Julie Benz is perhaps best known for her four-season run as Rita Bennett in “Dexter,” a
role that earned her two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Outstanding
Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

Benz has had starring, recurring and guest starring roles on a number of television series,
including “Training Day”, HAWAII FIVE-0, “Desperate Housewives,” “Defiance,” “No
Ordinary Family,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” “Roswell,” “Supernatural” and
“Law and Order.” She also appeared in several television movies and miniseries,
including Stephen Spielberg’s “Taken,” “Ricochet,” “Sole Custody,” “Uncorked” and
“The Long Shot.”

Most recently, Benz stars in the upcoming YouTube series “On Becoming a God In
Central Florida” with Kirsten Dunst and the upcoming VC Andrews Southern Gothic
mini-series “Heaven” for Lifetime Television.” Her additional feature film credits include
“RAMBO”, As Good As It Gets,” “Boondock Saints II,” “Jawbreaker,” “Punisher: War
Zone,” “Saw V” ,“Circle” and the horror film “Havenhurst”.

Benz was raised in Pennsylvania and she is the youngest of three children, all of whom
were accomplished ice skaters. She competed in the 1988 U.S. Championships in junior
ice dancing before a crippling stress fracture at age 14 led her to the stage. Her first major
role came at 16 in the George A. Romero horror film “Two Evil Eyes.” Later, she earned
her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from New York University, where she graduated in
three years with honors and studied abroad in Moscow, enriching her appreciation for
acting.

Benz resides in Los Angeles with her husband and two dogs. She enjoys cooking,
dancing, and Pilates.

Her birthday is May 1. Follow her on Instagram @juliebenzmft