American actor, Nicholas Brendon, best known for his role in the cult television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died at the age of 54.
His family confirmed his death in a statement shared on social media, saying he “passed in his sleep of natural causes”.
They added, “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.
“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.”
Brendon became widely recognised for playing Xander Harris across all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which ran from 1997 to 2003, starring alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar in the title role.
A planned reboot of the series was recently cancelled, as announced by Gellar on Instagram earlier this month.
Born in Los Angeles, he received three Emmy nominations for his performance in the series, including nods for best TV actor and best supporting actor.
His twin brother, Kelly Donovan Schultz, also worked on the show as his body double in two episodes.
After Buffy, Brendon appeared in several TV shows including Criminal Minds, Private Practice and Kitchen Confidential, while his film credits include Psycho Beach Party, Big Gay Love and Redwood.
Actress Alyson Hannigan paid tribute to him on Instagram, writing: “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.”
Throughout his life, Brendon was open about his health struggles, including a heart attack and two spinal surgeries following cauda equina syndrome, a rare condition affecting mobility and bladder and bowel control.
He also lived with a stutter and later became an advocate, serving as a spokesperson for the Stuttering Foundation of America.
He was also candid about his battles with substance abuse, alcoholism, and mental health issues.
His family told The Hollywood Reporter, “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.”
