ACTOR · BORN 1956
Linda Hamilton
- Born
- 26 September 1956, Salisbury, Maryland, USA
- Known for
- Stranger Things (2016), The Terminator (1984), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Terminator Salvation (2009)
33 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
10 Facts About Linda Hamilton's Life and Family
- #001
Linda Hamilton's stunt double in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) was her identical twin sister, Leslie Hamilton Gearren. Leslie appears in the scene recreating Sarah Connor's memory of playing with John in the park and in the scene where the T-1000 takes on Sarah's appearance. The twin sisters thus brought different versions of the same character together in a single frame, creating an effect that went down in cinema history.
- #002
Linda Hamilton divorced her second husband, James Cameron, after learning of his relationship with actress Suzy Amis during the director's filming of Titanic (1997). The divorce was recorded as the second most expensive in Hollywood history after the separation of Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving. Hamilton was entitled to roughly half of Cameron's earnings at the time, close to 50 million dollars.
- #003
Linda Hamilton publicly shared her struggle with bipolar disorder in televised statements. She admitted that the condition ruined her marriage to her first husband, Bruce Abbott, through behavior that amounted to verbal and physical abuse, and that it also negatively affected her relationship with her second husband, James Cameron. Saying that her love for her two children was decisive in her decision to seek treatment, Hamilton stated that she began taking medication and that even ten years later she was grateful she had chosen treatment.
- #010
Linda Hamilton was born the daughter of Barbara Kyle (Holt) and Carroll Stanford Hamilton, a doctor. Her father died in a traffic accident when she was five years old. This early loss left deep marks on Hamilton's life and was influential in her growing up as a strong and independent woman.
- #012
On October 14, 2005, Linda Hamilton appeared on Larry King Live (1985) and spoke about her 20-year treatment for bipolar disorder. On the program, she candidly described the difficulties of her struggle with the condition and what she experienced during treatment. The disclosure was seen as an important step by the actress toward raising awareness about mental health.
- #013
Linda Hamilton and James Cameron's daughter, Josephine Cameron, was born on February 15, 1993. The child was the couple's only child together born during their marriage. Josephine maintained a close relationship with both parents after their divorce.
- #019
Linda Hamilton's identical twin sister, Leslie Hamilton Gearren, died on August 22, 2020. The actress also has an older sister named Laura Hamilton and a brother named Ford Hamilton. Leslie was also known for doubling for her sister in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).
- #024
Linda Hamilton and Bruce Abbott's son, Dalton Abbott, was born on October 4, 1989. He was the couple's only child born during their marriage. After his parents' divorce, Dalton maintained his relationship with both of them.
- #030
Linda Hamilton's maternal grandfather, Richard Huckstep Holt, was born in Sombrerete, Zacatecas, Mexico, as the child of American parents. This family connection carries traces of different cultures in Hamilton's family tree. The actress's origins stand out as part of her multifaceted identity.
- #033
Linda Hamilton is the former sister-in-law of James Cameron's brothers, Mike Cameron and John David Cameron. This family connection reveals the actress's relationship with the Cameron family. After Hamilton's divorce, this kinship tie came to an end.
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