Camden Toy

In later years, he returned to college to receive a Master of Arts in clinical psychology in order to provide counseling, focusing on people recovering from addiction. He also received a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing shortly before his death.

• Born — 31 May 1955 • Birthplace — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. • Died — 11 December 2023 • Place of death — Los Osos, California, U.S. • Education — * MA Clinical Psychology, Antioch University Santa Barbara, 2022 • MFA Creative Writing (Screenwriting), Antioch University Santa Barbara, 2023 • Occupation — * Actor • writer • psychotherapist • Years Active — 1984–2023 • Employer — Community Counseling Center of San Luis Obispo County • Television — Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Goodnight Burbank, The Bay (web series) Camden Toy (May 31, 1955 – December 11, 2023) was an American actor, writer, film editor and psychotherapist. He was best known as a character actor, often under special effects prosthetic makeup. He had acted in over one hundred independent films, and several television roles. In later years, he returned to college to receive a Master of Arts in clinical psychology in order to provide counseling, focusing on people recovering from addiction. He also received a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing shortly before his death.

Toy grew up in Pennsylvania, and his interest in the film industry was encouraged early on by his father, who worked as an actor and makeup artist.

After spending many years in regional theater companies, Toy became one of the founding members and artistic director of the Obie Award-winning Todo con Nada theatre in New York City. After moving to Los Angeles, he appeared as one of the demonic Gentlemen in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Hush", consistently listed as one of the best and scariest episodes of the series. In fact, Toy won the role in the silent audition by creeping out series creator Joss Whedon so much with his improvisational miming that he declared, "I'm going to have nightmares now!" In season seven, he played the skin-eating demon Gnarl in "Same Time, Same Place", and had a recurring role of the "ubervamp" Turok-Han. Although Toy was on several episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, he was always under such heavy prosthetics and makeup that star Sarah Michelle Gellar had to be shown a photograph of him to recognize him out of character. He also played the Nosferatu-like vampire "The Prince of Lies" on the Angel episode "Why We Fight". Toy was a series regular on the television sitcom Goodnight Burbank and in the first four seasons of the Emmy Award-winning series The Bay. He appeared in an episode of Into the Dark on Hulu and starred in movies Average Joe (2021) and Boogey-Man (2021).

Toy was a regular guest at many comic and pop culture conventions and often shared panels and photo-ops with other Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel alumni.

After a two-year private battle, Camden Toy died from pancreatic cancer at his home in Los Osos, California, on December 11, 2023.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1999–2003 — Buffy the Vampire Slayer — Various roles — 6 episodes • 2004 — Angel — Prince of Lies — Episode: "Why We Fight" • 2008 — The Mentalist — Gambler — Episode: "Red-Handed" • 2008–2009 — The Insider's Guide to Film School — Professor Strauss — 4 episodes • 2010–2014 — The Bay — Igor Chambers — 14 episodes • 2011 — Goodnight Burbank — Yan Bobek — 6 episodes • 2016 — Shameless — Pan — Episode: "A Yurt of One's Own" • 2017 — Monster School Animation — Security Officer Toy — Episode: "Welcome to Monster School" • 2019 — Into the Dark — The Prankster — Episode: "Uncanny Annie"