Linda Wallem

Linda Wallem
Born (1961-05-29) May 29, 1961
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
OccupationsActress, writer, producer
Years active1988–present
Known forNurse Jackie
Rocko's Modern Life and Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling
Spouse
​
(m. 2014)​

Linda Wallem is an American actress, writer, and producer, best known for creating the Showtime medical comedy-drama Nurse Jackie, and for her roles as Doctor Paula Hutchison, Virginia Wolfe, and numerous other female characters on Rocko's Modern Life and Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling.

Early life

Wallem was born May 29, 1961[1] in Madison, Wisconsin, and raised in Rockford, Illinois.[2] She is the older sister of actor Stephen Wallem, who co-stars on her show Nurse Jackie as a nurse named Thor Lundgren.[3]

Career

Early career

Wallem began her career at Dudley Riggs' Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis. She and fellow writer-performer Peter Tolan formed a double act called Wallem & Tolan and began performing on the cabaret circuit in Boston[4] and New York City.[5] Broadway writer and director Martin Charnin worked with the duo to present it as an off-Broadway show called Laughing Matters in 1989.[6]

Acting

Wallem appeared in the 1993 film Sleepless in Seattle waitress Loretta.[7] Wallem also played a waitress in the 1994 Seinfeld episode "The Soup."[8] She then voiced Doctor Paula Hutchison, Virginia Wolfe, and numerous other female characters on the Nickelodeon animated series Rocko's Modern Life (1993–1996).[9] She returned to voice Hutchison and other characters in the 2019 Netflix special Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling.[10][11]

Writing and producing

Wallem wrote for Cybill Shepherd's sitcom Cybill from 1995 to 1998, also occasionally acting on the series.[12] She then wrote for the sitcom That '70s Show from 1998 to 2000, serving as executive producer from 2000 to 2001 and then executive producing That '80s Show in 2002.[13] Wallem was also a co-executive producer on the HBO sitcom The Comeback.[14][13]

In 2007, Wallem and Liz Brixius created and produced a pilot called Insatiable for Showtime which was not picked up. In 2008, the duo, along with writer Evan Dunsky, created the series Nurse Jackie, a half-hour drama about a "flawed" emergency room nurse in a New York City hospital.[15][16] Starring Edie Falco, the series premiered on Showtime in June 2009, with Wallem and Brixius serving as showrunners for the series and sharing executive producer duties with Caryn Mandabach.[15][16] Alongside Brixius, she left Nurse Jackie after its fourth season in 2012.[13] The same year, she was announced as showrunner for the upcoming season of the NBC sitcom Up All Night[17][18] before the show was cancelled.[19][20]

Personal life

Wallem is a lesbian.[2] She previously dated Liz Brixius.[21] Wallem married singer Melissa Etheridge on May 31, 2014, in San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California.[22]

References

  1. ↑ Setoodeh, Ramin (2020-06-04). "Melissa Etheridge and Linda Wallem on Their Rock and Roll Love Story". Variety. Archived from the original on 2026-07-02. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  2. 1 2 Karman Kregloe (July 28, 2009). "Interview with "Nurse Jackie" creators Linda Wallem and Liz Brixius". After Ellen. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  3. ↑ Brandon Voss (March 23, 2010). "Stephen Wallem: Nurse Jackie's Hammer of Thor". The Advocate. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  4. ↑ Justin, Neal (2010-03-20). "The Gopher team that midwifed 'Nurse Jackie'". Archived from the original on 2024-10-04. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  5. ↑ Dawes, Amy (2014-02-20). "The Provocateur: Peter Tolan". Television Academy. Archived from the original on 2026-04-13. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  6. ↑ Beaufort, John (1989-05-31). "Wit and Caricature". Christian Science Monitor. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  7. ↑ "Sleepless in Seattle". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 2025-08-06. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  8. ↑ Marikar, Sheila. "Melissa Etheridge, Linda Wallem: Coincidental Couple, or Calculated?". ABC News. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  9. ↑ Harnick, Chris (2013-09-26). "These Nickelodeon Stars Are Back In Unexpected Ways". HuffPost. Archived from the original on 2019-10-17. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  10. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (2019-07-17). "Watch: Netflix Dates 'Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling' Global Launch". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on 2025-12-31. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  11. ↑ Trumbore, Dave (2017-07-21). "Rocko's Modern Life Reboot Trailer Brings the 90s Nicktoon Back". Collider. Archived from the original on 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  12. ↑ Weaver, Emily (2024-07-11). "Who Is Melissa Etheridge's Wife? All About Linda Wallem". People. Archived from the original on 2024-07-15. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  13. 1 2 3 Andreeva, Nellie (2012-04-17). "'Nurse Jackie' Co-Creators-Showrunners Linda Wallem, Liz Brixius To Depart". Deadline. Archived from the original on 2025-04-26. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  14. ↑ Messer, Lesley (2014-06-02). "Melissa Etheridge Is Married! Meet Her Wife, Linda Wallem". ABC News. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  15. 1 2 "Showtime Puts Nurse Jackie On Call". Reuters.com. July 18, 2008. Archived from the original on August 9, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2009.
  16. 1 2 Cristina Kinon (February 16, 2009). "Nurse Jackie star Edie Falco, Mary-Louise Parker, more strong women lift Showtime". New York Daily News. NYDailyNews.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2010. Retrieved March 8, 2009.
  17. ↑ Belloni, Matthew (2012-12-06). "NBC's 'Up All Night' Changes Showrunners as Multi-Camera Switch Nears". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  18. ↑ Evans, Bradford (2012-12-07). "'Up All Night' Gets a New Showrunner, 'Nurse Jackie' Co-Creator Linda Wallem". Vulture. Archived from the original on 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  19. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (2013-05-08). "NBC Cancels 'Up All Night,' 'Guys With Kids,' 'Whitney,' '1600 Penn,' 'Deception'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  20. ↑ Schneider, Michael. "Inside the Demise of NBC's Once-Promising Comedy Up All Night". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 2024-06-20. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  21. ↑ "EMMYS: 'Nurse Jackie's Brixius & Wallem". Deadline. 2011-06-18. Archived from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  22. ↑ K.C. Baker (May 31, 2014). "Melissa Etheridge Weds Linda Wallem". People. Archived from the original on June 1, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
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