Top 10 Stars You Forgot Were on Buffy the Vampire Slayer
#10: Shane West “Go Fish”
Prior to breakout roles on “ER” or the film “A Walk to Remember,” Shane West guest-starred on “Buffy” in its second season. West played Sean Dwyer, a member of the Sunnydale High swim team. The team in question is suspected of using steroids and while they are, they’re certainly unusual. Their coach is actually dosing them with steroids in a sauna, which has the side effect of turning them into fish monsters. West’s character and the rest of the affected creatures are eventually released into the wild. We have a feeling “A Walk to Remember” would’ve been a little more “The Shape of Water,” had he kept the costume for that film.
#9: Clea DuVall “Out of Mind, Out of Sight”
Much like her character on “Buffy,” it’s easy to forget Clea Duvall was even on the show. Duvall played Marcie Ross, a classmate of Buffy and friends who is so marginalized and ignored that she literally turns invisible. After remaining unseen for months, Marcie is driven mad and begins taking revenge on her former classmates, whom she blames for her condition. Ultimately, Buffy is able to land a knockout punch on her that turns her visible again. Although the door was left open for Marcie to return to the show, the character never did. Duvall and Sarah Michelle Gellar would later work together again on “The Grudge” though.
#8: Ashanti “First Date”
While she’s a major R&B singer now, Ashanti’s career was just beginning to pick up steam back in 2003 when she appeared on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” In her single-episode appearance, Ashanti played Lissa, a demon serving the First Evil. Lissa goes on a date with Xander in order to lure him into being sacrificed to summon a powerful vampire. The poor guy just always seems to attract women who are also demons or monsters. Lissa’s plans are foiled by Buffy and the rest of the Scoobies. You might say Ashanti “lost her head” over the role…
#7: Felicia Day Multiple Episodes, Season 7
Known throughout geek culture these days for shows like “Supernatural,” Felicia Day was little known back when she showed up in the final season of “Buffy.” Day played Violet, or Vi for short, one of many potential Slayers the Scooby Gang gathers to battle the First Evil. Like the others, Vi becomes a Slayer in truth during the final battle. She may begin as a shrinking Violet, but by the end of her time on the show she’s quite the badass. Joss Whedon certainly noticed her potential, collaborating with her again on projects like “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.”
#6: Bianca Lawson Multiple Episodes, Season 2
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Speaking of other Slayers, Bianca Lawson also played another in the line of vampire killers. After Buffy’s brief death, Lawson’s character Kendra Young becomes the “current” Slayer. Demonstrating herself to be a more by-the-book Slayer, as well as one who embraces her role more fully, there’s initially friction between her and Buffy. Tragically, Kendra is killed by Drusilla, one of the season’s villains before she could develop more as a character. Although Kendra may be dead and the show over, Lawson could easily reprise her role with little difficulty, since she’s barely aged a day in the time since her episodes aired.
#5: Nathan Fillion Multiple Episodes, Season 7
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While he may have played the main minion of the big bad for season 7, it’s still a bit easy to forget Nathan Fillion appeared on “Buffy.” His character, Caleb, a misogynistic ex-priest and serial killer, is so against his usual roguishly charming type that a lot of us just forgot he was on the show. Still, his role on “Buffy” is pretty major, given that he’s the right-hand man of the First Evil, putting many of its plans into action and even putting out Xander’s eye. He does such a good job making us hate him, that by the time Buffy finally kills him, we’re glad to see him go.
#4: Kal Penn “Beer Bad”
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An actor famous for his role in the “Harold and Kumar” films, Kal Penn played a character who indulged in a different intoxicant in his guest spot on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Penn appeared as Hunt, an upperclassman of Buffy’s at college who she begins drinking with after getting dumped. Hunt, his friends, and Buffy get a little more than a hangover from the alcohol though, as a spell in the beer turns them all into primitive cavepeople. Kal Penn has had quite the resume! White House staff member during the Obama administration? Yes. Drunken caveman? Also yes.
#3: Pedro Pascal “The Freshman”
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These days, Pedro Pascal is a huge star. He’s become famous for roles in shows like “Game of Thrones,” “Narcos,” and “The Mandalorian.” But Pascal only had a few roles to his name in the late ‘90s when he appeared on “Buffy.” Pascal played Eddie, a fellow freshman Buffy meets on her first day at college. The two of them immediately hit it off. However, Eddie is unfortunately turned into a vampire, forcing Buffy to stake him. Luckily, Pascal doesn’t have that vampiric visage in real life. Otherwise, he might have to start taking roles that have him cover up his face for large periods of t-…oh wait…
#2: Wentworth Miller “Go Fish”
Dang – the Sunnydale High swim team was just stacked with talent, wasn’t it? Another member of the ill-fated squad was Gage Petronzi, played by Wentworth Miller. Before his “breakout” role on “Prison Break,” Miller broke our expectations, and that of the characters, in this episode. Initially believed by Buffy and her friends to be the next victim of the Gill Monsters, Gage actually ends up being turned into another one of the creatures. Miller delivers plenty of snark in the role, at least before he gets all green and scaly. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: Amber Tamblyn, “All the Way” Dawn’s Briefly Appearing Bestie Who Gets Personal With a Vamp Rachel Bilson, “Dirty Girls” One of the Potential Slayers…and Object of Xander’s Fantasies Jason Behr, “Lie to Me” Old Friend of Buffy’s Who Betrays Her to Become a Vampire John Ritter, “Ted” Legend Played a Surprisingly Sinister Love Interest Conchata Ferrell, “Go Fish” Nurse Who Helped Turn the Swim Team Into Fish Monsters
#1: Amy Adams “Family”
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A bona fide movie star? Sure – now! But Amy Adams was just another working actor in the early 2000s, and she appeared in plenty of TV guest spots, including “Buffy.” Adams portrayed Tara MacClay’s cousin Beth. Beth and Tara’s other family members are adamant that Tara return home with them, claiming that she has a demonic side. However, this is merely a lie meant to keep the women in their family down. Thankfully, Adams herself doesn’t share Beth’s backwards views on women or magic. If she did, she’d never have gotten her big break in “Enchanted.”
