Alyson Hannigan
-
Washington, DChometown
- Soundtracks/Musicalsgenre
- 1986started
- Biofull story
Alyson Hannigan
, 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) 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-present).
Early life:
Hannigan was born in Washington, D.C. She is the only child of Emilie (Posner) Haas, a real estate agent, and Al Hannigan, a truck driver. Her father is of Irish descent and her mother is Jewish. Her parents divorced when she was two and she was raised mostly by her mother in Atlanta, Georgia.
Career:
1978 - 1996:
At age four, Hannigan began appearing in commercials. She moved to Hollywood at age 11. 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.
Hannigan's first major film role was in My Stepmother Is an Alien, 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.
1997 - present:
In 1997, Hannigan was cast to play Willow Rosenberg, Buffy Summers' best friend, on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. 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. 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.
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.
In February 2006, Hannigan starred as Julia Jones in Date Movie, a parody of romantic comedies. She was also a guest star on the ABC animated sitcom The Goode Family in 2009.
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.
In 2012, Hannigan reprised the role of Michelle in American Reunion.
Personal life:
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, and Keeva Jane Denisof, born May 23, 2012. Hannigan and her husband are godparents to Joss Whedon's son, Arden.
Stalking:
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.
Filmography:
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:
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
Source: Wikipedia
Text from this biography licensed under creative commons license
Source: Wikipedia
Text from this biography licensed under creative commons license
