they see him out and about with his glasses on, as he admitted to The Reel Place. And he seemed to be pleased to have contributed to the legacy of the film. He told the Green Bay Press, “Everyone felt it was a cool movie, a good piece, but nobody really saw it. Then 10, 15, or more years later, you see that it appears to be moving and skipping one generation before moving on to another. Wow, this is a thing, you think.
Dave Allen’s a staple of the small screen
Probably William McKinley’s most laid-back guidance counselor of all time is Mr. Jeff Rosso. Mr. Rosso, who was portrayed by comedian and actor Dave “Gruber” Allen, was undoubtedly a hippie, but he had a genuine love for his students and always looked out for them. Allen starred in the 1990 television series “The Higgins Boys and Gruber” before “Freaks and Geeks.” He was also Mr. Kwest, the eccentric woodshop instructor from “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide,” and he had small appearances in “Gilmore Girls” and “Ghostbusters” (2016). The extensive career of Gruber includes writing and production work for smaller films like “The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show,” as well as voice work for shows like “King of the Hill” and “Mighty Magiswords.” Additionally, Allen sang Alice Cooper’s “I’m Eighteen” on an episode of “Freaks and Geeks” and was a member of the cover band ZZ Scott on the comedy “Ben & Kate.” Love, Mike & Molly, Ghostbusters, and Preacher are a few of Allen’s more recent acting credits.
Allen still has a soft spot in his heart for “Freaks and Geeks” even after all these years. It was a tremendous concert, and, as he told the Daily Herald in 2016, “I still get recognized a lot from it. It was the result of numerous interactions and encounters.
James Franco was accused of sexual misconduct
Another enormous star to emerge from the “Freaks and Geeks” cast is James Franco. Franco began appearing in modest ads after leaving UCLA. He ultimately received the role of the disobedient Daniel Desario in “Freaks and Geeks.” After the program finished, Franco put all of his attention into expanding his amazing résumé and neglected to stay in touch with the actors. Because I took myself too seriously, the majority of the cast members at one time disliked me, Franco admitted to The New York Times in 2014. So, I believe that everyone disliked me, with the exception of Seth [Rogen]. With movies like “Milk,” “Pineapple Express,” “This Is The End,” “127 Hours,” “Eat Pray Love,” “Spring Breakers,” “The Interview,” and the “Spider-Man” trilogy, Franco would enjoy his greatest period of popularity for the following several years.
His long list of accusations is equal in length to his long number of accomplishments. Numerous women accused Franco of sexual misconduct in 2018. He refuted the charges. Several of Franco’s “Freaks and Geeks” castmates have severed ties with him since these allegations surfaced, including Busy Philipps and his longtime friend Seth Rogen. Throughout their lengthy association, Franco and Rogen collaborated on a few films, but Rogen told The Sunday Times of London (via The Daily Beast) that the door is essentially closed. However, it appears that Franco is currently revitalizing his career. He’s been hired for the roles of “Me, You” and “Mace,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Help is available if you or someone you know has experienced a sexual assault. Visit the website of the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network or call the National Helpline of RAINN at 1-800-656-HOPE.
Jason Segel pivoted to more dramatic fare
Nick Andopolis, played by Jason Segel, was Lindsay’s cute but foolish love interest. Segel’s first prominent part that allowed him to demonstrate both his acting and musical prowess (remember that he penned “Lady L,” Nick’s song about Lindsay) was this one. Segel was cast in a series of humorous projects following his stint on “Freaks and Geeks.” He landed parts in blockbusters like “Knocked Up,” “I Love You, Man,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” and “This Is 40” on the film side of things. On television, he landed roles in “How I Met Your Mother” and “Two And A Half Men.” Even Segel provided the voice of Vector, Gru’s arch-enemy, for “Despicable Me.”
Segel has established himself in the comedy industry, but he eventually needed a change of pace for his career. He said to the Independent that he was eager for “How I Met Your Mother” to end so that he could pursue other opportunities. It was only my obligation to perform an artistic check-in, he added, adding that he needed to do one “very, really” badly.
The actor gave drama a shot, and it paid off: Segel was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead in 2015 for his portrayal in “The End of the Tour.” He would also play the lead in “Our Friend,” “Dispatches From Everywhere,” and “The Discovery.” Harrison Ford and Segel co-starred in and co-produced “Shrinking” in 2023.
John Francis Daley is an accomplished screenwriter
Sam Weir (John Francis Daley), Lindsay’s sweet little brother, is arguably the cutest “geek.” The majority of “Freaks and Geeks” is seen through Sam’s point of view as he deals with bullies, crushes, and all the usual high school drama. Sam, the only remaining geek, endured the most harassment out of the three, whether it came from Alan (Chauncey Leopardi), Karen (Rashida Jones), or even his own sister unwittingly egging him on Halloween. When Daley was just 14 years old, Sam became his breakthrough role. Daley and his father would make a guest appearance together on “Boston Public” right after “Freaks and Geeks.” Daley would play Dr. Lance Sweets on the Fox drama “Bones” a few years later. Oh, and he also appeared on “The Geena Davis Show,” when he first met Jonathan Goldstein, his writing partner.
Writing credits for “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2,” and both “Horrible Bosses” movies are shared by Daley and Goldstein. The comedies “Game Night” and “Vacation” were also co-directed by the two. What will happen next, then? The two collaborated to create and helm “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” a 2023 comedy-adventure.
Daley is undoubtedly a brilliant performer, but what truly appealed to him was working behind the scenes. In 2011, he told Collider, “Screenwriting was always something that I had great interest in. I had been interested in it ever since I could write things down as a child.
Linda Cardellini has had a one-of-a-kind career
Lindsay Weir, a bright teen seeking a new beginning, is introduced to us in the “Freaks and Geeks” pilot. Lindsay (Linda Cardellini) is over being a mathlete in the new school year. She makes the decision to exchange her jersey for a worn-out army jacket in order to blend in with the “burnouts” or “freaks,” and she now has to combine her “geek” lifestyle with her new outcast buddies.
It would be an understatement to say that Cardellini’s career has flourished since “Freaks And Geeks.” You might recall her as Chutney Windham, the murdering witness who lied about her perm in “Legally Blonde,” or as Velma from the live-action “Scooby Doo” flicks. The lengthy career of this performer is barely scratched here. Cardellini has been in “ER,” “Bloodline,” and the Netflix original series “Dead to Me,” which debuted its last season in November 2022. For “Robot Chicken,” “Sanjay and Craig,” and “Gravity Falls,” she has also provided the voiceovers.
Cardellini responded, “Oh God, definitely! ” when asked if she would ever return to the role of Velma, a role that has become recognizable. I’m probably too old, though. And when asked if she anticipated a “Freaks and Geeks” reunion, she said she was open to the idea but was dubious. “I mean, sure, if everyone was in it. But it varies. She acknowledged to Collider that it could be challenging to recreate the enchantment of the first season, but she is not entirely against the idea.
Lizzy Caplan’s career isn’t in trouble
Lizzy Caplan is the last person we should mention. Sara, a William McKinley High student who worked in the front office, played a recurring character on “Freaks And Geeks” in which Caplan appeared. Nick Andopolis is the subject of Sara’s crush, and in the series finale, she starts dating him while also teaching him how to dance to the disco. Caplan didn’t expect “Freaks and Geeks” to become such a cult favorite, and she didn’t immediately bond with her co-stars. On a “Made Man” episode, she noted, “A lot of them I consider my really close friends, but it took us a long.” “A lot of people joined that show only for small roles, so it was completely accidental that my first job ended up being the coolest first job anyone could possibly have… It wasn’t related to me in any way.
After “Freaks and Geeks,” Caplan’s career took off. Caplan appeared in “Undeclared” and “From Where I Sit” after the show was cancelled. She then received one of her most well-known parts as Janis Ian in “Mean Girls,” but the actor has also made appearances with James Franco in “Masters Of Sex,” “True Blood,” and “127 Hours.” Caplan recently appeared in the miniseries “Fleishman Is In Trouble,” where she played Libby Epstein, and she’s a part of the “Fatal Attraction” revival. She also finds time for her son whenever she isn’t working. She said to Grazia, “I have no hobbies; my hobby is him. Motherhood is wonderful.
Martin Starr’s film credits keep stacking up
Bill Haverchuck, who was portrayed by Martin Starr, is famous for his nerdy glasses, sarcastic personality, and of course, his Bionic Woman Halloween costume. Starr continued acting even after “Freaks and Geeks” was cancelled. In “Game of Thrones,” “I’ll See You In My Dreams,” and “Spider-Man,” he played minor roles; in “Party Down,” “Burning Love,” and “Silicon Valley,” he played more prominent roles. Recent notable roles for Starr include “Tulsa King,” “Beavis and Butthead,” “Drunk History,” and “Tacoma FD.”
The actor doesn’t intend to take part in a reboot of “Freaks and Geeks,” even if he enjoyed his time there. Starr told TheWrap in 2018: “Definitely no way in hell.” “If it actually happened, you wouldn’t like it. Imagine that we have aged into a group of unsightly elderly people. We’re not the youngsters you remember as being just like you. In high school, I was clumsy and strange. Now we’re like mature a** s*** pigs, the actor said in jest.
Samm Levine stays busy with acting and podcasting
Samm Levine, who was 17 at the time of his audition for the part of Sam Weir, was reportedly cast as the snarky Neil Schweiber after providing a dubious impression of William Shatner, according to Page Six. Levine told the publication that he had a great time filming “Freaks and Geeks” and made care to document every experience with a journal he kept during the process. Levine was faced with a decision when the show was cancelled: to continue performing or to return home. The actor, according to the aforementioned publication, assigned himself six months starting on his 18th birthday to find another work. Since that time, he has never gone more than six months without employment. His first significant hit after “Freaks and Geeks” was “Not Another Teen Movie,” and Levine’s career took off from there.
Levine has dabbled with comedy, podcasting, production, and trivia contests, but he always ends up in front of the camera. He starred in the 2019 thriller “Immortal,” which covers four distinct horrifying tales, and appeared in three episodes of “Raven’s Home” as a guest star in 2022. “Minx,” “Rob Riggle’s Ski Master Academy,” “Crunch Time,” and “K.C. Undercover” are a some of the lesser roles Levine has played. Alongside Tiffany Smith, he served as co-host of “DC Daily,” a program that covered news pertaining to DC Comics.
Sarah Hagan scored more TV roles
Millie Kentner at William McKinley High was content to stay the same, in contrast to some of her classmates who were looking forward to change. Sarah Hagan portrays Millie, a smart and devout friend of Lindsay Weir who she abandons in favor of the “freaks.” Millie is renowned for the hilarious and agonizingly awful line “She fornicates it!” from the fourth episode of “Freaks and Geeks,” which was a genuine blunder. Hagan told Page Six that she didn’t know what “fornicate” meant. Despite some on-screen conflict, Hagan and Linda Cardellini, who played Lindsay, were good friends even after the conclusion of the show. Hagan claims to Page Six that the entire cast was like one big family. For many of us, it was our first time, and many of us were young, so it was quite meaningful. So we were together a lot,” she recalled with pleasure. We served as an extended family outside of their own.
Hagan was cast as Amanda in a recurring role on “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” after “Freaks And Geeks” concluded. She would later make appearances on “90210,” “Breaking Fat,” and “My Gym Partner’s a Monkey” in the next years. Hagan was hired to produce the movie “Old Man In France” after providing the voice of a bully for a little child in “Arlo The Alligator Boy” in 2022. Hagan still adores acting, but her attention is now on her family. She gave birth to her second kid in 2021 while she was still married to “Chef’s Table” director Clay Jeter.
Seth Rogen has a comedy empire
Since “Freaks and Geeks,” Seth Rogen has had a career that is extraordinarily diverse. In hindsight, it was a minor job, but playing Ken Miller allowed him to grow from a minor teenage comic to a legitimate megastar. He began performing stand-up when he was still a youngster, according to NYFA, and achieved popularity right away. From there, he made an appearance on “Freaks and Geeks,” where he received his first writing credit and met the producer Judd Apatow, who would later mentor the budding young comedian. Rogen gushed to The Telegraph, “Obviously, I can’t emphasize how crucial Judd has been to my career. Rogen appeared in a series of instant classics after “Freaks,” including “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Knocked Up,” and “Superbad.” In addition, he is credited with writing and producing a number of his works, including “Superbad.” He portrayed Bennie in the critically acclaimed drama “The Fabelmans” directed by Steven Spielberg in 2022.
Rogen has worked in a variety of fields, including acting, writing, producing, and directing. He also has a cannabis business called Houseplant, which he operates out of a cottage that was constructed in 1918.
Rogen intends to grow his production firm with “Sausage Party: Foodtopia” and a few programs on AppleTV+, according to IndieWire. The outlet added that one of the many projects Rogen is reported to be a part of is “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” which will be released later in 2023.
Shia LaBeouf’s behind-the-scenes trouble
Shia LaBeouf went from being one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actors to becoming an outcast. He debuted on “The X Files” and in “Freaks and Geeks” as Herbert the Mascot. Herbert propels the plot ahead despite getting little screen time, and we got to observe LaBeouf’s acting talent at an early age. Louis was LaBeouf’s breakout character on Disney’s “Even Stevens” in the early 2000s. He would play the lead parts in “Holes,” “Transformers,” “Disturbia,” and “Indiana Jones,” earning him plaudits and notoriety in the general public, as his career would soon pick up steam.
LaBeouf has also been involved in a good deal of controversy. Singer and ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs accused him of sexual assault and abuse in 2021. Then Sia, who had collaborated with him on her “Elastic Hearts” music video, defended Twigs and criticized LaBeouf. Naturally, there is also his role in the “Don’t Worry Darling” drama. Nevertheless, it appears that LaBeouf is attempting to advance despite a little pause in Hollywood. He supposedly has a clean record and said, “[Twigs] saved my life,” in a “Bishop Barron Presents” episode. Trial for LaBeouf and Twigs is scheduled for April 2023.
LaBeouf’s most recent acting credits include the films “Padre Pio” and “Honey Boy” He will also be seen in the upcoming film “Megalopolis” by Frances Ford Coppola.
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Help is available if you or someone you know has experienced a sexual assault. Visit the website of the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network or call the National Helpline of RAINN at 1-800-656-HOPE.
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