A 245+ year old Vampire with a somewhat macabre past. He was sired by Darla in Galway Ireland in 1753, after noticing the pretty Vampire in an alleyway. After his crossover into the Vampire world he became Angelus a most feared creature by both the undead and every human that had the misfortune of crossing his path. He killed almost everyone that he met and also killed their families too. He sent poor Drusilla insane before finally turning her into a Vampire herself. Darla however made a fatal mistake of bringing him a Gypsy Girl to feed upon, her clan took their revenge and returned his soul to him. Leaving him living in torment from what he had done as the evil Angelus, he wandered from place to place feeding on the odd rodent occasionally living a meaningless existence.
He eventually was found by Whistler, a Demon who showed him Buffy, know Angel he decides to help the young Slayer "Kill them all" and they become friends and eventually fall in love. This love is however fatal to them both as when they seal their love for each other he becomes Angelus once again. The Romany curse had a fatal clause which was if he ever experienced even one moment of true happiness he would lose his soul and become the monster that he once was. This tears Buffy apart, knowing that she must face him, the one she loves and kill him. Angelus sets out to awaken Acathla and suck the whole world into hell, Buffy knows that this is the time to finally end it, and she sends her love straight to hell impounding him with a sword. However he was not the monster Angelus when she did this, Willow cast the Romany curse once again and restored his soul just as Buffy was about to kill him. As Buffy realized this, she also realized that it was too late to save him from the dark depths of hell.
Angel spent a few hundred years (time goes much quicker in hell) in torture and is eventually for some reason brought back to Sunnydale. When Buffy discovers this he is like a wild animal, she is almost unbelieving that her Angel can ever be the man he once was, he does however remember and she helps him recover in the old mansion. They find themselves growing closer once again and this scares them both.
Eventually Angel decides that it is best that he leaves Sunnydale forever (we all hope not) and to go to Los Angeles. It is hard for them both but they know that it can never really be. And so Angel hits the streets of LA, he pairs up with Doyle a half human/Demon and Cordelia to fight the forces of evil once more through their Detective Agency.
Only time will tell if he will stay in the City of Angels or if his heart will take him back to were he has left it - In Sunnydale.....
Oliver: "You are a beautiful, beautiful man. "
Angel:" Thanks. "
Oliver: "You're an actor."
Angel: "No. "
Oliver: "That wasn't a question. I'm Oliver. Ask anyone about me. They'll tell you
I'm a fierce animal. I'm your manager as soon as you call. "
Angel: "I'm not an actor."
Oliver: "Funny. I like the humor. I like the whole thing. Call me. This isn't a
come-on. I'm in a very serious relationship with a landscape architect."