Alyson Hannigan

Alyson Lee Hannigan (born March 24, 1974) is an American actress and television presenter. She began her film career with supporting roles in the comedy films Impure Thoughts and My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988), receiving a Young Artist Award nomination for the latter. In 1999, she began starring in the American Pie film series as Michelle Flaherty, the films' primary love interest, appearing in every film in the series from 1999 to 2012. For her role in the series, she was nominated for three Teen Choice Awards and won a Young Hollywood Award. She went on to star in the parody film Date Movie (2006), the slasher film You Might Be the Killer (2018), and the superhero film Flora & Ulysses (2021).

Hannigan got her start in television starring in the short-lived sitcom Free Spirit from 1989 to 1990, for which she earned a Young Artist Award nomination. After several minor roles in television films and other series, she appeared in her breakout role as teenage witch Willow Rosenberg in the supernatural drama series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, appearing in every episode from 1997 to 2003. Her role on the show was critically acclaimed and won her the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television and a Teen Choice Award. From 2005 to 2014, she starred as Lily Aldrin in the sitcom How I Met Your Mother, for which she won two People's Choice Awards. Hannigan hosted the television show Penn & Teller: Fool Us (2016–2023), and provided the voice of Claire Clancy in the Disney Junior animated series Fancy Nancy (2018–2022).

Early life and education Hannigan was born on March 24, 1974 in Washington, D.C., the only child of Emilie (Posner) Haas, a real-estate agent, and Alan Hannigan, a Teamsters trucker. At age four, Hannigan began appearing in commercials. After spending her childhood in her mother's hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, Hannigan moved to Hollywood at age 11 after securing an agent. As a teenager, Hannigan babysat for the children of her future How I Met Your Mother co-star, Bob Saget.

Living with her mother and attending North Hollywood High School, she successfully auditioned for agents while visiting her father in Santa Barbara. After 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.

Career

1986–2004: Career beginnings and breakthrough 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 the Vampire Slayer as her on-screen boyfriend. The show became a success, and Hannigan gained recognition, subsequently appearing in several films aimed at teenage audiences, including Boys and Girls (2000). In 2017, Forbes reported that the American Pie films have grossed $989.5 million at the worldwide box office, and became a pop culture phenomenon.

She also had a recurring guest spot on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spin-off, Angel, reprising her role of Willow. 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.

2005–2014: How I Met Your Mother In early 2005, she had a recurring guest role as Trina Echolls in three episodes of UPN's teen mystery series Veronica Mars. In September 2005, Hannigan returned to starring in a regular television series, taking the main role of Lily Aldrin in CBS's sitcom How I Met Your Mother.

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. Hannigan reprised the role of Michelle in the comedy film American Reunion (2012). The film followed the friends attending a high school reunion thirteen years after graduating from high school. The film was a success at the box office, and grossed $235 million worldwide. For her role in the film, she was nominated for Choice Movie Actress: Romantic Comedy award at the 2012 Teen Choice Awards.

2015–present: Television hosting

Hannigan hosted the television series Penn & Teller: Fool Us from 2016 to 2023. Hannigan played Ann Possible, Kim's mother, in the Disney Channel original film Kim Possible (2019), based on the animated series. She voiced the role of Claire Nancy in Disney Junior's animated series Fancy Nancy (2018–2022). The show ran for three seasons, and the series finale aired on February 18, 2022.

In September 2023, Hannigan was announced as one of the contestants on season 32 of Dancing with the Stars, partnering with Sasha Farber. The couple made it to the finals and finished in fifth place.

Hannigan played a supporting role in the 2026 romantic comedy Solo Mio.

Personal life Hannigan married her Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel co-star Alexis Denisof at Two Bunch Palms Resort in Desert Hot Springs, California, on October 11, 2003. The couple live in Encino, Los Angeles, with their two daughters. Their home was used as a set for This Is Us.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1986 Impure Thoughts Patty Stubbs Credited as Allison Hannigan 1988 My Stepmother Is an Alien Jessie Mills 1998 Dead Man on Campus Lucy 1999 Hayley Wagner, Star Jenna Jakes American Pie Michelle Flaherty 2000 Boys and Girls Betty 2001 Beyond the City Limits Lexi American Pie 2 Michelle Flaherty 2003 American Wedding 2006 Date Movie Julia Jones Farce of the Penguins Hottie Penguin Voice 2011 Love, Wedding, Marriage Courtney 2012 American Reunion Michelle Levenstein 2016 Do You Take This Man Rachael 2018 You Might Be the Killer Chuck 2021 Flora & Ulysses Phyllis Buckman 2026 Solo Mio Meghan

Television Year Title Role Notes 1989–1990 Free Spirit Jessie Harper Main role, 14 episodes 1990 Roseanne Jan Episode: "Like, a New Job" 1991 Switched at Birth Gina Twigg (Age 13–16) Television film 1993 Almost Home Samantha 2 episodes 1994 Touched by an Angel Cassie Peters Episode: "Cassie's Choice" 1995 The Stranger Beside Me Dana Television film 1996 For My Daughter's Honor Kelly Television film Picket Fences Peggy Patterson Episode: "To Forgive Is Divine" 1997–2003 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Willow Rosenberg Main role, 144 episodes 1999–2000 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd Gigi Voice, 3 episodes 2000 The Wild Thornberrys Gerda Voice, episode: "Every Little Bit Alps" 2001–2003 Angel Willow Rosenberg 3 episodes 2002–2003 Rugrats Cynthia P.I./Young Starlet Voice, 3 episodes 2004 That '70s Show Suzy Simpson 2 episodes King of the Hill Stacey Gibson Voice, episode: "Talking Shop" 2005 Veronica Mars Trina Echolls 3 episodes 2005–2014 How I Met Your Mother Lily Aldrin Main role, 206 episodes 2009 The Goode Family Michelle Voice, episode: "Graffiti in Greenville"2010Food Network ChallengeHerselfHost; Episode: "Outrageous Pumpkins 2" 2011 The Simpsons Melody Voice, episode: "Flaming Moe" 2011, 2018 Robot Chicken Various voices 2 episodes 2011; 2013; 2023 American Dad! Chelsea Voice, episode: "Virtual In-Stanity" Ugly Stepsister #2 Voice, episode: "Finger Lenting Good" Lexie Voice, episode: "Cow I Met Your Moo-ther" 2014 Sofia the First Winter Voice, episode: "Winter's Gift" The McCarthys Pam Episode: "Red Sox Swap" 2016–2023 Penn & Teller: Fool Us Herself Host, 103 episodes 2018–2022 Fancy Nancy Claire Clancy Voice, main role (57 episodes) 2019 Kim Possible Ann Possible Television film Pure Esther Dunkel 2 episodes Abducted: The Mary Stauffer Story Mary Stauffer Television film 2020–2021 Outrageous Pumpkins Herself Host, 8 episodes 2020 Girl Scout Cookie Championship Host, 4 episodes Outmatched Annabeth Episode: "Couple's Friends" 2021 Martha Gets Down and Dirty Herself Episode: "House Planting Party" Adorableness Panelist 2023 Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. Dawn Episode: "Message from the Chief" Office Race Pat Comedy Central original television film Dancing with the Stars Contestant Contestant on season 32; 11 episodes 2024Beat Bobby FlayEpisode: "Sweet Defeat"

Video games

Stage Year Title Role Theatre 2004 When Harry Met Sally... Sally Albright Theatre Royal Haymarket

Awards and nominations