Alyson Hannigan's Real Name: Alyson Lee Hannigan

Quick answer: Alyson Hannigan's documented original name is Alyson Lee Hannigan. Encyclopedia.com, reprinting a Newsmakers-style entry, uses that form and dates her birth to March 24, 1974, in Washington, D.C. TV Guide independently lists the birth name Alyson Lee Hannigan and a birth place of Washington, District of Columbia, without a calendar date (Encyclopedia.com; TV Guide).

Real name and early life

She is known professionally as Alyson Hannigan. Both sources agree on Alyson Lee Hannigan. The encyclopedia dates the birth to March 24, 1974, in Washington, D.C., and names her parents as Albert Hannigan, a truck driver, and Emily Posner, a real estate agent. It says she grew up in Atlanta with her mother after her parents divorced when she was two, while her father settled in Missouri. TV Guide independently says she began appearing in national commercials at the age of four and relocated to Hollywood at 10. The encyclopedia says she attended California State University—Northridge; TV Guide says she earned a psychology degree there.

Career highlights

The encyclopedia and TV Guide both treat Buffy the Vampire Slayer as her breakout. The encyclopedia dates the series to The WB (1997–2001) and UPN (2002–03). TV Guide says she landed the role in 1997 and portrayed it for more than six years. Film credits in the encyclopedia include American Pie (1999), American Pie 2 (2001), and American Wedding (2003). TV Guide independently notes widespread recognition from the American Pie franchise, then a second television lead on CBS's How I Met Your Mother, beginning in 2005 and running nine seasons. The encyclopedia also lists How I Met Your Mother from 2005, earlier television including Free Spirit on ABC in 1989, and a 2004 stage debut in When Harry Met Sally at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London, which TV Guide likewise records as her West End debut in 2004. TV Guide lists a 2003 Saturn Award for best supporting actress in a television series, a 2003 Golden Satellite nomination, and a 2002 Teen Choice Award for TV sidekick.

Name notes for searchers

Alyson Lee Hannigan is the documented original name in both sources; Alyson Hannigan is the professional form used on screen. The encyclopedia identifies the Buffy role as Willow Rosenberg and the later sitcom role as Lily Aldrin. Searchers looking for those characters are usually aiming at the same person.