Throughout9-1-1and9-1-1: Lone Star, there are many faces that fans of Joss Whedon’s shows will recognize. Co-created by Tim Minear,9-1-1follows a group of first responders as they deal with life-or-death situations in and around Los Angeles. Part way into its run, it was joined by9-1-1: Lone Starand featured intense rescuesthat took place in Austin, Texas. Unfortunately,9-1-1: Lone Starhas since come to an end after five seasons.9-1-1lives on, however, and will continue later in the year, with more spinoffs potentially in the works.
Prior to9-1-1and9-1-1: Lone Star, though, Minear collaborated extensively with Whedon. That collaboration started onAngel, the spin-off ofthe soon-to-be-revivedBuffy the Vampire Slayer.As well as serving as a producer,he wrote 18 episodes across four seasons, starting withAngelseason 1, episode 6, “Sense and Sensitivity” and culminating with theAngelseason 4 finale. Minear then produced and wrote four critically acclaimed and beloved episodes ofthe popular sci-fi seriesFireflyand did the same onDollhouse. He clearlynever forgot those he worked with, however.
11Doug Savant
Savant Briefly Appeared In Both Firefly and 9-1-1
Savant appeared inFireflyseason 1, episode 3, “Bushwhacked.” The episode was actually written and directed by9-1-1co-creator, Minear. There, Savant played Commander Harken, an officer within The Alliance. As such, he was billed as a polar opposite toSerenity captain Mal Reynolds(Nathan Fillion) when the two crossed paths. Together, they ultimately had to deal with a traumatized, and now murderous, survivor of a Reaver attack. The action culminated in Harken almost being killed by the now-mutilated madman, with Mal stepping in to save him. As a result,they formed a begrudging respect for each other.
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Over on9-1-1, Savant played Matthew Clark, the brother of former9-1-1 dispatcher Abby (Connie Britton). He appeared in two episodes, the first of which was9-1-1season 1, episode 3, “Next of Kin.” Therein,they clashed over how best to take care of their ailing motherand how Abby had given up on having a normal life on her behalf. He later returned for9-1-1season 1, episode 10, “A Whole New You,” after their mother passed away. With Abby subsequently deciding to travel around Europe, there was little reason for Savant to reprise the role further.
10Brigid Brannagh
Brannagh Starred In Multiple Episodes Of Angel Season 2
InAngel, Brannagh played Virginia Bryce, the socialite daughter of a powerful wizard. As such, she first appeared inAngelseason 2, episode 6, “Guise Will Be Guise,” when Wesley (Alexis Denisof), pretending to be Angel, served as her bodyguard. Despite the initial deception, the pair struck up a relationship that lasted multiple episodes, culminating inAngelseason 2, episode 15, “Reprise,” whenshe decided she couldn’t cope with Wesley’s dangerous, demon-hunting lifestyle. She later starred in9-1-1: Lone Starseason 3, episode 2, “Thin Ice,” as the mother of Abe, a young boy who falls into a frozen lake.
9Sean Maher
Maher Was A Main Character In Firefly
Maher played Simon Tam, a member ofthe Serenity crew onFirefly. As such, he appeared in all episodes of Firefly’s first and only season before returning for the Serenity movie. Though begrudging at first,he eventually becomes one of the Serenity family, alongside his sister, River (Summer Glau) and eventual partner Kaylee (Jewel Staite).
Jackson Pace
Wyatt Harris
Throughout the run, he also served as the ship’s doctor, tending to the frequent wounds the crew received. He later cameoed in9-1-1season 1, episode 7, “Full Moon (Creepy AF),” playing Paul, the partner of a man suffering from a particularly vicious tapeworm.
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8Leonard Roberts
Roberts joined Sarah Michelle Gellar and company during the divisiveBuffy the Vampire Slayerseason 4 and featured in many of the best episodes. He played Forrest Gates, an outwardly normal teenager eventuallyrevealed to bea soldier with The Initiative alongside the equally divisive Riley Finn (Marc Blucas). Roberts appeared in 12 episodes overall, with Forrest and Riley increasingly at odds. Things came to a head when he was killed and resurrected as part-demon, leading to a climactic confrontation between the pair inBuffy the Vampire Slayerseason 4, episode 21, “Primeval,” which Riley won.
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On9-1-1, Roberts was first credited as Ronnie Cooper in season 3, episode 2, “Sink Or Swim.” Cooper serves as the captain of firehouse 136, where Ronda Rousey’s Lena Bosko was originally stationed. Initially on hand to help in the wake of a tsunami, Cooper was eventually stated to have gone missing. His whereabouts were revealed in9-1-1season 3, episode 3, “The Searchers,” when he’s found trapped beneath a car andAthena (Angela Bassett) was forced to amputate his arm. Roberts made one more appearance, revealed to still be on duty as captain, later in season 3, episode 8, “Malfunction.”
7Richard Brooks
Brooks Enjoyed A Memorable Guest Star Role In Firefly
In a memorable turn, Brooks appeared inFireflyseason 1, episode 10, “Objects In Space.” There he played Jubal Early (named after a real figure), an unstable bounty hunter searching for River Tam. In pursuit of that aim, hebested several members of the Serenity before being outsmarted and left floating adrift in space.
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Brooks later joined9-1-1as Chief Simpson, who oversees all LAFD firehouses, including the 118, to whom he eventually awarded medals of valor. He appeared multiple times in9-1-1season 7before also returning in9-1-1season 8, episode 7, “Hotshots,” to guide Bobby (Peter Krause).
6Harry Groener
First teased inBuffy the Vampire Slayerseason 2, The Mayor of Sunnydale became a full-fledged character in season 3. Played to perfection by Groener, he served as the main villain of the season. As such,The Mayor and his minions terrorized the Scooby Gang and even managed to corrupt fellow slayer Faith (Eliza Dushku). After ascending to become a pure demon, he was ultimately destroyed in an explosive trap, though he cameoed in later seasons. In9-1-1: Lone Starseason 3, Groener played Joe, a turtle-saving man who was present for TK’s (Ronen Rubinstein) rescue of the boy trapped in a frozen lake.
5Adam Baldwin
Baldwin Was Another Main Character In Firefly
Baldwin has actually had two Whedonverse credits to his name. The first comes courtesy of the still criminally short-livedFirefly. There he played the gun-toting mercenary Jayne Cobb. Initially, he was not the most trustworthy ofSerenity’s posse and even betrayed River Tamafter she and brother Simon had become valued crew members. Over time, however,Jayne found his heart and became as loyal as he was tough. FollowingFirefly’s cancelation, Baldwin crossed over toAngeland played Marcus Hamilton, the villainous emissary of the Senior Partners. As a result, he was ultimately defeated and killed by the titular vampire.
Fireflycontinued in comic book form via Dark Horse Comics and then BOOM! Studios, as written and drawn by various writers and artists.
Over on9-1-1: Lone Star, Baldwin played Detective Brian McGregor. He debuted in the role via9-1-1: Lone Starseason 4, episode 15, “Donors.” Though initially as surly as hisFireflycounterpart,he ended up doing his part to catch members of an organ-trafficking ring. In the process, he even saved the life of Grace Ryder (Sierra McClain). He later returned in season 5, episode 8, “The Quiet Ones” helping to answer some of9-1-1: Lone Star’s unanswered questionsas Carlos (Rafael L. Silva) seeks to solve his father’s murder.
4D.B. Woodside
Woodside Played A Recurring Role In Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 7
Woodside debuted as Robin Wood inBuffy the Vampire Slayerseason 7, episode 1, “Lessons,” when he reopened the infamous Sunnydale High. Initially seeming like little more than a mild-mannered high school principal, he was eventually revealed to be the son of a previous vampire slayer. As such, despite his clashes with Spike (James Marsters),he becomes an ally to the Scooby Gang in their battles with The First. In9-1-1: Lone Star, he played Trevor Parks, a pastor with whomTommy Vega (Gina Torres)falls in love. Unfortunately, their romance ended when he had to leave Texas for family reasons.
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3Julie Benz
Benz Made Frequent Appearances In Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel
Benz was one of the first to make an appearance inBuffy the Vampire Slayerseason 1. Though she was slayed not too long after, the actress was still able to leave her mark on the shared universe via the spin-off showAngel. Revealed to be Angel’s sire,Benz’s Darla first appeared in flashbacks but was ultimately resurrected inAngelseason 1, episode 22, “To Shanshu In L.A.“From there, she served as an intermittent foil for Angel (David Boreanaz) across multiple seasons, until she miraculously got pregnant withthe widely hated character that is Connorand sacrificed her life for his.
When she eventually did return, she’s revealed to be dangerously obsessed with Owen and arrested for tormenting him and his new girlfriend.
Benz debuted on9-1-1: Lone Starin season 3, episode 1, “The Big Chill,” playing Sadie Becker. A neighbor of Owen Strand’s (Rob Lowe), she finds herself equally cut off from the rest of Austin, Texas by a freak snowstorm. Also embroiled in Owen’s mission to protect some migrants from corrupt police officers seeking to traffic them,she is seemingly established as a potential love interest, but disappeared after9-1-1: Lone Starseason 3, episode 3, “Shock and Thaw.“When she eventually did return, she’s revealed to be dangerously obsessed with Owen and arrested for tormenting him and his new girlfriend.
2Amy Acker
Acker Was A Popular Mainstay For The Majority Of Angel
Acker first emerged as Winifred “Fred” Burkle duringAngelseason 2, andquickly became a main cast member and one of Whedon’s most prolific collaborators. She remained as Fred until Angel season 5, episode 15, “A Hole In The World,” where she was killed and ultimately resurrected as the goddess Illyria. Following the show’s conclusion with the Joss Whedon-pennedAngelseason 5 finale, Acker joined the main cast ofDollhouse. Given the nature of the show, she embodied several different characters, including Dr. Claire Saunders. She also starred as Beatrice in Whedon’s adaptation ofMuch Ado About Nothing.
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As Catherine Harper, Acker debuted in9-1-1: Lone Starseason 3, episode 5, “Child Care.” Catherine was the Chief of Staff for the Governor of Texas, who met Owen Strand through a dating app. Thoughtheir first date was a tumultuous one, involving chasing down a kidnapper, they eventually got on better termsand became one ofthe best9-1-1couples. As such, Acker returned for five more episodes, including a dramatic one that saw her targeted in a suspected chemical attack. Ultimately, Owen and Catherine broke up, and she was last referenced as having left Texas for Washington D.C.
