Biography
Biographies of Athletes, Justices, World Leaders, and more
Biography: Alyson Hannigan
Alyson Hannigan
Alyson Hannigan (born Allison Lee Hannigan March 24, 1974) is an American actress best known for playing Willow Rosenberg in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She also appeared in films including, as Michelle Flaherty, American Pie (1999), American Pie 2 (2001) and American Wedding (2003).
Born in Washington, DC to an Irish-American father and a Jewish-American mother, her first film role was in My Stepmother is an Alien (1988). Before that she had done a little television work, mostly commercials, and she went on to do a good deal more including Almost Home, Picket Fences, Roseanne and Touched by an Angel before being chosen for Buffy in 1997. By the final season she was earning $250,000 an episode.
It was announced in October 2003 that she had signed a deal with NBC to appear in a comedy, expected to debut in fall 2004. Reports indicated that it was likely to be titled Americana, but the pilot was not part of NBC's 2004 fall lineup.
In early 2004, Hannigan made her West End debut starring in a stage adaptation of When Harry Met Sally at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, opposite Luke Perry.
She owns a home in Sacramento, California and married actor Alexis Denisof (who played Wesley Wyndam-Pryce in the Buffy franchise) on October 11, 2003. Previous relationships include actor Steven Sutphen and Marilyn Manson drummer Ginger Fish.
In 2005, Hannigan is one of several Buffy cast returning to television - others being David Boreanaz, Nicholas Brendon, Charisma Carpenter and James Marsters - as part of the cast of the new TV series "How I Met Your Mother", as well as a recurring guest role on Veronica Mars.
Hannigan's somewhat unstereotypical looks and specific acting style have led her, for the most part, to choose somewhat quirky characters. Her best known roles in BtVS and the American Pie series are clear examples of this.
Filmography
Date Movie (2006)
How I Met Your Mother (2005) (TV series)... Lily
Veronica Mars (2005) (TV series)... Trina Echolls
American Wedding (2003)... Michelle Flaherty
Beyond the City Limits (2001)... Lexi
American Pie 2 (2001)... Michelle Flaherty
Boys and Girls (2000)... Betty
American Pie (1999)... Michelle Flaherty
Hayley Wagner, Star (1999) (TV)... Jenna Jakes
Dead Man on Campus (1998)... Lucy
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997) (TV series)... Willow Rosenberg
For My Daughter's Honor (1996) (TV)... Kelly
A Case for Life (1996) (TV)... Iris
The Stranger Beside Me (1995) (TV)... Dana
Switched at Birth (1991) (TV)... Gina Twigg
Free Spirit (1989) (TV series)... Jessie Harper
My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988)... Jessie Mills
Impure Thoughts (1985)... Patty Stubbs