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Born on December 19, 1980, Marla Lynn Sokoloff is the daughter of Howard and Cindi Sokoloff. She excelled in both music and theatre during her high school years. She is a graduate of Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. She was born in San Francisco, but the family eventually moved to Los Angeles as her acting career had started to take off. The education she received from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts gave her a firm foundation on which to build her acting career. Even before graduating, she had racked up a long list of credits in both film and television.

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Early Career

Sokoloff earned her first role at the young age of 12 on the family show Full House. She had been offered a role on the show Boy Meets World, but she moved in a different direction and didn't follow through with the part. Her first major role was in The Practice. In 1998, she was cast as the receptionist, Lucy Hatcher on the show. During that time, she also landed a role on Friends. She played Dina, Joey's sister. She also appeared in three episodes of Desperate Housewives as the nanny. Sokoloff appeared in the movie Whatever It Takes as Maggie Carter.

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Extensive List of Credits

Her list of movie and television credits is extensive and includes parts in shows like Big Day, Burn Notice, The Climb, Dude Where's My Car, Love on the Side, and The Tollbooth. Her versatility as an actress has allowed her to play a wide variety of characters both in the theatre and on the screen. She has had the privilege of starring alongside such well-known actors and actresses as Doris Roberts, Andy Griffith, Paul Campbell, and many, many others.

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Sokoloff has also performed voice-overs in a variety of shows, including the character of Glatorian Kiina from Bionicle: The Legend Reborn. A few of her other credits include So I Married an Axe Murderer, The Date, The Babysitter's Club, Do You Take This Man, and A Happening of Monumental Proportions. Her list of credits for television is equally as long. Some of her more notable appearances include spots on Boy Meets World, Full House, Step by Step, Freaky Friday, Home Improvement, Party of Five, 3^rd Rock from the Sun, Over the Top, Grey's Anatomy, Maneater, Desperate Housewives, Mind Games, Fuller House, and Hot in Cleveland.

Sokoloff had the ability to pull off the girl next door image while adding a bit of fun and humor to each of the roles she played. She was a popular choice for many parts, not because she was the right age, but more so due to her ability to make each role her own.

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Personal Life

Sokoloff met and began to date James Franco when she co-starred with him in the movie Whatever It Takes. The duo dated for five years, but eventually went their separate ways. Sokoloff then met and married Alec Puro, the drummer from a band named Deadsy. They tied the knot on November 7, 2009. The marriage has produced two children, both girls. Their oldest daughter, Elliotte Anne was born in 2012. The couple's second daughter, Olive Mae was born in 2015. The couple currently reside in Los Angeles, California. 

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In her spare time, Sokoloff collects guitars and loves to write music. She sews and creates guitar straps that she sells as part of her own guitar strap line of accessories. She is the proud owner of a guitar that was designed by Courtney Love. She currently sings and plays guitar both solo and as part of a band known as Smittin. She loves to play for audiences throughout the Los Angeles area and performs as often as she can.