Nicholas Brendon, an actor finest recognized for his function as a loveable underdog sidekick on the hit tv sequence “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” has died. He was 54.
Brendon’s household introduced the dying in an announcement posted on his social media accounts Friday. They stated he died in his sleep of pure causes, however didn’t say the place or when it occurred.
Brandon performed Xander Harris, a detailed good friend of lead character Buffy, on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” that ran from 1997 to 2003. The supernatural sequence, which began on the WB community after which moved to UPN, was about vampire slayers, led by {the teenager} Buffy, who battled a variety of demons, werewolves and different darkish forces whereas additionally navigating life in highschool.
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” based mostly on the film of the identical title, by no means acquired many awards, nevertheless it has been cited by many critics as being one of the influential reveals in TV historical past.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, who performed Buffy on the present, posted a photograph of herself with Brendon on Instagram on Saturday.
“I noticed you Nicky,” she wrote. “I do know you might be at peace, in that huge rocking chair within the sky.”
Brendon additionally appeared on the TV present “Felony Minds” between 2007 and 2014 and alongside Bradley Cooper within the Fox sitcom “Kitchen Confidential,” an adaptation of Anthony Bourdain’s memoir, that aired for only one season in 2005.
Brendon was within the movies “Redwood” in 2017, “The Nanny” in 2018 and “Christmas Slasher” in 2024.
Brendon additionally wrote a number of problems with the Buffy comedian e book sequence.
Whereas Brendon was finest often called an actor, his household stated of their assertion that lately he discovered his ardour in portray and artwork.
“He was passionate, delicate, and endlessly pushed to create,” the assertion stated. “Those that actually knew him understood that his artwork was one of many purest reflections of who he was.”
Brendon introduced in 2023 that he had suffered a coronary heart assault. He additionally underwent two spinal surgical procedures for a uncommon nerve compression situation referred to as cauda equina syndrome that may result in ache and weak point within the decrease physique.
Brendon additionally overtly talked about his battle with melancholy and appeared on two 2015 episodes of “Dr. Phil” to debate his struggles with alcohol and psychological well being and a string of arrests for public intoxication, vandalism and domestic violence.
His household stated that whereas Brendon “had struggled up to now,” he was on treatment and remedy to handle his prognosis and was “optimistic concerning the future.”
Scott Bauer, The Related Press