Nicholas Brendon, best known for playing the beloved Xander Harris on all seven seasons of the WB television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, passed away on Friday, March 20th. He passed away at the age of 54.
In a statement posted on Brendon’s official Facebook page, Brendon’s family announced that he passed away in his sleep.
“We are saddened to mourn the passing of our brother and son Nicholas Brendon. He passed away in his sleep from natural causes,” the statement said. “As our family grieves his passing and honors the life of a man who lived with strength, imagination, and heart, we ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
“Buffy” co-star Alyson Hannigan posted a photo of her friend and fellow Dodgers fan Alyson Hannigan on Instagram.
“Dear Nicky, thank you for all the years of laughter, love, and Dodgers,” Hannigan wrote. “I love you. Rest in peace.”
Brendon was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Genre TV Actor in 1998 and 1999, and was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 2000 during the run of Buffy (1997-2003). He appeared in several episodes of Criminal Minds as Kevin Lynch, an FBI technical analyst and lover of Penelope Garcia, played by Kirsten Vangsness.
However, much of the actor’s career after “Buffy” was marked by health problems, drug abuse, stints in rehab facilities, and high-profile arrests. Brendon was arrested in October 2014 in Boise, Idaho, after police were alerted to a disturbance involving hotel employees. Four months later, in February 2015, Brendon was arrested again in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for causing extensive damage to a hotel room.
In August 2015, Brendon was scheduled to appear on “The Dr. Phil Show” to talk about his recent arrests and alcoholism. However, the actor removed his microphone during the interview and walked off the show. Brendon later explained on his Facebook page that he had consumed alcohol before the interview and did not feel ready to “reveal the darkest parts of himself on national television.”
Brendon returned to the show in November 2015.
In a statement, the family highlighted many aspects of Brendon’s life beyond his Hollywood career and public image.
“Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and the characters he has brought to life over the years. In recent years, Nicky has developed a passion for painting and art,” the statement reads.
His family said Brendon was a passionate, sensitive and “endlessly driven” man who loved sharing his talents and artwork with his family.
“Those who truly knew him understood that his art was the purest reflection of who he was as a person. It’s no secret that Nicholas had struggled with illness in the past, but he was on medication and treatment to overcome his diagnosis, and at the time of his death he was optimistic about his future,” the statement continued.
