Linda Emond
Born in New Jersey, and raised in Southern California, Linda Emond graduated from California State University, Fullerton in 1982, with a BA in Theatre Arts. She finished her education at the University of Washington, Seattle, where she earned an MFA through the acting program. Emond's first professional experience came on stages in Seattle, followed by a critically successful run on Chicago's boards, then on to Broadway. Between performances on stage, Emond also began to make a mark for herself in supporting roles on screen, with the inevitable roles on "Law & Order" (NBC, 1990-2010), as well as "The Sopranos" (HBO, 1999-2007) and in films like "Pollock" (2000). Emond originated the role of Homebody in Tony Kushner's 2002 play "Homebody/Kabul," earning an Obie Award for her performance. In 2003, Emond earned her first Tony nomination, for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for her role in "Life x3." The next year she premiered in her highest profile role up to that time, a recurring role over multiple seasons on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC, 1999-) playing Dr. Emily Sopher, a professor of neurobiology and occasional expert witness. She was nominated again for Tonys in 2012, for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for her role in "Death of a Salesman" with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Andrew Garfield, and in 2014, for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in "Cabaret." In 2018, Emond was set for her first series regular role on the new comedy "Lodge 49" (AMC, 2018-).