19 Actors Who Got a Bloody Good Career Boost on ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’: Amy Adams, Pedro Pascal and More
As a sequel series to the beloved “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is in the works with a near pilot order at Hulu, the original show’s 1997 premiere date is nearing its 30th anniversary.
Sarah Michelle Gellar is in final talks to reprise the iconic title character and there are dozens of prolific actors who, like Gellar, got their start on the show. The popular supernatural drama aired on the Warner Bros. network for five seasons before moving to the United Paramount Network for the final two seasons.
Here is a list of 20 actors who kicked off their careers appearing on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
-
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Sarah Michelle Gellar, the titular Buffy Summers of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” also played Daphne in the live action film adaptation of “Scooby-Doo” and Kathryn in “Cruel Intentions.” She has voiced various characters in the animated series “Robot Chicken,” and played Kristin Ramsey in “Wolf Pack” and Tanya Martin in “Dexter: Original Sin.”
-
Alexis Denisof
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Alexis Denisof, who is married to fellow “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” alum Alyson Hannigan, played Wesley Wyndam-Pryce in both “Buffy” and its spinoff series “Angel.” He went on to play The Other in “The Avengers,” Sandy Rivers in “How I Met Your Mother” and David Wilson in “Finding Carter.”
-
Amy Adams
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Amy Adams played Cousin Beth in season five, episode six of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” She went on to have a prominent film career, earning six Oscar nominations. Adams has appeared in films like “Catch Me If You Can,” “Junebug,” “The Fighter,” “The Master,” “Her,” “Arrival” and the recently-released “Nightbitch.”
-
Alyson Hannigan
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Alyson Hannigan had roles in “Roseanne” and “American Pie,” but her role as series regular Willow Rosenberg in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” launched her career to another level. After starring in 144 episodes of the show, she went on to do voice work in shows like “King of the Hill,” “The Goode Family,” “The Simpsons” and “American Dad.” She remains married to Alexis Denisof, her “Buffy” co-star.
-
Amber Benson
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Amber Benson’s career launched after playing the shy and withdrawn Tara Maclay in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” for 47 episodes. She is still active in the industry, with credits on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “I Saw the TV Glow.”
-
Anthony Head
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Anthony Head got his start in the United Kingdom in theater and television and became a staple of American households after starring as series regular Rupert Giles in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” for 123 episodes. His career continued to take off with roles in “Doctor Who,” “The Iron Lady,” “You, Me & Them” and, most notably, “Ted Lasso” as Rupert Mannion.
-
Bianca Lawson
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Bianca Lawson played Kendra in three episodes of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” She later played Nikki in “Save the Last Dance,” Emily Bennett in “The Vampire Diaries,” Maya St. Germain in “Pretty Little Liars” and Darla in “Queen Sugar.”
-
Charisma Carpenter
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Charisma Carpenter is perhaps best remembered for playing Cordelia Chase in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” After filming ended on “Buffy” and “Angel,” which she starred in 90 episodes of, she continued to work in television with credits on “Veronica Mars,” “Supernatural,” “Sons of Anarchy,” “Chicago P.D.,” “9-1-1” and, most recently, “Dynasty.”
-
Danny Strong
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Danny Strong played Jonathan Levinson in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” He also played Doyle McMaster in “Gilmore Girls” and appeared in episodes of “How I Met Your Mother,” “Mad Men” and “Girls.” Strong also co-wrote “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” and “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.”
-
Emma Caulfield
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Emma Caulfield played the demon-turned-mortal Anya in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” for 85 episodes and continued to work in television with credits on “Once Upon a Time,” “WandaVision” and “Agatha All Along.”
-
James Marsters
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection James Marsters appeared in 97 episodes of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Marsters went on to appear in a wide range of films and shows like “Dragonball Evolution,” “P.S. I Love You,” the “Spider-Man” animated show, “Supernatural” and “Hawaii Five-0.” Marsters is also a musician and is the lead singer of the band Ghost of the Robot.
-
Julie Benz
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Julie Benz appeared in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” as Darla. She went on to play love interest Rita in “Dexter” and Brit in the 2008 film “Saw V.”
-
Marc Blucas
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Marc Blucas appeared in three seasons of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” as Riley Finn. He went on to act in “Killer Women,” “Operation Christmas” and “Swagger.”
-
Michelle Trachtenberg
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Michelle Trachtenberg played Dawn Summers, the sister of Buffy Summers in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” She continued acting in shows like “Six Feet Under,” “NCIS: Los Angeles” and, most recently, the “Gossip Girl” remake.
-
Nicholas Brendon
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Nicholas Brendon starred in almost every episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” as Xander Harris. He was arrested multiple times and went to rehab in the years since the show catapulted him to fame. Brendon still had some notable screen appearances in the past decade, including a role in the 2013 thriller “Coherence” and 21 episodes of “Criminal Minds.”
-
Pedro Pascal
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Pedro Pascal played Eddie in season four, episode one of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Pascal went on to have several notable television roles, appearing in “Game of Thrones” as Oberyn Martell and in “The Mandalorian” as the title character. He leads “The Last of Us” as Joel Miller, alongside Bella Ramsey’s Ellie Williams. He recently played Acacius in Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.”
-
Seth Green
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Seth Green appeared as Oz in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” In the 25 years since Green wrapped on the show, he found a niche as a voice actor with notable roles in “Family Guy,” “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” “Phineas and Ferb,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Robot Chicken,” “The Simpsons” and “Love, Death & Robots.”
-
Eliza Dushku
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Eliza Dushku played Faith for 20 episodes of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and went on to star in the Fox show “Tru Calling” for 27 episodes. In 2017, she shifted away from the film industry to work in the mental health field.
-
David Boreanaz
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection David Boreanaz starred as Angel in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” for 57 episodes and went on to do voice acting for “Family Guy” and “American Dad!” Most recently, he appeared in “SEAL Team” as Jason Hayes after acting in 245 episodes of “Bones.”
