Alyson Hannigan

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Alyson Hannigan
Alyson Hannigan 2011.jpg
Hannigan at the Los Angeles premiere of The Muppets in November 2011
Born Alyson Lee Hannigan
(1974-03-24) March 24, 1974 (age 39)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1986–present
Spouse(s) Alexis Denisof (m. 2003-present)
Children 2

Alyson Lee Hannigan (born March 24, 1974)[1] is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Willow Rosenberg in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003), Lily Aldrin on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother (2005–present) and Michelle Flaherty in the American Pie film series (1999–2012).[2]

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Early life [edit]

Hannigan was born in Washington, D.C.[2] She is the only child of Emilie (Posner) Haas, a real estate agent,[3] and Al Hannigan, a truck driver.[4] Her father is of Irish descent and her mother is Jewish.[5][6] Her parents divorced when she was two and she was raised mostly by her mother in Atlanta, Georgia.[7]

Career [edit]

1978–1996 [edit]

At age four, Hannigan began appearing in commercials.[8] She moved to Hollywood at age 11.[3] Living with her mother and attending North Hollywood High School, she successfully auditioned for agents while visiting her father in Santa Barbara. After attending North Hollywood High School, she attended California State University, Northridge where she earned a degree in psychology.[9]

Hannigan's first major film role was in My Stepmother Is an Alien,[2] a science fiction comedy released in 1988; one of her co-stars in the film was actor Seth Green, who would later join her in the regular cast of Buffy as her on-screen boyfriend. Then in 1989, her first regular role on a TV series came when she was cast in the short-lived ABC sitcom Free Spirit.

As a teenager, Hannigan babysat for the kids of Bob Saget, who would later narrate her TV series, How I Met Your Mother.[10]

1997–present [edit]

In 1997, Hannigan was cast to play Willow Rosenberg, Buffy Summers' best friend, on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.[11] The show became a success, and Hannigan gained recognition, subsequently appearing in several notable films aimed at teenage audiences, including American Pie, American Pie 2, Boys and Girls and American Wedding.[2] She also had a guest spot on the Buffy spin-off, Angel, reprising her role of Willow in a few episodes (including most notably "Orpheus," during the fourth season of Angel and the seventh season of Buffy), but none after Buffy finished production.

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.[12]

In 2005, Hannigan returned to starring in a regular television series, appearing in the hit comedy How I Met Your Mother as Lily, and also playing a recurring guest role on Veronica Mars as Trina Echolls.[13]

In February 2006, Hannigan starred as Julia Jones in Date Movie, a parody of romantic comedies.[2] She was also a guest star on the ABC animated sitcom The Goode Family in 2009.[14]

Hannigan joined forces with Emily Deschanel, Jaime King, Minka Kelly, and Katharine McPhee in a "video slumber party" featured on FunnyorDie.com to promote regular breast cancer screenings for the organization Stand Up 2 Cancer.[15]

In 2012, Hannigan reprised the role of Michelle in American Reunion.[16]

With husband Alexis Denisof.

Personal life [edit]

Hannigan married fellow Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor Alexis Denisof at Two Bunch Palms Resort in Desert Hot Springs, California, on October 11, 2003. The couple have two daughters, Satyana Marie Denisof, born March 24, 2009,[1] and Keeva Jane Denisof, born May 23, 2012.[17] Hannigan and her husband are godparents to Joss Whedon's son, Arden.[18]

Stalking [edit]

On February 13, 2013, Hannigan was granted a temporary restraining order against New Hampshire resident John Hobbs after he began sending her threatening and obsessive messages via internet, wishing to meet and possibly kill her. On March 6 2013, the restraining order was extended to last for a further 3 years.[19]

Filmography [edit]

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1986 Impure Thoughts Patty Stubbs As Alyson Hannigan
1988 My Stepmother Is an Alien Jessie Mills
1991 Switched at Birth Gina Twigg, Age 13–16 TV movie
1995 The Stranger Beside Me Dana TV movie
1996 A Case for Life Iris TV movie
1996 For My Daughter's Honor Kelly TV movie
1998 Dead Man on Campus Lucy
1999 Hayley Wagner, Star Jenna Jakes TV movie
1999 American Pie Michelle Flaherty
2000 Boys and Girls Betty
2001 American Pie 2 Michelle Flaherty
2001 Beyond the City Limits Lexi
2003 American Wedding Michelle Flaherty
2004 Americana Andrea TV movie
2005 In the Game Unknown TV series
2006 Date Movie Julia Jones
2011 Love, Wedding, Marriage Courtney Co-starred with real-life husband Alexis Denisof
2012 American Reunion Michelle Flaherty-Levenstein
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1989–1990 Free Spirit Jessie Harper Main role; 14 episodes
1990 Roseanne Jan Episode: "Like, a New Job"
1993 Almost Home Samantha Episode: "The Dance"
Episode: "Hot Ticket"
1994 Touched by an Angel Cassie Peters Episode: "Cassie's Choice"
1996 Picket Fences Peggy Patterson Episode: "To Forgive Is Devine"
1996 Friends for Life Emma Daniels Unaired TV pilot
1997–2003 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Willow Rosenberg Main role; 144 episodes
1999–2000 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd Gigi Episode: "Dogs Day Out"
Episode: "The Return of Gigi"
2000 Wild Thornberrys, TheThe Wild Thornberrys Gerda Episode: "Every Little Bit Alps"
2001–2003 Angel Willow Rosenberg Episode: "Disharmony"
Episode: "There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb"
Episode: "Orpheus"
2004 That '70s Show Suzy Simpson Episode: "Sally Simpson"
Episode: "Won't Get Fooled Again"
2004 King of the Hill Stacey Gibson Episode: "Talking Shop"
2005 Veronica Mars Trina Echolls Episode: "Ruskie Business"
Episode: "Hot Dogs"
Episode: "My Mother, the Fiend"
2005–present How I Met Your Mother Lily Aldrin Main Role
2009 Goode Family, TheThe Goode Family Michelle Episode: "Graffiti in Greenville"
2011 Simpsons, TheThe Simpsons Melody Season 22, episode 11: "Flaming Moe"
2011 American Dad! Chelsea Season 7, episode 5: "Virtual In-Stanity"
Episode: "Finger Lenting Good"

Awards and nominations [edit]

Year Award Category Role Result
1998 Saturn Awards Best Network TV Series Buffy the Vampire Slayer Cast and Crew Won
2001 Won
2001 Best Supporting Actress in a Series Willow Rosenberg Nominated
2002 Nominated
2002 Best Network TV Series Buffy the Vampire Slayer Cast and Crew Won
2003 Best Supporting Actress in a Series Willow Rosenberg Won
2003 Golden Satellite Awards Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Series Willow Rosenberg Nominated
2003 Television Critics Association Awards Heritage Award Buffy the Vampire Slayer Cast and Crew Won
2008 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV show: Comedy How I Met Your Mother Cast and Crew Nominated
2010 People's Choice Awards Favorite TV Comedy Actress Lily Aldrin Won
2011 People's Choice Awards Favorite TV Comedy How I Met Your Mother Cast and Crew Nominated
2011 People's Choice Awards Favorite TV Comedy Actress Lily Aldrin Nominated
2012 Favorite TV Comedy How I Met Your Mother Cast and Crew Won
2012 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actress: Romantic Comedy Michelle Flaherty-Levenstein in American Reunion Nominated

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b Wihlborg, Ulrica (2009-03-31). "Alyson Hannigan Welcomes a Daughter!". People. Retrieved 2009-03-31. 
  2. ^ a b c d e "How I Met Your Mother Cast: Alyson Hannigan". CBS. Retrieved 2012-06-12. 
  3. ^ a b "Former Atlantan Alyson Hannigan interview for ‘How I Met Your Mother’". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. September 21, 2009. Retrieved 2012-06-12. 
  4. ^ "Film Reference Alyson Hannigan Bio". Filmreference.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-07. 
  5. ^ Bloom, Nate (2004-07-09). "Celebrity Jews". the Jewish News Weekly of Northern California. Retrieved 2006-07-16. 
  6. ^ Pearce, Garth (2003-07-13). "Alyson Hannigan Interview". The Sunday Times. 
  7. ^ Biography for Alyson Hannigan at the Internet Movie Database
  8. ^ "Interview: Alyson Hannigan on American Pie". Scotland on Sunday. April 22, 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-12. 
  9. ^ "Alyson Hannigan". SuperiorPics.com. Retrieved 2010-04-18. 
  10. ^ "It's Evening in America". Vanity Fair. May 2012. Page 158.
  11. ^ "Where Are They Now? Buffy the Vampire Slayer". People. December 3, 2007. Retrieved 2012-06-12. 
  12. ^ "When Harry Met Sally, Review by Philip Fisher (2004)". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2010-04-18. 
  13. ^ "'Veronica Mars' scoop". Chicago Tribune. January 20, 2006. Retrieved 2012-06-12. 
  14. ^ Alyson Hannigan at the Internet Movie Database
  15. ^ Kate Stanhope (2009-10-01). "Deschanel, Hannigan and Others Cop a Feel for a Cause". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on 1 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-01. 
  16. ^ "Alyson Hannigan, Cobie Smulders and 'Mother'-hood". USA Today. April 15, 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-12. 
  17. ^ "Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof Welcome Daughter Keeva Jane". People. June 12, 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-12. 
  18. ^ Hannigan is godmother of Joss Whedon's son, Alyson Hannigan.
  19. ^ Finn, Natalie. Alyson Hannigan Secures Restraining Order Over Alleged Online Death Threats ca.eonline.com. February 13, 2013. Retrieved on March 13, 2013.

External links [edit]

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