Biography
Julie Benz (born 1 May 1972) is a competent American actress and TV personality. She previously had a career in figure skating, which she left to pursue a career in acting.
She began in local theatre and progressed to film, playing minor roles. She then made her television debut with the show ‘Hi Honey, I’m Home.’
She appeared in several TV shows before landing a role in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer.’ Julie Benz auditioned for the lead role in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘ in 1996 but was cast in a supporting role. Her role was extended to a few more episodes due to her excellent acting abilities. This was the start of her successful career, and it helped her get noticed.
Julie Benz has received critical acclaim and has won numerous awards for her outstanding acting.
JULIE BENZ | |
|---|---|
| WIKI FACTS & ABOUT DATA | |
| Full Name: | Julie Benz |
| Born: | 1 May 1972 (age 49 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height: | 1.63 m |
| Parents: | George Benz, Joanne Benz |
| Siblings: | Jennifer Benz, Jeffrey Benz |
| Husband • Spouse: | Rich Orosco (m. 2012), John Kassir (m. 1998–2007) |
| Boyfriend • Partner: | N/A |
| Children: | N/A |
| Occupation: | Actress • TV Personality |
| Net Worth: | US$6 million |
Early Life & Education
Julie Benz was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on May 1, 1972, and grew up in Murrysville.
Her parents are George Benz (father) and Joanne Benz (mother). She also has a sister whose name is Jennifer Benz and brother named Jeffrey Benz.
Her family moved to Murrysville when she was two years old. She began ice skating lessons at the age of three. She finished 13th in the junior ice dancing competition at the 1988 U.S. Championships with her skating partner, David Schilling.
She suffered a stress fracture in her right leg when she was 14 years old, forcing her to stop skating. Julie Benz‘s figure skating career had ended by 1989, so she became involved in local theatre.
She landed a role in the play ‘Street Law.’ Her first film appearance was in the ‘The Black Cat‘ segment of the Dario Argento/George A. Romero horror film Two Evil Eyes (1990).
After graduating from Franklin Regional High School in 1990, Benz went on to study acting at New York University.
Career
After graduating from New York University, the actress relocated to Los Angeles to pursue her career. She began her acting career with minor roles before moving on to more significant roles.
Julie Benz appeared on the television show ‘Hi Honey, I’m Home!‘ in 1991. However, after two seasons, the show was cancelled.
She graduated from New York University in 1993 and relocated to Los Angeles. She landed a small role in an episode of the TV show ‘Married….with Children‘ two weeks after her relocation.
She has also appeared in several other TV shows, including ‘Hang Time,’ ‘High Tide,’ ‘Step by Step,’ and ‘Boy Meets World.’ She also had a small part in the TV movie ‘The Barefoot Executive.’
Julie Benz was allowed to audition for the role of Buffy Summers in the TV series ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘ in 1996. Unfortunately, the part went to Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Julie Benz was offered a minor role as Darla, a vampire.
Her role was initially limited to the pilot episode, but due to her strong performance, her role was expanded to a few more episodes. This helped her gain visibility in her career and earned her several TV shows and films. She later appeared on TV shows such as ‘The Big Easy,’ ‘Fame L.A.,’ ‘Ask Harriet,’ and ‘Payne.’
Julie Benz reprised her role as Darla in the Buffy spin-off series ‘Angel‘ in 2000. She was a regular on the show throughout its entire run. She was also the only white actor in the romantic comedy film ‘The Brothers‘ (2001).
Julie Benz then appeared in the TV shows Peacemakers, ‘Coupling,’ ‘NCIS,’ and ‘Oliver Beene.’ She played Miranda Keyes in the video game ‘Halo 2‘ and played the lead in the Hallmark TV movie ‘The Long Shot.’ She also appeared in the critically acclaimed television film ‘Lackawant to Blues.’
Vicky, the lead female character in the Sci-Fi Channel original film ‘Locusts: The 8th Plague,’ was cast in her. Julie Benz has also appeared in popular TV shows such as ‘Supernatural,’ ‘CSI: Miami,’ ‘Law & Order,’ and ‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.’
She landed the lead role in ‘No Ordinary Family‘ in 2010. The show premiered on September 28, 2010, and was cancelled after one season on May 13, 2011. She was cast in another TV show, ‘A Gifted Man,’ the same year, but it was cancelled in May 2012.
She had a recurring role in the CBS series ‘Hawaii Five-O‘ in 2015, and she also starred in the TV movie ‘Charming Christmas.’
Awards & Nominations
Julie Benz is an actress who has received five award nominations and three awards.
Personal Life
On May 30, 1998, Julie Benz married actor John Kassir. They did, however, file for divorce in December 2007. Following her divorce from John Kassir, she began dating Rich Orosco, the former Vice President of Marketing for Warner Bros. Television. On May 5, 2012, the couple married.
She has no kids and is blessed with a height of 1.63 m.
Net Worth
Julie Benz has made a lucrative income from her acting profession. Her net worth is US$6 million.
Social Media
Follow Julie Benz on
- Facebook: @OfficialJulieBenz
- Twitter: @juliebenz
- Instagram: @juliebenzmft
