Actor Nicholas Brendon, who is best known for playing Xander Harris on all seven seasons of the original “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” series. According to a statement released by his family, the actor passed away from natural causes at the age of 54. He had been plagued by health issues in recent years, including a cardiac incident in 2022.
Nicholas Brendon’s Family Asks For Privacy After His Passing
On Friday, March 20, the late actor’s family confirmed his passing in a brief statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter.
“We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes,” they wrote in a brief statement, going on to say: “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.”
“While it’s no secret that Nicholas 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,” they continued. “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.”
In the hours after the news broke, his “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” costars took to social media to pay tribute.
Sarah Michelle Gellar Mourns Nicholas Brendon’s Death With Poignant ‘Buffy’ Quote
Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played the titular Buffy Summers, took to Instagram to pay tribute to her late costar with a quote that Xander said during the show’s seventh and final season.
“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,” she quoted.
“I saw you Nicky,” she added. “I know you are at peace, in that big rocking chair in the sky.”
Alyson Hannigan Also Pays Tribute With A ‘Buffy’ Photo
Similarly, Alyson Hannigan, who played the witchy Willow, took to Instagram to share a screenshot of Xander holding a crying Willow during one of the show’s most emotional episodes.
“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. RIP,” she wrote alongside the photo.
David Boreanaz Also Pays Tribute To Nicholas Brendon
Actor David Boreanaz played the vampire Angel during the early seasons of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” before moving to his own spin-off show, “Angel.”
In a lengthy caption, the “Bones” actor began by writing, “There are people you work with
and then there are people you share time with. Nick was the latter.”
He praised Nicholas Brendon as someone who “carried something real,” even though he wasn’t “perfect” or “polished” and noted how, in the entertainment industry, “that matters more than most things.”
“We don’t always get to choose how long someone stays in the story, only that they were here,” he wrote, concluding, “Some people leave a mark without trying.”
More ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ Costars Pay Tribute
Emma Caulfield Ford, who played the demon turned Xander’s love interest, Anya Jenkins, took to her Instagram Stories to share a clip of the late actor giving an interview about the show’s final season.
In a text box placed over the photo, she wrote, “My heart is so heavy. I can’t put into words just yet how this has hit me.” She shared a clip of Brendon on the series, adding, “Let this clip of us giving it our all be a place holder. Rest Nicky. Rest. I love you.”
Charisma Carpenter, who played Cordelia Chase, a love interest of Xander on “Buffy” before moving over to “Angel,” also took to Instagram to share her condolences in a lengthy tribute.
“I will miss the version of the man I once knew – someone who was so warm and loving. He was cuddly, funny, silly, self-deprecating, and supremely talented. I loved every scene we had together back in the day. He always kept me on my toes, never delivering a line the same way twice, forcing me to become a better actor by listening,” she wrote alongside a carousel of photos of the two together.
“I will always remember him in my mind’s eye, in his trailer with the door wide open, in his rocking chair, smoking a cigarette and listening to music. From his trailer, which my window faced on the lot, I could hear all the bands that exemplify the 90s but are also, for me, tied up in the memory of Nicky,” she continued, listing bands like Creed, Alice in Chains, Green Day, and Nirvana.
“I miss those days and cling to those memories of him today. I offer my condolences to his family, his closest friends – who were with him to the end – and to the fans around the world who found comfort in his work,” she continued, adding, “May he be at peace now.”