How old are the Buffy cast compared to their characters?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer followed teenage Buffy Summers as she trained to become the Vampire Slayer, battling supernatural threats throughout the show's seven seasons. Buffy the Vampire Slayer aired from 1997 to 2003 and is widely regarded as one of the most famous fantasy television shows of all time. The show focused on Buffy and her friends during her high school years, as well as a variety of supernatural allies and enemies.

In the first season of the series, Buffy begins her second year at Sunnydale High, having just left Los Angeles after an incident with a group of vampires. Shows with teenage protagonists tend to hire actors older than the characters, as filming with underage actors requires their training, which can slow down the production process.. Cast Buffy the Vampire Slayer different ages compared to their characters, with some age differences spanning centuries.

9

Seth Green as Oz

Seth Green was 23 when he played 17-year-old Oz

Family Guy And Austin Powers star Seth Green was five years older than his Buffy the Vampire Slayer a character who was in his early 20s when he played teenage werewolf Oz. Seth Green was introduced as Oz in season two, episode 4, "Inca Mommy", and eventually became Willow's boyfriend, despite being a werewolf.

Green was 23 when he was cast as the high school student, and only five years older than Oz (although the age difference seems large, it was smaller than many others Buffy the Vampire Slayer actors). Oz was one of the series' main characters until Season 4, when he broke up with Willow and went to Tibet to focus on controlling his werewolf form.. Oz appeared briefly near the end Buffy the Vampire Slayer In season four, he wanted to make peace with Willow, but by then she had already moved on with Tara, so he left.

8

Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles

Anthony Steward Head was 43 years old, the same age as his Buffy character.

Buffy's voice of reason, librarian Rupert Giles, was played by Anthony Stewart Head, the only actor in Buffy the Vampire Slayer will be played at the same age as their characters, both 43 years old. More than just a mentor, Giles often acted as a father figure to Buffy, guiding her through her duties as the Slayer as well as helping to rehabilitate Willow after she nearly destroyed the world.

Giles started out as Buffy's "Watcher" (the current Slayer's official mentor role), and despite being replaced by the Watcher Council at various points in the series, he remained her staunch ally. Although he returned to England, both because Buffy died and later when she returned to learn independence, Giles was always there for her. After the show ended, there were rumors of a spin-off centered around Giles, but it was never created. By then Buffy the Vampire Slayer In conclusion, Anthony Stewart Head has just turned 50 years old.

7

Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase

Charisma Carpenter was 27 years old when she played 16-year-old Cordelia Chase

Of all the human characters in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Charisma Carpenter had the largest age gap between an actor and the Sunnydale High School student she portrayed. Carpenter was 11 years older than popular girl Cordelia Chase, and while this wasn't particularly noticeable when the series first aired (and it was common practice to cast adults in their teens), it's pretty obvious if you rewatch previous seasons of the series. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Today.

Willow initially hated Cordelia for her standoffish attitude, but over the course of her time on the series, she grew closer to her and Buffy.. Then the character left Buffy the Vampire Slayer starring in Angelbefore she was killed off in the 100th episode, titled "Welcome", aired in 2004. However, since Cordelia was an adult in Angel, The age difference between Charisma Carpenter and her character was much less stark.

6

David Boreanaz as Angel

David Boreanaz was 28 years old when he played the 270-year-old vampire angel

Angel, Buffy's vampire friend-turned-lover, was played by David Boreanaz, who was a whopping 242 years younger than the character. Technically, Angel had the largest age difference between an actor and a character, both human and supernatural. Angel appeared on the show until the third season, leaving Buffy behind after realizing their relationship had reached its breaking point.

However, although Angel was 270 years old when he met Buffy, he turned into a vampire at age 24. While this poses some problems for Buffy and Angel's already troubled relationship, it means that 28-year-old actor Boreanaz was also slightly older than his character's human age. After his departure, Boreanaz starred in the film Angel spin-off that ran for five seasons from 1999 to 2004 and featured several original cast members from Buffy the Vampire Slayer reprise their guest roles.

5

James Marsters as Spike

James Marsters was 35 years old when he played 117-year-old vampire Spike

Spike, the feared vampire responsible for the deaths of two previous Slayers, was played by actor James Marsters and was introduced in season two, episode 3, "High School." Marsters was 35 years old when he was cast as Spike.making him 82 years younger than the supernatural threat. Spike's age when he was turned into a vampire in 1880 was never fully revealed, although he was an adult.

It is likely that Spike was around 20 years old when he was a father, meaning that James Marsters adheres to Buffy the Vampire Slayer the tendency to cast actors older than their characters. Despite being a complex anti-hero, Spike eventually became Buffy's ally and eventually began to fall in love with the Slayer. Spike was killed in the final season and then resurrected after the events of the series. He then joined the cast Angel, causing the character to revert to his old habits.

4

Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris

Nicholas Brendon was 26 years old when he played 16-year-old Xander Harris

The character of Xander was introduced as one of Buffy's best friends in the first season and appeared in all but one episode of the series. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Xander was a clumsy and dim-witted student who was often bullied by his peers at Sunnydale High, and like many of the show's younger characters, he was played by an actor who was several years older than him. Xander was played by 26-year-old Nicholas Brendan, who was a full decade older than his character when Buffy the Vampire Slayer debuted.

After Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia, Nicholas Brenden had the biggest age gap between himself and his character, although this didn't pose much of a problem as the show went on. Xander remained the main character throughout all seven seasons, and when Buffy the Vampire Slayer ended in 2003, 33 years old Nicholas Brendon played 23-year-old Xander.

3

Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg

Alyson Hannigan was 23 when she played 15-year-old Willow Rosenberg

Alyson Hannigan, who played the role of Michelle in American Pie and Lily in How I Met Your Motherwon the role of Willow at the age of 23. Willow was one of the youngest characters in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and at 15 at the start of the first season, actress Alyson Hannigan was eight years older than her character.

Willow started Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a shy nerd, and ended up as a strong and confident witch. There was even a short break Buffy the Vampire Slayer In season six, Willow was the villain, which was predicted four years earlier. Willow was also involved in one of the first lesbian relationships ever shown on American television, and is the only star other than Sarah Michelle Gellar to appear in every episode of the series. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Hannigan also guest-starred in three episodes of the series. Angel for five seasons.

2

Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers

Sarah Michelle Gellar was 19 when she played 16-year-old Buffy Summers

Buffy Summers was played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, who was only 19 when Buffy the Vampire Slayer first aired in 1997. However, she also had the smallest age difference between actor and character among the cast. Buffy the Vampire Slayer throw. Buffy Summers was 16 when the show began, meaning the age difference between her and Sarah Michelle Gellar was only three years.

Gellar played the vampire slayer for all seven seasons before the show came to an end in 2003. Gellar's breakthrough role helped launch her into superstardom, making her one of the most famous and beloved female hosts in television history. Gellar is also one of only two actresses to appear in all 144 episodes of the series. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and also appeared briefly in Angel spin off.

1

Older actors playing teenagers are an image of the era

In the 90s and 2000s, many young stars in their 20s played teenagers.

Seeing the age of some of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast compared to the characters they are supposed to play may be surprising, but adults playing teenagers was not uncommon in film and television in the 1990s and 2000s. This has been a constant trend of the era and can give new context to some of the classic and fan-favorite films and shows coming out of Hollywood during this time.

As a sign of a trend, many of Buffy the Vampire Slayer At this time, the actors played teenagers in other projects, such as Sarah Michelle Gellar in I know what you did last summer Alyson Hannigan in American Pieand Seth Green in I can't wait. Other shows of the time featured similar age gaps: 29-year-old Gabrielle Carteris played 16-year-old Andrea Zuckerman in Beverly Hills 90210. Meredith Monroe was also 29 years old when she began playing Andie McPhee's teen character on the series. Dawson Creek.

Some of the best films of the era also featured similar age differences. While Alicia Silverstone was 18 years old and Kirsten Dunst was 17 years old, ignorant (1995) and Let's (2000), respectively, their colleagues were older. Stacey Dash was 29 when she played Cher Dionne's best friend in Ignorant, while Gabrielle Union was 31 when she played rival cheerleader Isis in Let's. Rachel McAdams was an up-and-coming actress when she was cast as Regina George in 2004. Mean Girlsbut she was still 24 years old when she played the role of a teenager.

Although this choice of actors may seem strange, it is worth noting that in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and in many of these teen movies and shows, the actors embodied their characters and created icons that were celebrated for generations.