‘Gossip Girl’ Star Ed Westwick Engages In Californication

Ed Westwick (aka Gossip Girl’s I’m Chuck Bass) is the latest familiar face to be tapped for a guest-starring turn on Californication.

The Showtime series returns for a third season this fall, with David Duchovny’s Hank Moody trying his hand as a university professor. Westwick will play Balt, a student of Hank’s – and one with a hunger for vampire lit. The British actor will first appear in this season’s second episode.

Other recently announced Californication guest stars include Embeth Davidtz (Mansfield Park), playing the wife of Peter Gallagher’s college dean; Susan Sarandon’s daughter, Eva Amurri, as another student of Hank’s; and rocker/soap star Rick Springfield, who will serve up an exaggerated version of himself in at least one episode.

Diane Farr and Kathleen Turner also will put in appearances.