TVSquad

We're far enough removed from Buffy's original run now that there really aren't any surprises left for most of us. By this point we've seen the episodes so many times through DVD, streaming, and syndication that the story has been told. There's still something to be gained from watching again, though.

A little water under the bridge has given all of those bit-part actors that were once feeling lucky to book a Buffy gig a chance to move on to bigger and better things. I'm still occasionally surprised when I catch an old Buffy and realize just who that is standing in the background. After the jump, nine of my favorite small part players from Buffy that went on to bigger successes.

Carmine Giovinazzo - Boy - "Welcome To The Hellmouth"
We should start the list with the guy that started the show. The very first episode kicks off with two kids breaking into the high school. We would learn plenty about the girl, Darla, as the show moved on, but the future was not as bright for "Boy". Carmine did alright for himself afterwords though, jumping to UPN for the tragically underrated Shasta McNasty (really, it was good). More recently he's had a regular gig as Detective Danny Messer on CSI: NY.

Jennifer Sky - Heidi - "The Pack"
"The Pack" never seems to pop up on any of the favorite episode lists for Buffy, but it's been on mine for a long time. That is for one simple reason: Jennifer Sky. Little did we know when we saw her as a student that was possessed by a demonic spirit that she would go on to give us Cleopatra 2525. Of course, I think I might be in the minority with my appreciation for Cleopatra. She also had nice runs on Fastlane and CSI: Miami in recent years.

Jason Behr - Billy "Ford" Fordham - "Lie To Me"
After a few guest starring stints, Buffy was Behr's entrance into the WB employment program. His role as Buffy's vampire worshiping friend Ford led to a guest spot on 7th Heaven. That was soon followed up by a short arc on Dawson's Creek. And it all culminated in the starring gig as Max Evans on Roswell.

Jordana Spiro - Callie - "Reptile Boy"
It's been quite a change for Jordana. These days she finds herself surrounded by men on TBS' My Boys, but back in 1997 she was shackled to a wall with Buffy and Cordelia as an offering to the reptile demon Machida. She also had a short lived series on USA in 2000 called The Huntress, but that never really caught on the way My Boys seems to be.

Christopher Gorham - James Stanley - "I Only Have Eyes For You"
Much like Behr, Gorham's ghostly turn on Buffy also led to bigger things at the network for him. He followed up his short trip to Sunnydale with a starring role on Popular and managed to work in a short arc on Felicity as well. Later we would see him starring in a trio of unfortunately short-lived shows with Odyssey 5, Jake 2.0, and Out of Practice. Most recently he's taken up the guise of Henry Grubstick on ABC's Ugly Betty.

Wentworth Miller - Gage Petronzi - "Go Fish"
Buffy is actually the very first entry in Miller's IMDb profile. He picked a great place to start. Unfortunately, swim team Gage wasn't long for Sunnydale, but Wentworth managed OK. He got another good break with the mini-series Dinotopia, which my nieces absolutely love. The big break though, as we all know, was landing the role of Michael Scofield on Prison Break.

Kal Penn - Hunt - "Beer Bad"
Before he was Taj Majal Badalandabad, Kumar Patel, or Dr. Lawrence Kutner on House, Kal Penn was getting his start in a one shot deal on Buffy. It's not one of the higher rated episodes in the series, but I think it gains points for the appearance of Penn, and for the short scene where Buffy watches a Luscious Jackson video. Penn also popped up again in the Whedonverse with an appearance in Angel's "That Vision Thing."

Carlos Jacott - Ken - "Anne"
Carlos was one of those guys for a lot of years. You would see him and recognize him, but never be sure where it was from. That was very much the reaction when I originally saw him as a demon running a group home on Buffy. Just who Carlos was crystallized for me later, when he completed the Whedon hat-trick as one Lawrence Dobson on Firefly. He also had a guest spot on Angel in "The Bachelor Party." Those roles, and the presence of Kristen Miller, were enough to sell me on his first big starring role on TV, She Spies. More recently he had recurring runs on Studio 60 and Big Love.

Andy Hallett - Student - "Hush"
If we started the list with the first episode, we should end it with the best. I suppose we could debate that one all day, but "Hush" has been my favorite Buffy episode from the time it originally aired. And Andy Hallett is probably the one that got the most out of his brief time on Buffy. That little role as an unnamed student led to him taking on the role of Lorne for Angel. Nice.

Those are nine of my favorites, and it really is just the tip of the iceberg. Actors that spent time on the hellmouth are strewn throughout the television schedule. Feel free to add to the list in the comments. I'm sure someone will come up with one that will have me slapping my forehead.