Julie Benz was born on May 1, 1972, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and raised in Murrysville, Pennsylvania. She began figure skating at a young age and competed at the junior level in the 1988 U.S. Championships with her skating partner David Schilling. An injury at age 14 curtailed her skating career, leading her to pursue acting.
Benz began her acting career with small roles in films and television. She graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting. Her early roles included appearances in television shows such as “Hi Honey, I’m Home!” and “Married… with Children.”
Benz gained wider recognition for her role as Darla in the television series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2000) and its spin-off “Angel” (2000-2004). Her portrayal of Darla, a vampire with a complex and morally ambiguous history, established her as a notable genre actress. She is also known for her role as Rita Bennett on the Showtime series “Dexter” (2006-2010), for which she received critical acclaim and awards.
Beyond “Buffy,” “Angel” and “Dexter,” Benz has held significant roles in other television series, including:
Benz has also appeared in a number of films, including: