8 Shocking Transformations: Where The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer Is Now In 2024
Twenty-seven years after its debut in 1997, Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains one of the most culturally significant supernatural dramas of all time, spawning a passionate fandom and launching the careers of its main cast into the stratosphere. For a generation of viewers, the show’s blend of high school drama, horror, and witty dialogue—all centered around the iconic Buffy Summers—defined an era.
As of late 2024, the actors who once patrolled the Hellmouth are now pursuing diverse, and in some cases, surprising career paths, from major network dramas and new horror films to voice acting and podcasting. This is a definitive, up-to-the-minute look at the lives and careers of the core Scooby Gang and their allies, detailing their latest projects and where they stand today.
The Core Scooby Gang: From Sunnydale to Hollywood's A-List
The central trio—Buffy, Willow, and Xander—faced the apocalypse countless times, but their real-life careers have proven just as tenacious. Here is a look at what the original stars are doing now.
Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers)
- Character: Buffy Summers, The Chosen One, the Vampire Slayer.
- Born: April 14, 1977 (Age 47 in 2024).
- Spouse: Freddie Prinze Jr. (m. 2002).
- Key Post-Buffy Roles: Cruel Intentions, Scooby-Doo, The Grudge, Ringer, Wolf Pack.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, the heart of the series, has enjoyed a significant career resurgence in the supernatural and horror genres, proving her enduring relevance in the pop culture landscape.
Her return to TV as an executive producer and star in the Paramount+ series Wolf Pack in 2023 marked a major comeback, solidifying her status as a genre icon.
Looking ahead to 2025, Gellar has landed a major role in the highly anticipated prequel series, Dexter: Original Sin, continuing her pivot back to prestige television. Furthermore, she is confirmed to star in the horror-comedy sequel, *Ready or Not 2: Here I Come*, a fresh project that will see her working alongside Samara Weaving.
Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg)
- Character: Willow Rosenberg, the shy witch and Buffy's best friend.
- Born: March 24, 1974 (Age 50 in 2024).
- Spouse: Alexis Denisof (m. 2003, who played Wesley Wyndam-Pryce).
- Key Post-Buffy Roles: American Pie film series, How I Met Your Mother (Lily Aldrin), Dancing with the Stars.
Following her massive success as Lily Aldrin on the long-running sitcom How I Met Your Mother, Alyson Hannigan has transitioned into a popular television personality and host.
In late 2023, she charmed audiences with her deep run on Season 32 of Dancing with the Stars, showcasing a different side of her personality.
In 2024, Hannigan has focused on hosting duties, including the Food Network series Girl Scout Cookie Championship and appearances on the magic competition show Penn & Teller: Fool Us. She has also humorously pitched a How I Met Your Mother spinoff focusing on her TV husband, Marshall Eriksen (Jason Segel).
Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris)
- Character: Xander Harris, the "heart" of the Scooby Gang.
- Born: April 12, 1971 (Age 53 in 2024).
- Spouse: Divorced.
- Key Post-Buffy Roles: Criminal Minds (Kevin Lynch), Coherence.
Nicholas Brendon's post-Buffy career has been marked by both acting work and highly publicized personal struggles. He is best known for his recurring role as FBI technical analyst Kevin Lynch on the procedural drama Criminal Minds.
The actor has continued to work in independent films, such as the critically acclaimed sci-fi thriller Coherence, and remains a fixture on the convention circuit, meeting fans of the series.
However, recent years have seen unfortunate news regarding his health, with reports in 2024 detailing a hospitalization following a cardiac event. Brendon has been open about his ongoing battles with depression, alcoholism, and legal issues, making his journey one of the most challenging among the cast.
The Vampires, Watchers, and Outsiders: What Happened Next
The supporting cast members, who often stole the show, have gone on to forge incredibly successful careers across television, film, and voice work, proving the depth of the talent that Joss Whedon assembled.
David Boreanaz (Angel)
- Character: Angel, the vampire with a soul and Buffy's first love.
- Born: May 16, 1969 (Age 55 in 2024).
- Spouse: Jaime Bergman (m. 2001).
- Key Post-Buffy Roles: Angel (spin-off), Bones (Seeley Booth), SEAL Team (Jason Hayes).
David Boreanaz is arguably the most consistently successful TV actor from the cast, having starred in three long-running, hit series back-to-back.
After Buffy and its spin-off Angel, Boreanaz spent 12 seasons as FBI agent Seeley Booth on Bones. He then immediately jumped into the military drama SEAL Team, playing Jason Hayes for seven seasons.
The seventh and final season of SEAL Team premiered in August 2024, concluding Boreanaz’s two-decade run as a network TV leading man. He has indicated that his next project will be a significant departure from his previous physically demanding roles, signaling a new, more diverse chapter in his career.
James Marsters (Spike)
- Character: Spike (William the Bloody), the punk-rock vampire.
- Born: August 20, 1962 (Age 62 in 2024).
- Spouse: Patricia Rahman (div. 2021).
- Key Post-Buffy Roles: Angel, Smallville (Brainiac), Torchwood, Dragonball Super.
The actor who brought the fan-favorite vampire Spike to life has remained active across numerous platforms, blending acting, music, and voice work.
In 2024, James Marsters continues to perform voice acting, most notably as the villain Zamasu in the English dub of the popular anime series *Dragonball Super*.
He is also heavily involved in the convention circuit, with appearances scheduled through late 2024, including Supanova Comic Con in Australia, where he meets fans and discusses his varied career, which also includes music and comic book writing.
The Second Wave: From Watchers to Siblings
The ensemble’s depth was one of Buffy’s greatest strengths, and the actors who joined later or played advisory roles have also maintained vibrant careers.
Anthony Stewart Head (Rupert Giles)
- Character: Rupert Giles, Buffy's Watcher and father figure.
- Born: February 20, 1954 (Age 70 in 2024).
- Spouse: Sarah Fisher.
- Key Post-Buffy Roles: Merlin (Uther Pendragon), Little Britain, Ted Lasso, Upgraded.
The beloved Rupert Giles actor, Anthony Stewart Head, has continued his prolific career in British and American television and film.
In 2024, Head starred in the romantic comedy film Upgraded, playing the role of Julian Marx. He has also been a prominent figure in the British fantasy and comedy scenes, including a memorable turn in the hit Apple TV+ series, Ted Lasso.
Head has often expressed his fondness for the Buffy universe, and despite his busy schedule, he remains a key entity in any discussion of the show’s legacy.
Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase)
- Character: Cordelia Chase, the former mean girl turned hero.
- Born: July 23, 1970 (Age 54 in 2024).
- Spouse: Divorced.
- Key Post-Buffy Roles: Angel (spin-off), The Expendables, Charmed, Slayers: A Buffyverse Story.
Charisma Carpenter’s character, Cordelia Chase, made the rare move of jumping from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to its successful spin-off, Angel, where she continued her journey.
In recent years, Carpenter has fully embraced the Buffyverse legacy. Her most recent acting role is reprising Cordelia Chase in the 2023 audio drama, *Slayers: A Buffyverse Story*, which also featured James Marsters and Anthony Stewart Head.
She also co-hosts the popular rewatch podcast, "The B Is Back," where she and co-host Julie Benz (Darla) discuss the episodes of both Buffy and Angel, providing fans with fresh, behind-the-scenes insights.
Michelle Trachtenberg (Dawn Summers)
- Character: Dawn Summers, Buffy's mystical younger sister.
- Born: October 11, 1985 (Age 39 in 2024).
- Spouse: Unmarried.
- Key Post-Buffy Roles: Gossip Girl (Georgina Sparks), EuroTrip, Ice Princess.
Michelle Trachtenberg, who joined the show in Season 5, became a familiar face in the 2000s with roles in teen films and the hit series Gossip Girl as the manipulative Georgina Sparks.
Her work in 2024 includes voice acting for the award-winning project *Spyral*. She also has several other upcoming films listed as being in post-production, suggesting a return to the screen in the near future.
Trachtenberg remains an active presence in Hollywood, often attending industry events and maintaining a strong connection with her fans, who fondly remember her as the key, and often frustrating, entity that grounded Buffy's later years.
The Enduring Legacy and Topical Authority of the Buffyverse
The enduring appeal of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is not just nostalgia; it’s a testament to the show’s deep character development, groundbreaking writing, and a cast that remains highly relevant decades later. The show’s themes of feminism, coming-of-age, and fighting your demons continue to resonate with new generations.
The fact that so many cast members—including Sarah Michelle Gellar, David Boreanaz, Alyson Hannigan, and James Marsters—have maintained high-profile careers demonstrates the powerful launching pad the series provided. From Gellar’s new roles in Dexter: Original Sin and the Ready or Not sequel to Boreanaz's transition after SEAL Team, the cast is consistently making headlines.
The recent *Slayers: A Buffyverse Story* audio drama, which reunited James Marsters, Charisma Carpenter, and Anthony Stewart Head, highlights the topical authority of the franchise. It proves that the demand for new stories featuring these beloved characters is still strong, even 20 years after the show’s finale. The cast members are not just reflections of the past; they are active creators and performers shaping the entertainment of today and tomorrow.
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