The Shocking Real Ages of the Buffy Cast Revealed!

Summary

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

aired from 1997 to 2003, becoming one of the best-known fantasy television shows of all time.

The cast of

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

had age differences compared to their characters, with some spanning centuries.

Sarah Michelle Gellar, at the young age of 19, achieved superstardom by portraying the unforgettable character of Buffy Summers throughout all seven seasons. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a renowned fantasy television show, chronicles the journey of teenager Buffy Summers as she undergoes training to become the Vampire Slayer, combatting supernatural adversaries over the course of seven seasons from 1997 to 2003. Set in high school, the show centers around Buffy and her friends, while introducing a diverse cast of supernatural allies and enemies.

8 Seth Green (23) As Oz (17)

Buffy embarks on her sophomore year at Sunnydale High in the first season of the show, having recently departed from Los Angeles after a confrontation with a gang of Vampires. It is common for shows featuring teenage characters to cast actors who are older than the characters, as working with underage actors necessitates tutoring, which can disrupt the production process. The cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer displayed a range of ages compared to their on-screen personas, with certain age gaps stretching across centuries.

Seth Green joined the cast of the show as Oz in the episode "Inca Mummy Girl" in season two. Despite being a werewolf, he became Willow's boyfriend. At 23 years old, Green was only five years younger than his character, who was a high school junior. Oz remained a significant character until season four, when he ended his relationship with Willow on good terms and went to Tibet to focus on controlling his werewolf transformation. In a brief appearance on the spin-off show Angel, Oz delivered a gem that granted invincibility to vampires in Los Angeles before disappearing from the series.

7 Anthony Stewart Head (43) As Rupert Giles (43)

Buffy's voice of reason, librarian Rupert Giles, was brilliantly portrayed by Anthony Stewart Head. What made Head's role unique was that he was the only actor on the show who was cast at the same age as their character. Giles served as a father figure to Buffy, offering guidance and support as she navigated her responsibilities as the Slayer. Additionally, he played a crucial role in helping Willow rebuild her life after her destructive actions. Even after Buffy completed her training, Giles remained a significant presence in her life. Interestingly, there were rumors of a spin-off centered around Giles, but unfortunately, it never came to fruition.

6 Charisma Carpenter (27) As Cordelia Chase (16)

Charisma Carpenter played the role of Cordelia Chase, a popular girl in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Despite being eleven years older than her character, Carpenter effectively portrayed the character's initial standoffish attitude, which caused Willow to dislike her. However, as the show progressed, Cordelia became closer to both Willow and Buffy. Carpenter's age gap of 11 years with the character made her the oldest actor to play a human character at 27 years old when the show began. After leaving Buffy, Cordelia Chase took on a prominent role in the spin-off series Angel until her character's demise in the one-hundredth episode titled "You're Welcome," which aired in 2004.

5 David Boreanaz (28) As Angel (270)

Angel, the vampire friend-turned-lover of Buffy, was portrayed by David Boreanaz, who was a remarkable two hundred and forty-two years younger than the character. Angel held the distinction of having the largest age disparity between the actor and the character, encompassing both human and supernatural realms. He remained a significant presence on the show until its third season when he chose to leave Buffy after acknowledging the limitations of their relationship. Subsequently, Boreanaz headlined the Angel spin-off series, which enjoyed a successful five-season run from 1999 to 2004. During this time, several original cast members from Buffy the Vampire Slayer made guest appearances, reprising their respective roles.

4 James Marsters (35) As Spike (117)

Actor James Marsters portrayed Spike, a notorious vampire responsible for the demise of two previous Slayers. Spike made his debut in the episode "School Hard" during season two. At the time of his casting, Marsters was aged thirty-five, making him eighty-two years younger than the supernatural menace he portrayed. Despite Spike's complexity as an anti-hero, he eventually aligned himself with Buffy, transforming into an unexpected ally. As time went on, he found himself falling in love with the Slayer. Although Spike met his demise in the final season, he was later brought back to life off-screen and joined the cast of Angel, where he returned to his former wicked ways.

3 Nicholas Brendon (26) As Xander Harris (16)

2 Alyson Hannigan (23) As Willow Rosenberg (15)

Xander, one of Buffy's closest companions, was introduced in the first season and appeared in nearly every episode of the show. Portrayed by Nicholas Brendan, Xander's character age differed significantly from the actor's actual age during the initial airing of the show. Brendan continued to be a prominent figure throughout all seven seasons. By the time the show concluded in 2003, Brendon was playing a 23-year-old character despite being 33 years old himself.

At the age of 23, Alyson Hannigan was cast as Willow in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Despite being eight years older than the character, Hannigan portrayed Willow's transformation from a shy nerd to a strong and confident witch. In a captivating twist, she even took on the role of a villain in season 6, a foreshadowing that was hinted at four years earlier. Notably, Willow was part of one of the first lesbian relationships ever depicted on U.S. television. Impressively, Hannigan appeared in every single episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, making her a key star of the show. Additionally, she made three guest appearances on the spinoff series Angel during its five-season run.

1 Sarah Michelle Gellar (19) As Buffy Summers (16)

Sarah Michelle Gellar portrayed Buffy Summers in the hit TV show which debuted in 1997, when she was just 19 years old. Gellar continued to play the vampire slayer for all seven seasons until its conclusion in 2003. This pivotal role catapulted Gellar to superstardom, establishing her as an iconic and adored female lead in television. Remarkably, Gellar is one of the select two actresses who appeared in all 144 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and also made a brief appearance in the accompanying Angel spin-off series.