A gentleman born in early 18th Century Ireland, Angel (birth name Liam) was a ne'er-do-well who was more interested in women and alcohol than doing an honest day's work. On one such drunken binge, he encountered Darla, a pretty girl, who morphed into a vampire and sired him (see 1.7 'Angel' and 2.20 'Becoming - Part 1'). Despite the fact that he had never left his home town of Galway as a human, as a vampire he toured extensively.

In 1860. he murdered the family of a woman named Drusilla, driving her mad before siring her (see 2.6 'Lie to Me' and 2.20 'Becoming - Part 1'). In the late 19th Century, he killed the favourite daughter of a Romany tribe, and was then cursed with the return of his soul by the tribe's elders - he would remember the faces of everyone he had killed and be tortured for it forever (see 1.7 'Angel' and 2.20 'Becoming - Part 1').

From that point, Angel suffered, drifting around the world and eventually ending up on the streets of New York in the 1990s. It was there that the demon Whistler found him and encouraged him to change for the better. Angel then travelled to California with Whistler and decided that he would help the new Slayer. Initially, his help was in the form of cryptic warnings, but he and Buffy grew closer, which led him to tell her of his true nature. He became a valued ally to Buffy and the Slayerettes, and continued a close relationship with Buffy - they eventually fell in love, consummating their relationship on Buffy's seventeenth birthday (see 2.12 - 'Surprise'). Unfortunately for the 'star-cross'd lovers', the curse placed on Angel by the gypsies meant that if he ever experienced true happiness, the curse would be revoked, and Angel would lose his soul.

He remained soulless until Willow recast the spell to restore his soul, but Buffy was then forced to stake him and send him to Hell, in order to prevent the world from being destroyed (2.21 - 'Becoming - Part 2'). But he continues to play a part in Buffy's life - he appears in her nightmares, and just as she plucks up the courage to say goodbye to Angel and close that chapter in her life forever, he returns to Earth from the equivalent of a century of torment. Angel is hurt to find that Buffy has a new boyfriend, but knows that she has done the right thing. But they are still attracted, and can barely keep their hands off each other, before giving in to a passionate kiss. Unfortunately, they are seen by Xander, who (with Faith's help) tries to kill Angel, before the vampire proves his goodness by saving Willow from a fiery grave.

Then, Buffy's mind turns to going away to college. Angel is in agony at the thought, but tries to be a friend and encourage her. But it's no good, and it falls to Spike of all people to tell them some home truths - they aren't 'just friends' and will never be 'just friends'.

Angel then realises that he must leave Sunnydale and forget about Buffy - there's no way they can be together, and there's no way they can both be in Sunnydale and see each other without feeling the pain of the knowledge that they cannot be together. He originally says he'll leave before Buffy finishes school, but has a change of heart, going to the prom and surprising her. He helps Buffy and her classmates stop the Mayor's Ascension, before leaving for a new life in LA, where he runs a supernatural detective agency with the help of a former Scooby Gang member, Cordelia and an Irish half-demon (on his mother's side), Doyle. But whenever he feels that Buffy's in trouble, he always returns to Sunnydale, and on one occasion, he met and fought with Buffy's new college boyfriend, Riley Finn, before recognising that Buffy truly has moved on and laid her demon to rest.

Angel is played by David Boreanaz.