Biography
Who is Linda Hamilton?
Early life and education
Linda Hamilton Carroll Hamilton was born in Salisbury, Maryland, on September 26, 1956. She grew up with an identical twin sister, an older sister, a younger brother, and a stepbrother. Her father passed away when she was five years old, and her mother later married a local police chief. During her youth in Salisbury, she attended Wicomico Junior High and Wicomico High School.
Following high school, Linda studied for two years at Washington College located in Chestertown, Maryland. Her acting professor at the time discouraged her, telling her she had no hope of making a living as an actress. Despite this discouraging feedback, she moved to New York City to pursue her passion. In New York, she attended acting workshops conducted by Lee Strasberg at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.
How Linda became famous
Linda made her professional acting debut at age twenty-three with a small part in the 1979 drama film Night-Flowers. Her first major television role followed soon after when she appeared on the CBS soap opera Secrets of Midland Heights. She continued building her resume with appearances in the television series King's Crossing and the low-budget thriller TAG: The Assassination Game.
Her major breakthrough arrived in 1984 when she was cast as Sarah Connor in James Cameron's science fiction action film The Terminator. The movie became a surprise commercial hit and topped the box office. Critics praised her performance for displaying tremendous resiliency and strength as a young waitress thrust into a nightmarish ordeal.
Career highlights
Following her success in the original film, Linda starred in several other productions during the 1980s, including Children of the Corn and Black Moon Rising. She also took on the role of district attorney Catherine Chandler in the television series Beauty and the Beast. For her work on the show, she won a Romy Award and received both Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations.
In 1991, Linda re-teamed with James Cameron to star in the blockbuster sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day. She underwent intense physical training to transform her character into a hardened warrior, resulting in a critically acclaimed performance that grossed over five hundred million dollars worldwide. Her later film credits included the action-adventure hit Dante's Peak and the thriller Shadow Conspiracy.
Family and relationships
Linda has been married and divorced twice throughout her life. Her first marriage was to actor Bruce Abbott, and her second marriage was to filmmaker James Cameron. She has one child from each of her marriages. Throughout her personal and professional life, she has balanced demanding physical roles with her family commitments.
Birthday and age
Linda Hamilton was born on September 26, 1956, which makes Linda 70 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Linda shares the date with 43 other famous people.
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