In New York, NY, on 02 July 1986, Lindsay Dee Lohan (she later changed her middle name to Morgan) became the first child of a proud couple: Dina (a one-time Radio City "Rockette" who now manages 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 fund and develop major studios and independent Hollywood productions). Three siblings (Michael, Aliana and Dakota) would follow in the years to come.
Green-eyed, auburn-haired 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).
In 1993, Lindsay was one of several New York-area children to appear in a halloween skit with David Letterman, dressed as garbage ("Things You Find on the Floor of the D-Train"). Within weeks, Letterman left NBC for CBS.
A plum role soon followed on the NBC-TV series Another World. Lindsay was the third actress — in late 1996 and early 1997 — to play "Alexandra 'Alli' Fowler". (AW ran until 1999.)
It was not until 05 January 1997 that she knew she would be cast 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. Lindsay proved that she is an actress of considerable skill, deftly handling two different personalities in one single movie. She 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 onhome video— allowed Lindsay to act with Tyra Banks.
In 2000, Lindsay won 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 its stars (ironically, Midler had to fly cross-country from her New York home to tape 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.
Walt Disney Pictures announced on 31 July 2002 that Lindsay had signed on to play Anna Coleman in the theatrical remake of Freaky Friday. To update another film from its own 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 — took on a role that helped propel a young Jodie Foster to stardom. Lindsay also sang the film's closing theme, Ultimate, written for the film by songwriters Jeff Coplan and Robert Ellis Orrall.
In September, 2002, Lindsay took her first step toward fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a recording artist when one of the biggest names in music, Emilio Estefan, Jr., took Lindsay under his professional wing. Estefan Enterprises announced a five-album production deal and the promise of an aggressive effort to "sell" her pop style "with a rock edge" to a major record label.
In 2003, Lindsay accepted the lead role in Disney's Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (originally a New Line project written for Hilary Duff, who had to pass due to her full schedule). Filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and in New York City, Queen was released in theatres on 20 February 2004.
Later in 2003, leaving The Mouse behind (for the moment), Lindsay jumped over to Paramount Studios to re-team with Freaky director Mark S. Waters for Mean Girls, written by Tina Fey and starring several members of the cast of Saturday Night Live. Lorne Michaels asked Lindsay to host SNL as Mean Girls premiered in May, 2004, and she would host the show again a year later.
In 2004, Lindsay signed with Casablanca Records and released her first studio album, Speak. Her first single, Rumors—about a teen celebrity trying to keep her private life out of the spotlight—was a Gold Record, and the video was nominated for Best Pop Video at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards. Her second album, A Little More Personal (Raw), included the single, Confessions of a Broken Heart (Daughter to Father). In that video, Lindsay's sister, Aliana, made her acting debut.
Back to Disney, Lindsay filmed Herbie: Fully Loaded with Michael Keaton and Breckin Meyer in 2005. In 2006, she'll headline Just My Luck for Fox. She will also play Meryl Streep's Daughter in A Prairie Home Companion. Lindsay also signed for leading roles in Bobby and Chapter 27.
Lindsay Lohan shares her birthday with 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 Mick Jagger), Ron Silver (Billionaire Boys' Club), Brock Peters (Star Trek), Ken Curtis (Gunsmoke), and Polly Holliday (Flo on television, "Marva Kulp, Sr." in The Parent Trap).
Trivia:
Lindsay also has worked as a model for Abercrombie & Fitch Kids (A&F Kids) and Calvin Klein Kids.
Her family's last name is pronounced "low-han" but, when speaking quickly, they tend to say "lowen".
Lindsay was raised on Long Island, NY, where her family still maintains its home. In 2005, she bought a home in Beverly Hills, CA, but splits her time on both coasts.
Her birthday is 02 July, not 11 October. That birthday was shared by Annie James and Hallie Parker, Lindsay's characters in The Parent Trap.
Lindsay earned the roles of the twins after a six-month casting search. Later, Life-Size and Get a Clue were offered by Disney as part of a three-picture deal signed after Trap was filmed.
Immediately after Trap, Disney offered Lindsay the lead female role in Inspector Gadget but, having just finished seven months' work on The Parent Trap, she declined (her mom, Dina, told New York Newsday that Lindsay "really needed a break"). The role instead was accepted by Michelle Trachtenberg. Soon, a rumor began to circulate that Trachtenberg "gave" the Trap role to Lohan, who later "gave" the Gadget project to Trachtenberg. The rumor is not true. (On the other hand, did you know Michelle's "birthday is on October 11th??! How weird is that?")
Following a self-imposed hiatus, Lindsay auditioned for Freaky Friday.
