From ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Star to Hollywood : See What Alyson Hannigan Looks Like Today at 51
Remember Willow from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”? Alyson Hannigan, now 51, has had a long and successful career in Hollywood, starting from small roles in the late 1980s to major TV hits and films.
Hannigan’s first notable film was the 1988 sci-fi comedy My Stepmother Is an Alien, where she worked alongside actor Seth Green, who would later play her boyfriend on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Forbes). She also got her first regular TV role in 1989 on the short-lived ABC sitcom Free Spirit.
Everything changed for Hannigan in 1997 when she was cast as Willow Rosenberg, Buffy Summers’ best friend, on the supernatural hit Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The show was a massive success and brought her international attention.
Her performance as Willow made her a household name and opened doors for more roles in teen and comedy films, including Boys and Girls (2000) and the American Pie series. She played Michelle Flaherty in American Pie (1999) and returned in larger roles for American Pie 2 (2001) and American Wedding (2003). Forbes later reported that the franchise earned nearly $1 billion worldwide, cementing Hannigan’s status as a pop culture figure.
Hannigan also appeared on the Buffy spin-off Angel, reprising her role as Willow. She made her stage debut in London’s West End in 2004, starring in a stage adaptation of When Harry Met Sally… opposite Luke Perry. Her work on Buffy gave her the visibility and credibility to take on these larger projects, and it became a key turning point in her career.
In 2005, Hannigan landed another major television role as Lily Aldrin on CBS’s hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother. The show followed a group of friends in New York, and Hannigan’s character, a kindergarten teacher and amateur painter, quickly became a fan favorite. She won the People’s Choice Award for Favorite TV Comedy Actress in 2010.
The series ran for nine seasons and ended in 2014, further solidifying her TV legacy. During this time, she also appeared in films such as Date Movie (2006) and returned to the American Pie franchise with American Reunion (2012), which grossed over $235 million worldwide.
More recently, Hannigan hosted Penn & Teller: Fool Us from 2016 to 2023. She also starred in the Disney Channel movie Kim Possible (2019) and voiced Claire Nancy in Fancy Nancy (2018–2022). In 2023, she competed in Dancing with the Stars, finishing in fifth place with partner Sasha Farber.
On a personal level, Hannigan married her Buffy co-star Alexis Denisof in 2003. The couple lives in Encino, Los Angeles, with their two daughters. Their home even served as a filming location for This Is Us. Hannigan has maintained a relatively private personal life, balancing family with a thriving career that began decades ago and continues today.
Buffy truly changed Alyson Hannigan’s career, turning her from a young actress with minor roles into a star recognized worldwide. It gave her opportunities in both film and television that might not have been possible otherwise. Her versatility, from teen comedies to sitcoms, stage performances, voice acting, and hosting, shows her wide-ranging talent.
Hannigan has successfully avoided being typecast while still embracing the role that made her famous. Buffy the Vampire Slayer set the stage for a career that continues to grow. What do you think about Alyson Hannigan’s journey from Willow to today? Share your thoughts in the comments.