Линдси Лохан
In New York, NY, on 02 July 1986, Lindsay Lohan (pronounced LIN-zee LOH-han) became the first child born to a proud couple: Dina (a one-time Radio City “Rockette” and Wall Street analyst who helps manage her daughter’s career) and Michael Lohan (a long-time Wall Street trader who developed, then sold, his family’s multi-million-dollar pasta business to pursue funding and development of major studios and independent Hollywood productions). Three siblings (Michael, Aliana and Dakota) would follow in the years to come.
Lindsay started modeling (she was the first redheaded child ever signed by the prestigious Ford Modeling Agency) and acting at the tender age of 3. People in the business quickly recognized her talent, and she was hired to shoot more than 60 commercials; including spots for Pizza Hut, Wendy’s and Jell-O (with Bill Cosby). A plum role soon followed on the television series Another World as the third actress (in late 1996 and early 1997) to play Alexandra “Alli” Fowler.
Around this time, USA Today says Lindsay also would become one of several New York-area children to appear in a Halloween skit on David Letterman, dressed as garbage (!).
It was not until 05 January 1997 that she knew she would be in a major motion picture. The director of The Parent Trap, Nancy Meyers, called Lindsay that day and told her that she had the part — or is that parts — of the twins. As you no doubt have seen (after all, you’re here), Lindsay proved that she is an actress of considerable skill, deftly handling two different personalities in one single movie.
Lindsay was officially recognized for her talent as well; earning a Young Artist Award for Leading Actress (which she shared with Stepmom’s Jena Malone), and nominations for a YoungStar Award and a Blockbuster Entertainment Award.
Early in 1999, Lindsay filmed another movie. Life-Size — originally a Wonderful World of Disney production later released on home video — allowed Lindsay to act with Tyra Banks.
The role of Casey Mitchell was offered to Lindsay as part of her three-picture deal with Disney, which meant she did not have to audition. That process was totally unlike the months-long casting search for The Parent Trap; one that almost caused Meyers and her husband, producer Charles Shyer, to give up on their project, until they found Lindsay.
(This information, often repeated in interviews with Meyers and Shyer, completely contradicts reports that actress Michelle Trachtenberg was first in line for The Parent Trap but gave the role to her friend, Lindsay. In turn, goes the rumor, Lindsay passed on Inspector Gadget so Michelle could play “Penny”. Trachtenberg has yet to comment; but, on 01 July 2001, responding to a fan question, Lindsay wrote, “No, (it’s not true,) I was always set to play the roles of Hallie (Parker) and Annie (James).”
(The rumor likely started because, in fact, Lindsay did turn down Inspector Gadget. Dina Lohan told Newsday reporter Steve Parks in 1998 that Disney offered Gadget to her daughter, but she said “no, thanks” because, after seven months’ work on The Parent Trap, “Lindsay really needed a break.” Obviously, that forced Disney to find another Penny, and all available evidence indicates it was the filmmakers — not Lindsay — who “gave” the role to Trachtenberg.
(Then again, Michelle’s birthday is 11 October — the same as fictional Trap twins Annie and Hallie — and, we’re told, she has a cat named Casey. Quite the coincidence?)
In 2000, Lindsay was given the role of “Rose” in Bette Midler’s television sitcom, Bette. After shooting the pilot episode, the show’s producers decided it would be easier on the crew — most of whom lived near Los Angeles — if filming moved to California. Lindsay gave up the role to stay in New York, and Los Angeles-area actress Marina Malota was pegged to take over the role of Midler’s teen-aged daughter. The series was canceled only a few months later, due to sagging ratings and the strain on the show’s stars (ironically, Midler had to fly cross-country from her New York home to film her own show).
In June, 2001, Lindsay completed filming the role of “Lexy Gold” in Get a Clue, the Disney Channel Original Movie of the Month for January, 2002 — later rescheduled for telecast in June, 2002 — and Life-Size 2 was slated to follow, but has been put back on the shelf indefinitely. The Parent Trap II is “in development,” according to the people at Disney, who also say none of the original cast is returning (that may be a good thing: sequels to the original 1961 Trap, in which Hayley Mills reprised her roles as adults Susan and Sharon, went virtually unnoticed).
Walt Disney Pictures announced on 31 July 2002 that Lindsay had signed on to play Anna Coleman in the theatrical remake of Freaky Friday. In updating yet another film from its vaults, Disney signed Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis (A Fish Called Wanda) as the mother-and-daughter team who wake up one day in each other’s bodies. Lohan — who already proved she could fill Hayley Mills’ shoes and then some — takes on a role that helped propel a young Jodie Foster to stardom.
Barely two months later, Lindsay appeared poised to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a singer. One of the biggest names in music, Emilio Estefan, Jr., took Lindsay under his professional wing in September, 2002. Estefan Enterprises announced a five-album production deal and the promise of an aggressive effort to “sell” her popular style “with a rock edge” to a major record label.
Lindsay also has worked as a model for Abercrombie & Fitch Kids (A&F Kids) and Calvin Klein Kids.
Lindsay Lohan shares her birthday with a large number of notable people; including the late US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the late civil rights activist Medgar Evers, the late King Olav V of Norway, former Philippine First Lady Imelda (“I have more shoes than you”) Marcos, New Hampshire Congressman John Sununu, WWF wrestler Bret “The Hitman” Hart, retired NASCAR driver Richard “The King of Stock Car Racing” Petty, and the late Wendy’s Restaurant founder Dave Thomas (really!). Fellow actors born on 02 July include Yancy Butler (Witchblade), James McNichol (General Hospital, brother of actress Kristy McNichol), Jerry Hall (Batman, ex-wife of The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger), Ron Silver (Billionaire Boys’ Club), Brock Peters (Star Trek), Ken Curtis (Gunsmoke), and Polly Holliday (Alice and Flo on television, “Marva Kulp, Sr.” in The Parent Trap).
