Remember Willow From ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’? Here’s What Alyson Hannigan, 51, Looks Like Today
Alyson Hannigan first stepped into the spotlight with her film debut in the 1988 sci-fi comedy My Stepmother Is an Alien, where she starred alongside Seth Green, who would later join her on Buffy the Vampire Slayer as her on-screen boyfriend, according to IMDb. In 1989, she landed her first regular television role in the short-lived ABC sitcom Free Spirit, giving her early experience in front of the camera.
Hannigan’s career took a major turn in 1997 when she was cast as Willow Rosenberg, the loyal best friend of Buffy Summers, on the supernatural series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The show became a global hit and quickly made her a household name. Hannigan later explained in interviews that playing Willow was a career-defining moment.
It opened doors to film roles aimed at younger audiences, including Boys and Girls (2000). She also gained a following for her role as Michelle Flaherty in the American Pie series, appearing in the original film in 1999 and in sequels including American Pie 2 (2001) and American Wedding (2003). Forbes reported that the American Pie franchise has earned nearly $1 billion worldwide, cementing Hannigan’s status in pop culture.
Her time on Buffy also included a recurring guest role on the spin-off Angel, reprising her character Willow. Hannigan branched into theater, making her West End debut in 2004 with a stage adaptation of When Harry Met Sally…, starring opposite Luke Perry. Her performance received positive reviews and marked her growth as a versatile actress.
In 2005, Hannigan returned to television in a starring role that would become another defining chapter of her career. She played Lily Aldrin on CBS’s hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother, which followed Ted Mosby and his friends in New York.
Hannigan’s character was a kindergarten teacher and aspiring painter who eventually married Marshall Eriksen, played by Jason Segel. She earned a People’s Choice Award for Favorite TV Comedy Actress in 2010. The show ran for nine seasons, ending in 2014, and further solidified her reputation as a leading actress in comedy.
Hannigan continued appearing in films, including Date Movie (2006) and American Reunion (2012), reprising her role as Michelle Flaherty. American Reunion was a box office hit, grossing $235 million globally, and Hannigan was nominated for a Teen Choice Award for her performance. She also took part in philanthropic work, joining Emily Deschanel, Jaime King, Minka Kelly, and Katharine McPhee in a campaign promoting breast cancer screenings through Stand Up 2 Cancer.
In recent years, Hannigan has hosted the television series Penn & Teller: Fool Us from 2016 to 2023 and appeared in projects like Disney Channel’s Kim Possible (2019) and the animated series Fancy Nancy (2018–2022). In 2023, she competed on Dancing with the Stars, finishing in fifth place.
On the personal front, Hannigan married her Buffy co-star Alexis Denisof in 2003. The couple live in Encino, Los Angeles, with their two daughters. Their home was even used as a filming location for the hit show This Is Us. Hannigan has described her family life as her greatest joy, balancing her career with her role as a mother and wife.
Hannigan’s early work on Buffy the Vampire Slayer clearly shaped her career, giving her the exposure and opportunities that led to mainstream success in both film and television. From cult TV fame to sitcom stardom and family life, she remains a beloved figure in Hollywood.
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