Julie Benz

Julie Benz was born in Pittsburgh, and was raised in Murrysville Pennsylvania (family moved there when she was two). She attended the Franklin Regional Senior High School in Murrysville, PA and later attended and graduated from New York University.

At the time of her birth, Julie's father was a surgeon and her mother was an ice skater. Julie, along with her two siblings, an older brother named Jeffrey and an older sister named Jennifer, followed her mother into the figure ice skating sport. Jeffrey and Jennifer competed in the 1987 US Junior Ice Skating Championships and later competed internationally. Julie, partnered with David Schilling, competed in the 1988 US Junior Ice Skating Championships and came in 13th. Unfortunately, Julie had an injury and had to leave ice skating. Fortunately she found acting. Her first role came in a local play (Street Law) in 1989. Julie Benz later studied acting at the New York University, and after graduation, moved west to pursue her new career.

Julie Benz auditioned for the role of Buffy in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and was told that she was not right for the part. She did well enough in the auditions, though, to be offered the role of the vampire Darla.

Two years after that audition, in 1998, Julie married actor John Kaiser.