Actors Who Appear on Both "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" or "Angel" and on "Seinfeld"

Mark Metcalf sets a trend of sorts for some of the actors appearing on both “Seinfeld” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” by being the title character in an episode of “Seinfeld”: In “The Maestro” (and also “The Doll”), Metcalf plays a man named Bob who is so proud of being the conductor of a minor orchestra that he insists on everyone calling him “Maestro” even if they have no connection to his musical life. A coincidence here is that one of the meanings of the word “maestro” is “master”, and Metcalf plays a vampire known only as “the Master” in the very first episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”. His background in comedy paid off in winning the role of the first “Big Bad”, or major villain, in the supernatural series. Creator/producer Joss Whedon has said that Metcalf was the only actor auditioning for the role who understood that the Master has one foot in comedy. Given the Master’s heavy makeup, Metcalf is visually difficult to identify in both roles, but just listen to the voice. The Maestro's explanation in the "The Doll" of why he remains pant-less until it is time to go on stage sounds especially sinister if you close your eyes and imagine him as his vampire alter-ego, the Master.

Armin Shimerman is “The Caddy”, in an episode of "Seinfeld" in which he plays Stan, the man who gives Kramer advice on and off the golf course—to Kramer’s ultimate legal detriment. In 19 episodes of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” he plays “Principal Snyder”, who is the bane of Buffy’s high school existence.

Carlos Jacott is “The Pool Guy”, in an episode in which his character, Ramon, stalks Jerry, a client at the gym where Ramon works. Jerry makes the mistake of rejecting Ramon, who makes Jerry’s life hell. The same character returns to stoke the coals in “The Finale”. On “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” he plays Ken, a demon who stalks lost teens and then pushes them into a “ritual cleansing pool” that is really a portal to an inter-dimensional hell. Ken makes the mistake of bringing Buffy into that other dimension where she promptly raises hell. Jacott also plays a demon, Richard Straley, in an episode of “Angel” entitled “The Bachelor Party”.

An actor's actor (though he'd probably say that Armin Shimerman is the actor's actor), Danny Strong plays Jonathan, a frustrated geek, in 40 episodes of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". In the "Seinfeld" episode "The Comeback", he also plays a frustrated geek named Victor, although the character's voice is done by Robby Benson.

On "Seinfeld", Ms. Lenehan plays a charity volunteer in "The Handicap Spot". She is anything but charitable toward Buffy in an episode called "Dead Man's Party". Satisfyingly, after she spends the whole episode making insensitive remarks, she gets hers.

For seven episodes of "Seinfeld" (including "The Finale") Ian Abercrombie plays an eccentric publishing figure named Mr. Pitt, who hires Elaine to be his personal assistant and then runs (ruins?) her life. In the "BtVS" episode "Homecoming", he plays a criminal mastermind who tries to kill Buffy by remote control.

Rance Howard appears in an episode of the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” spin-off, “Angel” entitled “Carpe Noctem”, in which he switches bodies with Angel. He thus gets to play the hero for part of the episode. Not bad for guest work. He also is in two episodes of “Seinfeld”, playing a blind man in “The Glasses” and a farmer in “The Bottle Deposit”. Rance is the father of actor/director Ron Howard, who seems to be one of the few family members who does not appear in either “Seinfeld” or “Buffy/Angel”. Rance’s late wife, Jean Speegle Howard, appears in “Teacher’s Pet”, an episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, as the "Real Miss French", a confused retired teacher whose identity has been stolen by a monster disguised as a human. The Howards' other son, Clint, also appears in a “Seinfeld” episode, “The Trip: Part 2”, as an escaped criminal.

On "Seinfeld", Kathryn Joosten plays Betsy, the warden of a women's prison, in an episode called "The Little Jerry". On "BtVS", in the episode "Where the Wild Things Are", she is Genevive Holt, a crazy lady who once ran an orphanage and tormented her charges.

Ivana Milicevic appears on "Seinfeld" in the episode, "The Comeback", as Patty (billed as Ivana Milavich). Patty is the overly obedient wife & partner of insecure and fraudulent tennis player, Milos (see Mark Harelik, below). On "BtVS", Ms. Milicevic plays Sam Finn, wife and partner of daring anti-demonic commando Riley Finn, making Buffy feel insecure and fraudulent in the episode "As You Were".

Mark Harelik is Milos in the "Seinfeld" episode "The Comeback". Milos pretends to be a great tennis player in order to sell Jerry an expensive racket, but he proves anything but graceful on the court. Speaking of graceful, Harelik plays Count Kurushu in the "Angel" episode "Waiting in the Wings", about an evening at the ballet.

Victor Raider-Wexler memorably plays a doctor in four episodes of “Seinfeld”, including "The Invitations", the one where he gives George the fateful news about Susan. In "The Finale", he is given a name, Dr. Wexler—his own name. On an episode of “Angel” entitled “Just Rewards”, he plays Magnus Hainsley, an evil necromancer who has lines like, “I'll put you back in the driver's seat of your afterlife”, and “I eat the dead for breakfast, son, and you’re just another plate of bacon and eggs”.

Danny Woodburn, as Kramer’s sometime partner in schemes, is in seven episodes of “Seinfeld”. (It seems like more.) He also plays a sinister creature that Fred meets in the woods in the “Angel” episode “The Magic Bullet”.

Joel Polis plays Reilly in the "Seinfeld" episode "The Comeback" in which he is definitely not killed by George’s "snappy" comeback. But, as Captain Franklin, his is a relatively thankless role in an episode of "Angel" called "Why We Fight".

Gwen McGee is in the "Seinfeld" episode "The Fatigues" as Janine. She is in the "Angel" episode "Billy" as a Detective.

Greg Collins plays a cop in the Seinfeld episode “The Calzone”, and he plays Keith in an episode of “Angel” entitled “Rm w/ a Vu”.

Richard Livingston appears in the "Seinfeld" episode "The Comeback" as Bill, and in the "Angel" episode "Billy" as a Congressman.

Mik (sometimes credited as Mike) Scriba has been on "Seinfeld" twice. He appears in "The Parking Spot" as Cop #1, and in "The Nap" he plays the Bomb Squad Guy. In the "Angel" episode "Dead End", he plays a Parole Officer. I sense a law enforcement related theme.

Sometimes credited as Tom Michael Bailey, he appears in the “Seinfeld” episode “The Summer of George” as Cop #2 (Cop #1 being Neil Flynn). Bailey plays the Christmas tree salesman in the “BtVS” episode “Amends”.

On "Seinfeld" he plays Darin in "The Voice". On "BtVS" he is Diego in "Lie to Me". Diego is a memorably funny, pretentious character.

Sometimes an actor, more often a stuntman, Brian J. Williams doesn’t get credit half the time, But he appears as Glenn in two episodes of Seinfeld, including “The Butter Shave” and “The Voice”, and on “BtVS” as Vampire #1 in “Teacher’s Pet”. (He also did uncredited stunt work on one of the top ten “BtVS” episodes, “Hush”.)

Sometimes credited as Spice Williams, she appears on “Seinfeld” in an uncredited but memorable scene as she carries George down the hall at work in the episode “The Butter Shave”. She appears on “Angel” in “Salvage” as Debbie and "BtVS" as Patrice in “What’s My Line?: Part 2”.