Julie Benz: Biography, Career & Net Worth

Publish date: 2024-05-05

Actress Julie Benz has had an impressive career, transitioning from competitive ice skating to professional acting.

She is renowned for her recurring television roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Dexter.

Additionally, she has starred in numerous films such as Havenhurst, Saw V, and Rambo.

Throughout her career, Julie Benz has established herself as a talented actress with a diverse range of skills.

She is best known for her memorable performances in various popular TV shows and movies.

Julie Benz

Early Life

Julie Benz, the American actress, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on May 1, 1972.

Her parents were Joanne, a figure skater, and George, a surgeon. During her youth in Murrysville, she attended Franklin Regional High School.

Joanne’s influence led Benz to begin ice skating at a young age.

She even participated in the 1988 US Championships in junior ice dancing with David Schilling as her partner, but only managed a 13th place finish.

Sadly, at the age of 14, a stress fracture in her leg forced her to end her figure skating career.

Julie Benz Career

Julie Benz appeared in the TV show ‘Hi Honey, I’m Home!’ in 1991, which got cancelled after two seasons.

Two years later, she graduated from New York University and moved to Los Angeles.

Within two weeks of her move, she landed a small part in an episode of the series ‘Married…with Children’.

She also appeared in many other TV shows like ‘Hang Time’, ‘High Tide’, ‘Step by Step’, and ‘Boy Meets World’, as well as the TV movie ‘The Barefoot Executive’.

Julie Benz

In 1996, she auditioned for the role of Buffy Summers for the TV series ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’.

Although she didn’t get the lead role, she was offered a small role as Darla the vampire.

Her good performance led to an extension of her role in a few more episodes.

This boosted her career and she was cast in many TV shows and movies like ‘Peacemakers’, ‘Coupling’, ‘NCIS’ and ‘Oliver Beene’, among others.

She reprised her role as Darla in the spin-off series ‘Angel’ and played Vicky in the Sci-Fi Channel film ‘Locusts: The 8th Plague’.

She also appeared in famous TV series like ‘Supernatural’, ‘CSI: Miami’, ‘Law & Order’, and ‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’.

In 2008, she had a supporting role in ‘Punisher: War Zone’ and ‘Rambo’.

In 2010, Julie Benz landed a lead role in ‘No Ordinary Family’, but the show was cancelled after one season.

Julie Benz also appeared in another TV show ‘A Gifted Man’, which was cancelled in May 2012.

In 2015, she got a recurring role in CBS series ‘Hawaii Five-O’ and starred in the TV movie ‘Charming Christmas’.

Julie Benz Major Roles

Julie Benz has made appearances in numerous TV series, TV movies, and feature films.

She portrays women who have experienced significant losses in their lives and is well-recognized for it.

Despite not landing the lead role in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, her portrayal of Darla received positive feedback and grabbed the spotlight.

Initially cast for the pilot episode only, her exceptional performance earned her more episodes.

Benz’s noteworthy performance in the thriller series ‘Dexter’ cannot be overlooked.

Her role as Rita Bennett, a divorced woman dealing with personal struggles, was highly impressive. As a result of her exceptional acting skills, she received several award nominations and won a few.

Awards & Achievements

In 2006, Julie Benz won the Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series for ‘Dexter’.

In 2010, she won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television for ‘Dexter’.

Julie Benz and Video Games

Benz has worked in film, television, and voice acting for video games.

In 2003, she provided the voices for several characters in “Everybody’s Golf 4,” or “Hot Shots Golf Fore!”.

She also voiced Miranda Keyes in the first-person shooter sequel “Halo 2” the following year.

Personal Life

Benz tied the knot with actor and stand-up comic John Kassir in 1998. However, the couple parted ways and got divorced in 2007.

Later on, Benz took her vows with Rich Orosco in 2012.

Julie Benz Salary and Net Worth 

Julie Benz, an American actress, has a net worth of $4 million. She gained recognition for her roles on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” and “Dexter.”

Additionally, she has appeared on several other TV shows like “Roswell,” “A Gifted Man,” “Defiance,” and the remake of “Hawaii Five-0.”

In addition to television, Benz has also acted in feature films such as “Jawbreaker,” “Punisher: War Zone,” and “Nocturne.”

Summary

Julie Benz, an American actress, started her career as a figure skater but had to end it due to a leg injury.

Benz pursued acting and appeared in small roles on TV shows such as ‘Married…with Children’ before being cast in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’.

Although she did not secure the lead role, her portrayal of Darla resulted in additional opportunities, including recurring roles on ‘Angel’ and ‘Dexter’, where she earned two awards.

In addition to her television work, Benz has worked in video games. Her net worth is currently estimated at $4 million.

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