Which cast members have found the most success outside of Buffy/Angel?

[Skanky Vamp]

even if she's nowhere near as big as Rowling or Tolkien etc.

Or even E. L. James.. sorry @Taake but come on!

 

[AnthonyCordova]

I'm defining success in terms of whether or not the actors/actresses have continued to be culturally relevant. AH and DB, a lot of people are still aware of them and know them and they are main actors/ctresses on current popular shows (well AH just recently finished up her thing with how I met your mother, but that just ended). Some people would be more generous with the definition of success (and people are right, most of them make a living doing what they do) but I equate success with different things. Lots of actors can scrape by and pay the bills. Lots make good money doing minor roles. But who's really culturally relevant I ask you? 

Or even E. L. James.. sorry @Taake but come on!

Amber Benson is a writer? That's news for me. Not nearly as popular as Tolkien or Rowling? Not nearly? And my friend's band is not nearly as popular as U2 or the rolling stones. Not quite. Slow down a minute there, let's not get carried away!

 

[caitaintdead]

I'm going to base this entirely on my own opinion but success to me is when someone is doing incredibly well in their field and living a positive, happy life.

In that case the two definite and obvious contenders are:
Alyson Hannigan (happily married with a family, steady TV career, no negative media coverage)
Tony Head (combination of stage and television work, family, works tirelessly for charity)

Points could also be argued for:
David Boreanaz (Bones has been incredibly successful and in my opinion he has improved 10 fold as an actor, however he hasn't always had favourable media coverage due to cheating on his pregnant wife and apparent egotistical ways)
Danny Strong (his name seeems to be becoming more and more well known due to his writing and directing career)

Let's not talk about poor Nicholas Brendon who has not done any work worth mentioning in a favourable way since his struggle with alcoholism and has spent 10 years being well known as the guy that used to play Xander and is now permanently getting arrest. Not to mention he is now divorced and appears to be single. Poor sod 🙁

 

[Fuffy Baith]

Let's not forget Julie Benz! She was on Dexter, and now on Defiance, plus she was in the last Rambo movie. She's been doing well for herself. Seth Green has been very successful with his voice work. I dont think any of them have had big movie success but if they are still making a living acting then i think they are successful.

 

[Samuel Reyes]

Another Buffy alum who's been successful in the writing department: Michael Bacall, who was in the episode "Some Assembly Required." He co-wrote the screenplays for Project X, 21 Jump Street, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

 

[bespangeled]

That really depends on how you define success. I kinda like Amber Benson. She seems happy with what she is doing - writing and directing independent films, writing children's books, comfortable financially and expressing herself creatively. She does have more than one popular series and a total of 24 books out.

Success has to have a personal component - it what you want is fame, then success means getting that fame. If what you want is good friends and time to enjoy life - then that is also success.

http://www.amazon.com/Amber-Benson/e/B001IU2TNW