Joss Whedon

-- Joss Whedon interview (with BBC)
-- Joss Whedon video interview (with BBC)

Emmy and Oscar nominee Joss Whedon is one of Hollywood's hottest writers, having scripted several hit films and created one of television's most critically praised shows, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." In 2000, Whedon garnered his first Emmy nomination in the category of Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for his groundbreaking episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" entitled "Hush," and, in the same year, the series was honored with the Founder's Award from Viewers for Quality Television.

He earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay with Disney's box-office smash "Toy Story," starring Tim Allen and Tom Hanks. Whedon's big-screen writing credits also include the feature films "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Alien Resurrection," the fourth in the "Alien" series, which starred Sigourney Weaver and Winona Ryder. He also worked on the screenplays for the runaway hit "Speed," and Steven Spielberg's action-packed adventure "Twister."

After receiving a degree in film studies from Wesleyan University, Whedon moved to Los Angeles and landed his first writing job on the staff of "Roseanne," working as a story editor and writing several episodes of the top-rated series. He later pulled double duty on the series "Parenthood," co-producing and writing a number of episodes.

Writing is clearly in his blood, since Whedon could arguably be the world's first third-generation television writer. His grandfather, John Whedon, was a successful sitcom writer in the '50s and '60s on "The Donna Reed Show" and "Leave It to Beaver," and his father, Tom Whedon, wrote for the likes of "The Dick Cavett Show," "Alice" and "Benson."

In addition to serving as creator and executive producer on "Angel" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," Whedon has also written and directed many episodes of both series.

Whedon is married and resides in Los Angeles.