David Boreanaz has been one of the hardest-working television actors in the business since his big break on Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 1997. Judging by his vampire output since becoming everyone’s favorite vampire cursed with a soul, Boreanaz has been working on hit series after hit series without much of a break. His latest show, SEAL Team, is coming to an end after seven seasons, and the actor revealed that his body is the main reason the show is ending. The next episode will air on August 18; the series finale will be released on October 6. In a conversation with People, Boreanaz talked about the end of SEAL Team. Because he and the other actors were so dedicated to making sure the series was as authentic as possible, it began to take a toll on his body physically. The show is known for its intense military-style action scenes, which require grueling training to get the perfect shot. “My body couldn’t take it anymore,” the actor said, describing a specific moment that showed how grueling the filming process was: “I walked ten feet, hit a rock, twisted my ankle, and I fell over. My ankle was blistered, but I had to keep going. You learn from the SEALs how to push through pain. I’m talking about guys who cut their hands and are telling jokes because that’s how they deal with it. It’s intense. I take really good care of myself, but at some point your body just doesn’t move the same… I think I’ve had four MRIs in the last four months, my knee, my hip, my shoulder. It’s been quite a journey.” The 55-year-old actor plays Special Forces Commander Jason Hayes in SEAL Team, as the commander of Bravo Team.
Created by Benjamin Cavell, the series follows Bravo Team, an elite unit of Navy SEALS, as they embark on dangerous missions around the world. The missions are often delivered without warning, and the series shows how the job affects their families as well. SEAL Team began airing on CBS in 2017 but moved to the Paramount+ streaming service in 2021. In total, seven seasons and 107 episodes have been produced for the series.
Boreanaz hasn’t really slowed down since his time on Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 1997. The actor played Angel on the hit supernatural series from 1997-1999 until he left to star in his own spinoff. Angel aired for five seasons and 110 episodes until 2004, but instead of taking a break after that, the actor quickly found himself playing FBI Special Angel Seeley Booth on the Fox series Bones, which ran from 2005-2017 for 12 seasons and 246 episodes. After Bones ended, Boreanaz went on to join SEAL Team in 2017, which just ended.
I think I’ve had four MRIs in the last four months, for my knee, my hip, my shoulder. It’s been a long journey.
All of the shows Boreanaz has been on have had a loyal fan base, but none are as strong as the genre fans who love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Not one to scoff at the shows that made him a star, the actor admitted that his spinoff in particular was “complicated,” adding, “I think Angel is still one of those shows that’s still underrated. It’s an adult-themed action exploration. Both of those shows will live on forever.” Boreanaz also thinks it would be fun to rediscover the character, saying, “You have the cult world that loves Buffy and Angel, they love fantasy, they love portals and makeup and all the fantasy worlds. It’s definitely something that would be interesting to dig back into, that world, that environment.
