Alyson Hannigan

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**Alyson Lee Hannigan** (born March 24, 1974) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Willow Rosenberg on the television series *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* (1997–2003), Lily Aldrin on the sitcom *How I Met Your Mother* (2005–2014), and Michelle Flaherty in the *American Pie* film series (1999–2012).

## Early life

Hannigan was born in Washington, DC, the only child of Emilie (Posner) Haas, a real estate agent, and Al Hannigan, a truck driver. Her father is of Irish ancestry and her mother is Jewish. Her parents divorced when she was two, and she was raised mostly by her mother in Atlanta, Georgia.

## Career

### Childhood and early years

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 was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and 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 later joined 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 children of her future *How I Met Your Mother* costar, Bob Saget.

### The *Buffy* years

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 films aimed at teenaged audiences, including *American Pie* (1999), *Boys and Girls* (2000), *American Pie 2* (2001), and *American Wedding* (2003). 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.

### Stage, television, and movie work

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, taking the main role of Lily Aldrin in the hit comedy *How I Met Your Mother*, 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*.

Since 2016, Hannigan has hosted the television series *Penn & Teller: Fool Us*.

 File:Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof 2.jpg
## Personal life

Hannigan married her *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* recurring co-star 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 on March 24, 2009 (which is also Alyson Hannigan's birthday) and Keeva Jane Denisof, born May 23, 2012. Alyson and Alexis live with their two daughters in Encino.

## References

1. ↑ Wihlborg, Ulrica (2009-03-31). "Alyson Hannigan Welcomes a Daughter!". People. Retrieved 2009-03-31.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "How I Met Your Mother Cast: Alyson Hannigan". *CBS*. Retrieved 2012-06-12.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "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. Unknown parameter `|deadurl=` ignored (`|url-status=` suggested) (help)
5. ↑ Bloom, Nate (2004-07-09). "Celebrity Jews". *the Jewish News Weekly of Northern California*. Retrieved 2006-07-16.
6. ↑ "Hollywood Now: Alyson Hannigan, Jewish Male Actors, Fall Feature - InterfaithFamily". Retrieved 27 October 2014.
7. ↑ Template:Str rightmost/bio Biography for Alyson Hannigan on IMDb
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. ↑ "Alyson Hannigan Biography". Biography.com. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
11. ↑ "It's Evening in America". *Vanity Fair*. May 2012. Page 158.
12. ↑ "Where Are They Now? Buffy the Vampire Slayer". *People*. December 3, 2007. Retrieved 2012-06-12.
13. ↑ "When Harry Met Sally, Review by Philip Fisher (2004)". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2010-04-18.
14. ↑ "'Veronica Mars' scoop". Chicago Tribune. January 20, 2006. Retrieved 2012-06-12.
15. ↑ Template:Str rightmost/ Alyson Hannigan on IMDb
16. ↑ 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. Unknown parameter `|deadurl=` ignored (`|url-status=` suggested) (help)
17. ↑ "Alyson Hannigan, Cobie Smulders and 'Mother'-hood". USA Today. April 15, 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-12.
18. ↑ Alyson Hannigan tapped to host Penn & Teller: Fool Us in season 3
19. ↑ Alyson Hannigan Welcomes a Daughter!, People Magazine, March 31, 2009
20. ↑ "Alyson Hannigan Welcomes Daughter Keeva Jane!". *usmagazine.com*. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
21. ↑ "'Vampire Slayer' star Alyson Hannigan settles on contemporary lair in Encino". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
22. ↑ Virtel, Louis (July 12, 2013). ""Hollywood Game Night": Jane, We Love You, But Let's Revamp". *The Backlot*. Retrieved July 13, 2015.

## External links

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* Alyson Hannigan on IMDb
* Alyson Hannigan on Twitter

Template:Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television