Joseph Hill Whedon, born June 23, 1964, is an American television director.
Whedon is best known as the creator of several television series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003) and its spinoff Angel (1999–2004), Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008), Dollhouse (2009–2010), Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020) and The Nevers (2021). He also directed the superhero blockbuster films The Avengers (2012) and it's sequel Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Personal life[]
Whedon grew up in New York City, born to screenwriter John Whedon and activist, teacher and aspiring novelist Ann Lee Stearns (born Jeffries). Whedon's parents both acted, and he and his family would spend the summer holidays reciting Shakespeare. Whedon is the third of his father's five sons, Samuel and Matthew being older than him and Jed and Zack being younger than him. Jed, born on 1975, is a screenwriter and musician, and Zack is a screenwriter, film director and comic book writer.
His parents divorced when he was 9. Whedon cited his childhood trauma as having a direct influence in his relationships, addictions and behaviors into adulthood and has stated that he suffers from complex post traumatic stress disorder. He has stated that his older brothers bullied him in his childhood since he was five.
Whedon stated in 2013 that he is a workaholic. He was accused of workplace harassment in July 2012, and later it was said that remedial actions had been taken.
In 1995, Whedon married Kai Cole, an architect, producer and co-founder of Bellwether Pictures. They have two children together. Whedon and Cole separated in 2012 and divorced in 2016. In 2017, Cole claimed that Whedon had repeatedly been unfaithful to her and that he is a sexist person, on the contrary to what he says to the public eye.
Whedon married Canadian artist Heather Horton in February 2021. He describes himself as an atheist, absurdist and existentialist.