'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' actor Nicholas Brendon passes away at 54
Nicholas Brendon, known for his role in the hit series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died, his family announced on March 20. He was 54.
Brendon died in his sleep of natural causes, the family said in a statement posted to social media. They did not say when or where he died.
"Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and for the characters he brought to life over the years. In recent years Nicky has found his passion in painting and art," the family said in the post.
"Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans. He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was."
Brendon played Xander Harris in Buffy the Vampire Slayer over seven seasons between 1997 and 2003.
The show was centered around Buffy, a teenage girl who battles vampires and other monsters while navigating life in high school.
Brendon's character was a close friend of Buffy.
Buffy stars Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy) and Alyson Hannigan (Willow) took to Instagram to pay tribute to Brendon.
"'They’ll never know how tough it is to be the one who isn’t chosen. To live so near to the spotlight, and never step in it. But I know. I see more than anybody realizes, because nobody’s watching me,'" Gellar wrote, quoting an exchange between Brendan's Xander and the late Michelle Trachtenberg's Dawn.
"I saw you Nicky. I know you are at peace, in that big rocking chair in the sky," she added.
"My Sweet Nicky, thank you for years of laughter, love, and Dodgers. I will think of you every time I see a rocking chair. I love you," Hannigan captioned.
The Los Angeles-born actor was also known for his appearances in shows like Criminal Minds, Private Practice, and Kitchen Confidential, a TV adaptation of Anthony Bourdain's memoir.
He appeared in several thriller films.
Brendon had previous health struggles. In a 2023 Instagram post, he told fans he had undergone two spinal surgeries and had a heart attack.
In their post Friday, Brendon's family asked for privacy "as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart." (with additional reports from Ayie Licsi)
