You probably know her as the chaotic but lovable Judy Hale in Dead to Me or the long-suffering Laura Barton in the Marvel movies. Maybe you’re an old-school fan who remembers her from Freaks and Geeks. But for all the time Linda Cardellini spends on our screens, her personal life is surprisingly quiet. It’s one of those Hollywood rarities. No messy public breakups, no tabloid-fueling drama. Because of that, fans are constantly asking: is Linda Cardellini married?
The answer is a little more nuanced than a simple yes or no. Honestly, it’s a "it depends on how you define it" kind of situation.
The Reality of Her Marital Status
If you’re looking for a marriage certificate, you might be looking for a long time. As of early 2026, there is no public record of Linda Cardellini ever officially tying the knot. But don't let that fool you into thinking she’s single. She has been in a deeply committed relationship with Steven Rodriguez for well over a decade.
Basically, they are "married" in every sense that matters to them, just without the legal paperwork—at least as far as the public knows.
📖 Related: Height of Donald Trump: Why Everyone Seems to Have a Different Number
They got engaged back in June 2013. The story is actually pretty sweet. Steven popped the question in New York City, surrounded by family and close friends, including actress Maura Tierney. Linda even shared a photo on social media at the time of their daughter, Lilah-Rose, wearing the engagement ring. It was a whole big thing. But since then? Total radio silence on the wedding front.
Why haven't they walked down the aisle?
Life just kinda got in the way. Linda has been incredibly open about how having a child shifted her perspective. In several interviews, she’s mentioned that once Lilah-Rose was born in 2012, the "preciousness of time" became her main focus. Planning a massive Hollywood wedding suddenly felt less important than actually being a family.
For some couples, the engagement is the end goal. It’s a promise. They’ve been together since 2009, which is basically a lifetime in Hollywood years. If you’ve been with someone for 17 years and share a teenager, a piece of paper starts to feel like an afterthought.
Who Is Steven Rodriguez?
He isn't just "the guy on her arm" at premieres. Steven Rodriguez actually has his own roots in the industry, though he stays further behind the scenes than Linda. He’s a talented makeup artist. You won't find him chasing the spotlight or posting "day in the life" vlogs on TikTok. He’s private. Extremely private.
📖 Related: Gigi Hadid Bucks County Explained: Why the World’s Biggest Supermodel Chose a Farm in Pennsylvania
The most fascinating part of their story? They aren't just some couple that met at a Hollywood party. They’ve known each other since they were kids.
- They met in grade school.
- She was 10, he was 11.
- He was the "new kid" who impressed her with bike tricks.
That’s some real-life movie script material right there. They lost touch, as people do, and then reconnected decades later. It wasn't until around 2009 that things turned romantic. It’s the ultimate "childhood crush" success story.
Raising a Family in the Spotlight
While Linda is a powerhouse on screen, she’s very protective of her daughter, Lilah-Rose Rodriguez. Lilah was born on February 29, 2012 (yep, a leap year baby). Linda has described the pregnancy and delivery as "traumatic" and "scary" due to some health complications she faced at the time, including a thyroid issue and a difficult delivery.
Maybe that’s why they keep things so low-key. When you’ve gone through some real-life scares, the glitz of a celebrity wedding probably feels pretty shallow.
They split their time between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area. They even own a place in Woodside, California, where Linda goes to decompress and ride horses. It’s a very "un-Hollywood" lifestyle for someone who has been in some of the biggest movies of the last decade.
Common Misconceptions
People often get confused because Linda dated her Freaks and Geeks co-star Jason Segel for several years back in the early 2000s. Because that relationship was so high-profile among fans, some people still think they ended up together. They didn't. In fact, that breakup reportedly inspired some of the plot of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which is a wild bit of trivia.
Others assume she’s married because she often refers to Steven as her "other half" or her "partner." In 2026, the term "married" is often used loosely for long-term domestic partnerships.
✨ Don't miss: Jesse McCartney Died? What Actually Happened With the Beautiful Soul Singer
Is a Wedding Still in the Cards?
Could they have married in secret? Sure. Celebrities do it all the time. But Linda doesn't seem like the type to care about the "secret wedding" trope for the sake of mystery. She’s just living her life.
When you look at her social media (which she uses mostly for work) or her interviews, it’s clear that her "marriage" isn't defined by a ceremony. It’s defined by the 17 years of history, the shared parenting, and the fact that they still seem to genuinely like each other.
If you’re waiting for a 10-page spread in Vogue about her wedding dress, you’re probably going to be waiting a long time.
Final Takeaways for Fans
If you're trying to keep the facts straight, here is the "too long; didn't read" version of her status:
- Engagement Status: She has been engaged to Steven Rodriguez since June 2013.
- Legal Status: There is no public confirmation of a legal marriage ceremony.
- Family Life: They share one daughter, Lilah-Rose, born in 2012.
- Longevity: They have been a couple since 2009 and friends since childhood.
Instead of wondering when she'll "finally" get married, it’s probably more accurate to recognize that she’s already found the stability most people seek in a marriage. Whether or not they ever sign the documents, they’ve clearly built a life that works for them.
Next Steps for Readers
If you want to see Linda's latest work, check out her performance in No Good Deed on Netflix. It’s a great reminder of why she’s one of the most versatile actresses working today, regardless of what’s happening in her personal life.