Versatile actor Camden Toy appeared in makeup in so many episodes of Sarah Michelle Gellar said she didn't know what his real face looked like — here's all four monsters he played. Toy worked in both Joss Whedon shows as a character actor in heavy latex and false teeth that transformed him into all sorts of ghouls and demons. Though Toy is most often seen under layers of special effects makeup, he has become recognizable to fans of the fantasy and sci-fi genre for his skills as an actor.
Toy's father Malcolm was a special effects makeup artist who got his son into the craft at an early age. Toy grew up with a love for fantasy, monsters, and classic horror, learning from artists like Dick Smith and his father, who worked for Wally Westmore on the Paramount Lot. Toy has worked in over 100 independent films and television shows, often described as a "suit performer" and character actor whose skills allow for athletic physical performances while under heavy makeup and costuming. Toy, however, doesn't refer to himself as a suit performer, but rather as an actor who is able to integrate full prosthetic suits into his performances.
What makes Toy such a versatile actor is the physicality and character work he pours into each portrayal. His roles not only require him to leap around sound stages in heavy rubber face masks and claws, but to perform accents, find character voices and mannerisms, and bring forth an effective monster. The difficulty of delivering a magnetic and memorable performance beneath layers of spirit gum and colored s can be tricky for any actor, but Toy has a special gift at the craft, which is why he is utilized by the same creators again and again. What gives Toy his uniqueness is his ability to mold into such different beings every time, but beneath the makeup, it's all him.
The Gentleman
Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 4 features some truly interesting episodes, and there is none more spectacular than "Hush," which many fans consider to be the best episode of the series. Part of what makes the episode so memorable is the enemy that Buffy must face, a group of pale, slender, grinning ghouls called "The Gentlemen." The Gentlemen are known for their habit of stealing the voices of everyone in an entire town while going about collecting hearts from sleeping victims. The striking silence of the episode is punctuated by the creepy presence of the Gentlemen, who float about with graceful movements while bearing wide, maniacal smiles.
Toy had his first appearance on Buffy as a Gentleman alongside the legendary suit performer Doug Jones, both of whom appear side by side in one of the episode's creepiest scenes. The makeup for The Gentlemen is astounding, but what gives them their creep factor is the gentle, polite, demure way in which they move. Every hand gesture and head nod is slow and deliberate, and Toy, Jones, and the others act into their very fingertips. The Gentlemen are an indelible part of Buffy-lore for a reason, and a lot of that is thanks to the movement acting performed by some very talented actors.
Ubervamp/Turok-Han
Of all the foes Buffy must face, there is perhaps none tougher or more difficult to defeat in single combat than the Turok-Han. Also called the Ubervamp, this beast is one of the oldest creatures in demon lore. They are primordial and powerful, and are to vampires what the Neanderthal are to human beings. They are single-minded killing machines, more ancient and therefore stronger than an ordinary vampire. Buffy's first attempt to slay a Turok-Han does not go well, as he withstands her stake and beats her to a pulp.
As the Ubervamp, Toy was required to portray a monster so indestructible that it strikes fear even into the heart of Buffy. His quick moves, leering face, and bat-like attacks are hard-hitting and brutal, driving the notion home that this is an ancient, animalistic, and terrifying foe. The Ubervamp is one of the major "big bads" in Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 7, so their introduction had to be a memorable one. Toy's performance as the impressive and impervious vampire was a convincing one, letting audiences know that this would be one of Buffy's most formidable challenges yet.
The Prince of Lies
Appearing in the Angel episode "Why We Fight", the Prince of Lies is a Nosferatu-looking creature complete with an Old-World German accent who bears a resemblance to ancient vampires like The Master or Turok-Han. Like those old vampires, he is also alarmingly powerful, able to cast aside his seemingly feeble form to take on someone like Angel. The Prince of Lies was captured by the Third Reich during World War II as part of an experiment to create super soldiers from the vampiric race. Alongside Spike and Nostroyev, The Prince of Lies threaten the lives of those on a submarine, The Prince threatening to suck out a Nazi's brain and digest his thoughts.
Toy is absolutely enthralling as The Prince of Lies, and it's a shame that this was his only appearance. His Count Orlok makeup and strange, alluring accent give his lines potency and intrigue, and there seems to be so much history packed behind him thanks to Toy's acting, which stands out in an episode largely centered on yet another one of Angel's past regrets coming back to haunt him.
Gnarl
Though Buffy fights a lot of demons and vampires, not many of them are terribly disturbing or scary. One notable exception is Gnarl, a fearsome beast who devours his victims one strand of skin at a time. Through the first two-thirds of the episode, the audience is offered nary a glimpse of the creature, and is instead introduced to him through vocal tidbits and long-clawed silhouettes. This builds the creature up in the viewer's mind, making him a mysterious and spooky presence through the episode. The menacing vocal work of Toy adds to this ominous feel, as the voice of Gnarl is childlike and sing-song, luring its victims with seductive whispers and coquettish giggling that are jarring and effective. These are not the growls and snarls of the usual beasts that Buffy faces, but the intelligent and human-like words of a creature who knows exactly what it is doing and chooses to practice its particular brand of hunting, killing, and eating.
The voice of the demon gives way to its physical being, and the look of him is every bit as horrifying as the sound of him. Toy is in a full latex suit complete with body hair and long claws perfect for stripping away bits of skin. In a frightening sequence, Toy as Gnarl crouches over Willow (Alyson Hannigan), his dancer-like frame lithe and predatory, as he delicately slices into her skin and drops the strips into his mouth, savoring every morsel with disgusting reverie. He taunts Willow as she lies there helpless, telling her she is all alone and that no one will come for her, pinpointing her worst fears and insecurities as he slowly devours her flesh. In a collection of dazzling performances in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Toy's turn as Gnarl is perhaps the most conspicuous.
