Jonathan Levinson is a fictional character created by

Joss Whedon Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon ( ; born June 23, 1964) is an American screenwriter, director, producer, comic book writer, and composer. He is best known as the creator of several television series: the supernatural drama ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer' ...

for the television series ''

Buffy the Vampire Slayer ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' is an American supernatural fiction, supernatural drama television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon. The concept is based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film), 1992 film, also written by Whedon, a ...

''. The character is portrayed by

Danny Strong Danny Strong (born ) is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. As an actor, Strong is best known for his roles as Jonathan Levinson in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'', Doyle McMaster in ''Gilmore Girls'' and Danny Siegel in '' Mad ...

Character development

Strong described the early development of his character in an interview with the U.K. '' Buffy the Vampire Slayer magazine''. He described his character as the "

Kenny Kenny is a surname, a given name, and a diminutive of several different given names. In Ireland, the surname is an Anglicisation of the Irish ''Ó Cionnaith'', also spelt ''Ó Cionnaoith'' and ''Ó Cionaodha'', meaning "descendant of Cionnaith". ...

of ''Buffy''. Except that he never dies."Springer, Matt, "Big Man on Campus", from '' Buffy the Vampire Slayer magazine'' #13 (UK, September 2000), page 20-21. Strong had initially auditioned for the role of Xander, but lost out to Nicholas Brendon. He first appeared in the unaired Buffy the Vampire Slayer pilot in a bit part simply named "Student", and subsequently appeared in a number of episodes. He said that often he appeared in scenes that could have been done by other characters but that "They'll have Jonathan do it, to keep the continuity of the world". Writer/directors

David Greenwalt David Greenwalt (born October 16, 1949) is an American screenwriter, director, and producer. He was the co-executive producer of the TV series '' Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' and co-creator of its spinoff, '' Angel''. He is also co-creator of the ...

and

Marti Noxon Martha Mills Noxon (born August 25, 1964) is an American television and film writer, director, and producer. She is best known for her work as a screenwriter and executive producer on the supernatural drama series '' Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' ( ...

both stated in the DVD commentaries for " Reptile Boy" and "

What's My Line ''What's My Line?'' is a panel game show that originally ran in the United States, between 1950 and 1967, on CBS, originally in black and white and later in color, with subsequent American revivals. The game uses celebrity panelists to questi ...

", respectively, that Danny Strong was the actor that they would call on whenever they needed a good victim, both citing his good "victim face". Eventually the character grew out of this frequent use.''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' second season DVD set. 20th century Fox (region 1, 2002), disc two and three. Explaining the potential appeal of the character, he said, "I think everyone is sort of like Jonathan. Either they're like Jonathan or they're trying to cover up their Jonathan qualities. Either they're awkward and shy, or they're doing everything they can not to appear awkward and shy. I'm not really very shy, but I certainly can be awkward at times."

Appearances

Jonathan made 34 canonical Buffyverse appearances. ; ''

'' Jonathan appeared as a guest in 28 episodes: * Season 2 (1997–98): "

Inca Mummy Girl "Inca Mummy Girl" is episode four of season two of the television series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'', originally airing on The WB on October 6, 1997. The episode was written by former series story editors Matt Kiene and Joe Reinkemeyer (penning ...

", " Reptile Boy", " What's My Line, Part 2", "

Bad Eggs ''Bad Eggs'' is a 2003 Australian comedy movie, written and directed by Tony Martin. It stars Mick Molloy, Bob Franklin and Judith Lucy, with Alan Brough, Bill Hunter, Marshall Napier, Nicholas Bell, Steven Vidler, Shaun Micallef, Roby ...

", "

Passion Passion, the Passion or the Passions may refer to: Emotion * Passion (emotion), a very strong feeling about a person or thing * Passions (philosophy), emotional states as used in philosophical discussions * Stoic passions, various forms of emotio ...

", "

Go Fish Go Fish or Fish is a card game for approximately two to five players, often played by children. It might be similar to a game called ''Andare e piscere'' which was current in Italy at the end of the 15th Century, of which no contemporary descrip ...

" * Season 3 (1998–99): " Dead Man's Party", "

Homecoming Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni or other former members of an organization to celebrate the organization's existence. It is a tradition in many high schools, colleges, and churches in the United States and Canada. United St ...

", " The Wish", "

Earshot Earshot is an American alternative metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1999. The band's lineup has changed several times during their existence, with vocalist Wil Martin being the band's sole constant member. After signing to Warner Bros. Reco ...

", "The Prom", " Graduation Day, Part 2" * Season 4 (2000): "

Superstar A superstar is someone who has great popular appeal and is widely known, prominent, or successful in their field. Celebrities referred to as "superstars" may include individuals who work as actors, musicians, athletes, and other media-based profe ...

" * Season 6 (2001–02): "

Flooded A flood is an overflow of water ( or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are of significant concern in agriculture, civ ...

", "

Life Serial "Life Serial" is the fifth episode in the 6th season of the television series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. The episode aired on October 23, 2001 on UPN. The episode was praised for its innovation and surreal humour. Plot Buffy returns from h ...

", " Smashed", " Gone", " Dead Things", "

Normal Again "Normal Again" is the 17th episode of season 6 of the television series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. The episode aired on March 12, 2002, on UPN. The Futon Critic named it the 35th best episode of 2002. The Trio summon a demon whose hallucin ...

", "

Entropy Entropy is a scientific concept, most commonly associated with states of disorder, randomness, or uncertainty. The term and the concept are used in diverse fields, from classical thermodynamics, where it was first recognized, to the micros ...

", " Seeing Red", "

Villains A villain (also known as a " black hat", "bad guy" or "baddy"; The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p.126 "baddy (also baddie) noun (pl. -ies) ''informal'' a villain or criminal in a book, film, etc.". the feminine form is villai ...

", "

Two to Go "Two to Go" is the 21st episode of season 6 of the television show ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. The episode aired on May 21, 2002 on UPN. The name of the episode is a reference to the previous one, which ends with Willow saying "One down" aft ...

", "

Grave A grave is a location where a cadaver, dead body (typically that of a human, although sometimes that of an animal) is burial, buried or interred after a funeral. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of buria ...

" * Season 7 (2002–03): "

Conversations with Dead People "Conversations with Dead People" is the seventh episode of the seventh and final season of the television series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. The episode aired on November 12, 2002 on UPN. It is the only episode other than " Once More, with F ...

", " Never Leave Me", "

First Date A first date is the initial meeting during the dating process of two individuals, in which an effort is made to ask about each other, plan a potential relationship, and/or organize some sort of romantic activity. Aims vary between finding a ...

", " Storyteller" Jonathan appeared in 6 issues: * Season 10 (2014, 2016): "Return to Sunnydale, Parts 1 & 2", "In Pieces on the Ground, Part 3", "Own It, Parts 2, 4 & 5"

Notes and references

{{DEFAULTSORT:Levinson, Jonathan Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters Buffyverse characters who use magic Fictional characters from Los Angeles County, California Television characters introduced in 1997 Fictional attempted suicides American male characters in television Fictional adolescents Fictional characters from the 20th century sv:Buffy och vampyrerna#Jonathan Levinson