Heinrich Joseph Nest

Heinrich Joseph Nest, canonically known as The Master, was a fictional vampire and the central antagonist, or "Big Bad" of season one of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Played by actor Mark Metcalf, he first appeared in the series pilot "Welcome to the Hellmouth" as well as five more episodes culminating in the death of the character in the season finale "Prophecy Girl". The Master also appeared as an incarnation of the First Evil in the season seven episode "Lessons". The Master also appeared in flashback in the "Darla" episode of Angel.

Notes & Trivia

 * Series creator Joss Whedon's notes for the pilot episode indicate that the Master's name was Heinrich Joseph Nest and his age was six-hundred years. The name has never been used in the series or any other canonical source.


 * The Master's physical appearance and attire is reminiscent of Max Schreck's Graf Orlak in the 1922 silent film Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens. The idea of using this look for the Master originated with actor Mark Metcalf.