Danica McKellar is an American actress, mathematics writer, and education advocate best known for her role as Winnie Cooper in the television series The Wonder Years. She has also voiced Miss Martian in the animated superhero series Young Justice and appeared in several television films for Hallmark Channel. In addition to her acting work, McKellar has written six non-fiction books encouraging girls to have confidence and succeed in mathematics. She has also published papers in mathematics journals and received awards and honors for her contributions to the field. This article will explore Danica McKellar’s net worth, wiki, age, height, career, and more.
Early Life and Education
Danica McKellar was born in La Jolla, California, on January 3, 1975. She moved with her family to Los Angeles when she was eight. Her mother, Mahaila McKellar, was a homemaker, and her father, Christopher McKellar, is a real estate developer. She has a younger sister, Crystal McKellar, who is a lawyer.
McKellar began acting at a young age in her mother’s dance studio. She made her first commercial appearance when she was ten years old. She also had a few guest appearances in The Twilight Zone before landing her breakthrough role as Winnie Cooper in The Wonder Years.
McKellar has been interested in mathematics since she was a child. She attended UCLA and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1998. She co-authored a paper with Professor Lincoln Chayes and fellow student Brandy Winn titled “Percolation and Gibbs states multiplicity for ferromagnetic Ashkin-Teller models on Z2”. The paper was published in the Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General, resulting in the Chayes-McKellar-Winn theorem. McKellar also proved a new mathematical physics theorem named after her as the “McKellar-Winn theorem.”
Danica McKellar Acting Career
McKellar’s acting career spans over three decades. She started as a child actress in The Wonder Years, from 1988 to 1993. She played Winnie Cooper, the main character’s love interest, Kevin Arnold. The show was a critical and commercial success, winning several awards, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1988. McKellar received positive reviews for her performance and was nominated for two Young Artist Awards.
After The Wonder Years ended, McKellar continued to act in various television shows and movies. She had recurring roles in The West Wing, Static Shock, Justice League Unlimited, How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, Project Mc2, and more. She also voiced characters in animated shows such as Batman Beyond, Kim Possible, and Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra-Doo, DC Super Hero Girls, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and more.
McKellar is also known for starring in several television films for Hallmark Channel. Some of her notable films include Crown for Christmas, Love at the Christmas Table, My Christmas Dream, Coming Home for Christmas, Christmas at Dollywood, Matchmaker Mysteries series, and more.
McKellar has also appeared in feature films such as Good Neighbor, Hack!, 21 and a Wake-Up, Mancation, Where Hope Grows, The Fiddling Horse, Bongee Bear, and The Kingdom of Rhythm.
Books
McKellar is also a successful mathematics writer and education advocate. She has written six non-fiction books to make math fun and accessible for middle-school and high-school girls. Her books are:
- The book Math Doesn’t Suck: How to Get Through Middle School Math Without Going Crazy or Breaking a Nail was published in 2007.
- Pre-Algebra is displayed in Kiss My Math. (2008) Who’s Boss
- Hot X: Algebra Exposed (2010)
- Girls Get Curves: Geometry Takes Shape (2012)
- Goodnight, Numbers (2017)
- Do Not Open This Math Book: Addition + Subtraction (2018)
Critics and educators have praised her books for their engaging style and practical tips. They have also been bestsellers on The New York Times Children’s Paperback list. McKellar has also created online videos and games based on her books under the name Math Bites.
Danica McKellar Awards and Honors
McKellar has received several awards and honors for her work in mathematics and entertainment. Some of them are:
- Joint Mathematics Meetings’ Communications Award (2014) for her books that encourage girls to pursue mathematics
- Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives (2000) for her work in mathematics
- UCLA’s Distinguished Alumni Award (2005) for her achievements as an actress and mathematician
- Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2019) for her contributions to television
- Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television (2012) for her role as Miss Martian in Young Justice
- Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Comedy (1993) for her role as Winnie Cooper in The Wonder Years
Danica McKellar Personal Life
McKellar has been married twice. She married composer Michael Verta in 2009, and they have a son named Draco. They divorced in 2012. She married lawyer Scott Sveslosky in 2014, and they live in Los Angeles with their children.
McKellar is a vegan and an animal rights activist. She supports various charities and causes, such as the Red Cross, the Humane Society, the Starlight Children’s Foundation, and more.
McKellar is also a dancing fan and has participated in the 18th season of Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy, and they finished in sixth place.
Danica McKellar Net Worth
Danica McKellar’s net worth is estimated at around $6 million as of 2021. She has earned wealth from her acting career, books, and endorsements. She has also invested in real estate and owns several properties in California.
Conclusion
Danica McKellar is a talented and versatile person who has excelled in mathematics and entertainment. She has inspired many girls to pursue their passions and achieve their goals. She has also entertained millions of fans with her charming and captivating performances. She is a role model and a star who deserves recognition and admiration.
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