Linda Bove was born on November 30, 1945 in Garfield, NJ. She was born to deaf parents. Growing up, she attended the St. Joseph School for the Deaf in the Bronx and Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf in Trenton, NJ. She graduated high school in 1963.

After high school, she attended Gallaudet University where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Library Science in 1986.

During her senior year at Gallaudet, she became involved with the National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD). This is where she met her husband, Ed Waterstreet. They were married in 1970. With NTD, she performed in Milkwood and Sganarelle.

In 1971, she was cast on Sesame Street as Linda the Librarian. She was on the show until 2003, making it the longest TV role for a deaf person. While on Sesame Street, she taught children ASL and discussed issues about Deaf community and culture.