Family:

Buffy: I love you, Dawn. You know that, right?

Dawn: Yeah. I love you too.

Buffy: I love you. Really love you.

Dawn: Gettin' weird.

Buffy: Sorry. But - it's important that I tell you. Weird love is better than no love.

Dawn: You don't want to mess with us.

Buffy: She's a hair puller.

Dawn Summers

Dawn Summers isn't really anyone's love child. Sometimes siblings just appear out of nowhere and come pre-packaged with bogus memories. When the youngest Summers arrived in Sunnydale, she was your typical teen, an obnoxious little monster who spent more time getting under Buffy's skin than actually helping out.

Several months after Dawn's arrival, Buffy and the Scooby Gang discovered her true identity: she's really The Key, an epical powerful energy source transformed into human appearance by benevolent monks. As an average bratty teen, Dawn didn't much like finding out that she was actually a cosmic force. As a matter of fact, she ran away from home. Buffy managed to convince her that they are family regardless of her origin, but their happiness was cut short with the unexpected death of their mother, Joyce.

Shortly thereafter, a nasty and potent Hellgod, Glory, arrived to find the Key and try to use her to open a portal that would release hell on earth. Despite knowing that her sister would be left entirely alone, Buffy sacrificed herself in Dawn's place to prevent the portal from opening. Unable to accept the death of her friend, Willow used her rapidly increasing Wiccan powers to raise her from her grave and bring her back to Sunnydale.

Buffy's return gave Dawn her family back, but her sister's remoteness made Dawn feel neglected and unloved. She began shoplifting, much to the gang's dismay. Even her relationship with Willow was altered forever when the witch took the teen on a wild, magic-addled ride that ended with a car wreck and a broken wrist for Dawn.

A turning point came when Buffy fought the demonic skeletons brought to life by Willow's rage over Tara's death. Dawn began to fight alongside her Slayer sister, and Buffy was amazed at the strength and power the girl suddenly displayed. Together they were victorious, and Buffy gained a new respect for her younger sister, much to Dawn's relief. But now, Dawn must face one of the most hazardous experiences the universe has to offer: high school. Lucky for her she's got the Slayer on her side.

Michelle Trachtenberg

Born October 11, 1985, Michelle is best known for her starring role in "Harriet the Spy" opposite Rosie O'Donnell, for which she received the Young Artists Award of Hollywood as Best Leading Actress in a feature film. The native New Yorker began her acting career at age four, when she appeared in her first television commercial. Since then she has appeared in over 100 national spots and has gone on to work on various television series. Most recently she starred as Julie in the independent film Can't Be Heaven, and as Inspector Gadget's niece Penny in the 1999 film. Michelle's other film credits include Richie Rich's Christmas Wish and Melissa. Soap fans will remember Michelle from her role as the autistic Lily Montgomery on the ABC daytime drama "All My Children." She was also a series regular on the popular Nickelodeon series "The Adventures of Pete and Pete." Her other small-screen credits include "Guys Like Us," "Figure It Out," "Dave's World," "Law & Order," "Saturday Night Live," "Clarissa Explains It All, " and "Space Cases." Michelle involves herself with numerous charities. For the past two years she has been an active spokesperson for Kmart Kids Race Against Drugs, R.A.D.D., D.A.R.E. America, the Starlight Foundation, and many others. She was one youth representative at President Clinton's launch the Coalition for a Drug-Free America campaign. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys swimming, rollerblading, ice-skating, bicycling, and writing short stories.

Joyce: Have a good time. I know you're gonna make friends right away, just think positive.

Joyce: And honey?

Buffy looks back at her mom again.

Joyce: Try not to get kicked out?

Buffy: I promise.

Joyce: Okay.

Joyce Summers works at an art gallery, where she acquires and sells art pieces. She is divorced from Hank Summers, whom she met at a Homecoming dance during her freshman year of college. Joyce remained oblivious to the fact that Buffy was the Slayer (despite many clues that something was odd about Buffy's life) until Buffy finally told her the truth at the end of season two. Joyce came to accept it, but she didn't like it, and she worried about Buffy.

Despite this, the two seemed to have a good relationship. Joyce didn't date a lot after her divorce; she did get pretty serious with Ted, who turned out to be a robot-doppelganger of a guy from the fifties who had killed his past four wives. She also showed interest in Giles, and when they were under the influence of poisoned band candy, the two had sex; they avoided each other and the subject after that. Joyce wasn't a central part of Buffy's life when Buffy first went to college, however the addition of Dawn to the family changed that, as Buffy moved back home to protect Dawn from Glory.

Joyce was aware of Dawn's supernatural origin, but loved her anyway. Joyce developed a brain tumor, which was successfully removed, though sadly she later died from an aneurysm (a side effect of the operation), and Buffy discovered her body lying on their couch. A grief stricken Dawn attempted to magically resurrect her, but she canceled the spell after learning of the possible terrible consequences of it, and after receiving support and reassurance from Buffy.

Kristine Sutherland

Kentucky native Kristine Sutherland got her start in high school playing Pegora the witch for the Lexington Children's Theatre Company. After attending the University of Kentucky, Kristine traveled to London to study at The Drama Studio. After completing her studies, New York City beckoned and Kristine soon got her professional start Off-Broadway and in regional theatre. Since then she has appeared in a number of pilots for television, guest starred on many popular television shows, and appeared in countless commercials and voice-overs. In 1993, Kristine and husband John Pankow (cousin Ira on "Mad About you,") moved to Los Angeles. Her Filmography includes Honey, I Shrunk the Kids!, "Remington Steele", "California Dreams", "Hot Pursuit", "EZ Street" , "What Does It Take", Legal Eagles and "Guiding Light".

Hank Summers is Buffy's absentee dad. He and Buffy don't keep in contact. Hank had an affair with his secretary and when Joyce died, he didn't even call. Buffy doesn't keep in contact with him at all.

<--- Back