Daniel Holtz
Encyclopedia
Daniel Holtz is a fictional character
on the television series Angel
. He was played by Keith Szarabajka
.
vampire hunter who chased Angelus and Darla through much of Europe
and North Africa
. He had connections to an elite order of Inquisitors within the Roman Catholic Church
and an army at his command. According to Wolfram & Hart
records he was the most successful non-mystical vampire hunter in history, with over 300 kills to his credit. Angelus and Darla retaliated by attacking Holtz's family at his home near York
, killing his wife and their infant son. As a finishing touch, they turned his remaining daughter, Sarah, into a vampire. Upon returning home, Holtz had little choice but to throw his sired daughter into direct sunlight and watch her burn to ashes.
Holtz relentlessly chased Angelus and Darla across two continents, even capturing Angelus twice (only to lose him both times). Desiring more than just a quick death for his nemesis, Holtz repeatedly squandered his chances to kill Angelus. Holtz finally managed to trap him in the sewers beneath Rome
, and tortured him for hours; but eventually Darla arrived and broke Angelus free. Following this incident, Holtz gave up his hunt and became a hermit
.
After a time, the demon Sahjhan came to him and offered him a chance for revenge. Holtz is placed in a state of mystical suspended animation
, and reawakened in Los Angeles
in the year 2001. There he is briefed by Sahjhan on navigating the city, and is also given a new army, this time a cadre of demons. A lot has changed in those 200 years: Darla is pregnant and Angelus now has a soul. Since his motives are not in the interest of justice but rather vengeance, Holtz once more spares Angel's life—unsatisfied with merely killing him—and instead devises a more elaborate plan to use Angel's newborn son Connor to cause the vampire as much pain as Angelus caused him.
Before long, Holtz poisons his demon soldiers, his reasoning being that they are just soulless mercenaries, and therefore useless. Holtz claims to need real warriors who are invested in what they are fighting. He recruits a brash young vampire hunter, Justine Cooper, who lost her sister to a vampire's bite and has since wandered through her own life, seething with rage. Holtz manipulates her thirst for vengeance, as well as that of many others, and builds a new army.
Shortly after Connor's birth, Holtz arranges for Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
to kidnap Connor. Out of devotion to Holtz, Justine helps abduct the baby and slits Wesley's throat. Holtz and Justine plan to keep Connor for themselves and raise him as their own. When Lilah Morgan
's men and Angel ambush Holtz's truck, they are forced to pull over and are surrounded by Lilah's gunmen. A tense four-way confrontation between Angel, Wolfram & Hart
, Holtz, and Sahjhan ensues beneath the bridge at the edge of town. Sahjhan threatens to swallow all of them into portal leading to Quor'Toth, "the darkest of the dark worlds", but at the last minute Holtz defies expectations and shoves Justine to the ground, leaping into the hellish portal with Connor clutched in his arms.
For years Connor grows up in Quor'Toth, where time moves faster than on Earth. During his childhood and teenage years, Holtz acts as Connor's adoptive father and instills a deep hatred of Angel within him. Connor finds a way to return to Earth after years in his world but mere days in this one, and an elderly Holtz soon follows. Holtz gives the impression that he forgives Angel and that he wants Connor to live a healthy life with his biological father, but this is simply the final phase of his scheme. Holtz reunites with Justine and asks her to kill him. Together, they simulate a vampire attack by stabbing Holtz twice in the neck with an ice pick, in a manner resembling a vampire's fangs. Holtz himself seems to realize how far he has fallen, even telling Justine, "I'm not asking you to follow me into Hell, just help send me there." Once he discovers his "father's" corpse, a heartbroken and furious Connor blames Angel, though he learns the truth several months later.
" ("All Through the Night"), a Welsh
song that later became widely used as a lullaby
in England
. Holtz sings the song numerous times in the 21st century. Lorne is able to foresee Holtz's plan to destroy Caritas
when he hears Holtz singing the lullaby as he exits. Lorne actually sings a bit along with him until he gets the premonition. The lines of the song that Holtz can be heard singing are, "Sleep, my love, and peace attend thee, all through the night. Guardian angels God will lend thee, all through the night. No forebodings will alarm thee, all through the night. They will keep all peril from you, all through the night..." Because the original song is in Welsh, some translations of the lyrics differ from others. "Ar Hyd y Nos" was first recorded in 1784, 20 years after Holtz's family's death, and 11 years after his meeting with the demon Sahjhan who later transports him to the 21st century.
," though doesn't appear until the first episode of Season Three.
Holtz has appeared in:
Angel
:Holtz appeared as a guest in 11 Angel episodes:
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the television series Angel
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
. He was played by Keith Szarabajka
Keith Szarabajka
Keith Szarabajka is an American actor and voice artist.-Early life:Szarabajka was born in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of Anne, a school teacher, and Edward Szarabajka, a savings and loan officer....
.
Character history
Holtz was an 18th century EnglishEnglish people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
vampire hunter who chased Angelus and Darla through much of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. He had connections to an elite order of Inquisitors within the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and an army at his command. According to Wolfram & Hart
Wolfram & Hart
Wolfram & Hart − Attorneys at Law is a fictional international, and interdimensional law firm featured in the television series Angel, as well as other extended materials in Joss Whedon's Buffyverse.-Fictional history:...
records he was the most successful non-mystical vampire hunter in history, with over 300 kills to his credit. Angelus and Darla retaliated by attacking Holtz's family at his home near York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, killing his wife and their infant son. As a finishing touch, they turned his remaining daughter, Sarah, into a vampire. Upon returning home, Holtz had little choice but to throw his sired daughter into direct sunlight and watch her burn to ashes.
Holtz relentlessly chased Angelus and Darla across two continents, even capturing Angelus twice (only to lose him both times). Desiring more than just a quick death for his nemesis, Holtz repeatedly squandered his chances to kill Angelus. Holtz finally managed to trap him in the sewers beneath Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, and tortured him for hours; but eventually Darla arrived and broke Angelus free. Following this incident, Holtz gave up his hunt and became a hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
.
After a time, the demon Sahjhan came to him and offered him a chance for revenge. Holtz is placed in a state of mystical suspended animation
Suspended animation
Suspended animation is the slowing of life processes by external means without termination. Breathing, heartbeat, and other involuntary functions may still occur, but they can only be detected by artificial means. Extreme cold can be used to precipitate the slowing of an individual's functions; use...
, and reawakened in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in the year 2001. There he is briefed by Sahjhan on navigating the city, and is also given a new army, this time a cadre of demons. A lot has changed in those 200 years: Darla is pregnant and Angelus now has a soul. Since his motives are not in the interest of justice but rather vengeance, Holtz once more spares Angel's life—unsatisfied with merely killing him—and instead devises a more elaborate plan to use Angel's newborn son Connor to cause the vampire as much pain as Angelus caused him.
Before long, Holtz poisons his demon soldiers, his reasoning being that they are just soulless mercenaries, and therefore useless. Holtz claims to need real warriors who are invested in what they are fighting. He recruits a brash young vampire hunter, Justine Cooper, who lost her sister to a vampire's bite and has since wandered through her own life, seething with rage. Holtz manipulates her thirst for vengeance, as well as that of many others, and builds a new army.
Shortly after Connor's birth, Holtz arranges for Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel...
to kidnap Connor. Out of devotion to Holtz, Justine helps abduct the baby and slits Wesley's throat. Holtz and Justine plan to keep Connor for themselves and raise him as their own. When Lilah Morgan
Lilah Morgan
Lilah Morgan is a fictional character from the television series Angel, played by Stephanie Romanov. She is first introduced in the episode "The Ring," and appears in the show's first and second seasons. After Lindsey McDonald leaves Los Angeles, Lilah becomes the primary face of Wolfram & Hart,...
's men and Angel ambush Holtz's truck, they are forced to pull over and are surrounded by Lilah's gunmen. A tense four-way confrontation between Angel, Wolfram & Hart
Wolfram & Hart
Wolfram & Hart − Attorneys at Law is a fictional international, and interdimensional law firm featured in the television series Angel, as well as other extended materials in Joss Whedon's Buffyverse.-Fictional history:...
, Holtz, and Sahjhan ensues beneath the bridge at the edge of town. Sahjhan threatens to swallow all of them into portal leading to Quor'Toth, "the darkest of the dark worlds", but at the last minute Holtz defies expectations and shoves Justine to the ground, leaping into the hellish portal with Connor clutched in his arms.
For years Connor grows up in Quor'Toth, where time moves faster than on Earth. During his childhood and teenage years, Holtz acts as Connor's adoptive father and instills a deep hatred of Angel within him. Connor finds a way to return to Earth after years in his world but mere days in this one, and an elderly Holtz soon follows. Holtz gives the impression that he forgives Angel and that he wants Connor to live a healthy life with his biological father, but this is simply the final phase of his scheme. Holtz reunites with Justine and asks her to kill him. Together, they simulate a vampire attack by stabbing Holtz twice in the neck with an ice pick, in a manner resembling a vampire's fangs. Holtz himself seems to realize how far he has fallen, even telling Justine, "I'm not asking you to follow me into Hell, just help send me there." Once he discovers his "father's" corpse, a heartbroken and furious Connor blames Angel, though he learns the truth several months later.
The song
The song Holtz can be heard quietly singing to himself throughout the series was first sung by him to comfort his daughter, after finding his wife and son murdered. The song is "Ar Hyd y NosAr Hyd y Nos
Ar Hyd y Nos is a Welsh folksong sung to a tune that was first recorded in Edward Jones' Musical and Poetical Relics of the Welsh Bards . The Welsh lyrics were written by John Ceiriog Hughes, and has been translated into several languages, including English and Breton.The melody was used by John...
" ("All Through the Night"), a Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
song that later became widely used as a lullaby
Lullaby
A lullaby is a soothing song, usually sung to young children before they go to sleep, with the intention of speeding that process. As a result they are often simple and repetitive. Lullabies can be found in every culture and since the ancient period....
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Holtz sings the song numerous times in the 21st century. Lorne is able to foresee Holtz's plan to destroy Caritas
Caritas (Buffyverse)
Caritas is a fictional demon-friendly karaoke bar in the U.S. television series Angel. Caritas makes its first appearance in season two's "Judgment" episode, and its final appearance in season three's "Lullaby".-History:...
when he hears Holtz singing the lullaby as he exits. Lorne actually sings a bit along with him until he gets the premonition. The lines of the song that Holtz can be heard singing are, "Sleep, my love, and peace attend thee, all through the night. Guardian angels God will lend thee, all through the night. No forebodings will alarm thee, all through the night. They will keep all peril from you, all through the night..." Because the original song is in Welsh, some translations of the lyrics differ from others. "Ar Hyd y Nos" was first recorded in 1784, 20 years after Holtz's family's death, and 11 years after his meeting with the demon Sahjhan who later transports him to the 21st century.
Appearances
Holtz is first mentioned in the Season Two episode "The TrialThe Trial (Angel episode)
"The Trial" is episode 9 of season 2 in the television show Angel. The episode was written by Doug Petrie and Tim Minear with a story from David Greenwalt and directed by Bruce Seth Green, this episode was originally broadcast on November 28, 2000 on the WB network...
," though doesn't appear until the first episode of Season Three.
Holtz has appeared in:
Angel
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
:Holtz appeared as a guest in 11 Angel episodes:
- Season 3 (2001, 2002) -"HeartthrobHeartthrob (Angel episode)"Heartthrob" is the first episode of season three in the television show Angel. Written and directed by David Greenwalt, it was originally broadcast on September 24, 2001 on the WB network, two weeks later than intended due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks...
", "OffspringOffspring (Angel episode)"Offspring" is episode 7 of season 3 in the television show Angel. Written by David Greenwalt and directed by Turi Meyer, it was original broadcast on November 5, 2001 on the WB television network...
", "QuickeningQuickening (Angel episode)"Quickening" is episode 8 of season 3 in the television show Angel.-Plot synopsis:In York, England, 1764, Holtz pursues Angelus and Darla, following a trail they left for him. Meanwhile, Angelus and Darla make their way into the Holtzs' house and kill his wife and two children. Holtz arrives at his...
", "LullabyLullaby (Angel episode)"Lullaby" is episode 9 of season 3 in the television show Angel. Written and directed by Tim Minear, it was originally broadcast on November 19, 2001 on the WB network. Vampire hunter Holtz’s rekindled crusade to kill Angel and Darla complicates the impending birth of the couple’s baby, while the...
", "DadDad (Angel episode)"Dad" is episode 10 of season 3 in the television show Angel. After Darla sacrifices herself to save her baby, Angel takes the newborn back to the hotel where he tries to figure out how to be a good father...
", "ProviderProvider (Angel episode)"Provider" is episode 12 of season 3 in the television show Angel.-Plot synopsis:Fred works on the Angel Investigations website, while Cordelia talks to Angel about not losing sight of the mission - it's about helping the helpless, not making money. Gunn and Wesley return to report that they've...
", "LoyaltyLoyalty (Angel episode)-Plot synopsis:Gunn and Fred arrive at the office to find Wesley asleep at his desk and wake him as they try to touch the papers he's been working with. Angel cheerfully comments about teaching Connor to die before he vamps and leans in to bite his son while the others watch on. Wesley sees his...
", "Sleep TightSleep Tight (Angel episode)"Sleep Tight" is episode 16 of season 3 in the television show Angel.-Plot:Wesley has been studying the prophecies regarding Angel and Connor, and his findings over the last few days have left him more convinced than ever that Angel will indeed kill his son. Angel enters Wesley's office, strangely...
", "A New WorldA New World (Angel episode)"A New World" is episode 20 of season 3 in the television show Angel. Written by Jeff Bell and directed by Tim Minear, it was originally broadcast on May 6, 2002 on the WB television network. In "A New World", Angel's son Connor returns from the demon dimension Quor'Toth. Raised by Holtz to a feral...
", "BenedictionBenediction (Angel episode)"Benediction" is episode 21 of season 3 in the television show Angel.-Plot synopsis:Unable to contact Angel, the gang starts to plan a search, but it's unnecessary as he returns to the hotel. He informs them that he found Connor and they talked, but Angel's battle wounds tell a much more violent...
", "TomorrowTomorrow (Angel episode)"Tomorrow" is episode 22 of season 3 in the television show Angel. The episode was written and directed by executive producer David Greenwalt. The narrative of the season three finale deals with Angel's complex relationship with his son . The episode and season is left on a cliffhanger of Angel...
"