Xander Harris

Alexander "Xander" Harris is a fictional character in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He is a friend and helper of the title character. One of his remarkable qualities is that, unlike most of the series's regular characters, he has no supernatural powers of any kind.

Xander's main role on the series is to provide comic relief. He resorts to sarcastic comments and sophomoric humor to relieve tension, a characteristic that often annoys those around him (especially Rupert Giles). In this respect, Xander provides a dose of realism to the series, as people do tend to use humor to handle stress. Another comic aspect of Xander is his tendency to poke fun at himself, revealing a low self-esteem. Xander's insecurity and immaturity not only reflect the common stereotype of the teenage boy, they also serve to strengthen the Buffy character by making her appear more mature and capable.

Despite Xander's weak self-image and sarcastic personality, he has proven himself time again as a supporter of his friends and a courageous member of the gang.

Though he is quite good-looking, Xander tends to be unsuccessful romantically. He does have relationships with Cordelia Chase and Anya[?], though.

The character is portrayed by actor Nicholas Brendon.