Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Nicholas Brendon is dead at age 54.
“We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon,” the actor’s family told Us Weekly in a Friday, March 20, statement, noting that Brendon died in his sleep of “natural causes.” (The Hollywood Reporter was the first to report the news.)
“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 statement continued. “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’s family shared that while it is “no secret” he “had struggles in the past,” he was “on medications and treatment to manage his diagnosis and he was optimistic about the future at the time of his passing.”
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“Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart,” the statement concluded. “Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support.”
Brendon was best known for his role as Xander Harris on Buffy, which he starred on for seven seasons alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, David Boreanaz, Anthony Head and more. He also appeared in other various TV and film projects up until 2021.
In 2023, Brendon revealed he had suffered a heart attack and had been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, as well as cauda equina syndrome. He had undergone several spinal surgeries prior to his death.
