An adventurous supporting actress who specialized in deeply complex and often flawed characters, the 49-year old Julie Benz captured audiences’ attention with roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Dexter.
A former competitive ice skater, she abandoned sports after an injury to pursue acting. Bit parts on television series led to her breakthrough role as the malevolent vampiress Darla on Buffy and Angel. Benz’s physical beauty was an occasional obstacle in finding projects of substance, but she eventually landed another standout character in Rita, the reluctant lover and spouse of Michael C. Hall’s Dexter. These and other projects, which included stints in comedy, science fiction, horror and sudsy dramas, proved that Benz was one of the most versatile performers on the small screen.
