Buffy The Vampire Slayer actor Nicholas Brendon dies at 54

LOS ANGELES – American actor Nicholas Brendon, known for his role in the hit series Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997 to 2003), has died, his family announced on March 20. He was 54.

Brendon died in his sleep of natural causes, the family said in a statement posted on social media. It did not say when or where he died.

“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 family said in the post.

“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 played Xander Harris in Buffy The Vampire Slayer over seven seasons. The show was centred on Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), a teenage girl who battles vampires and other monsters while navigating life in high school.

Brendon’s character was a close friend of Buffy’s.

The Los Angeles-born actor was also known for his appearances in shows like Criminal Minds (2005 to present), Private Practice (2007 to 2013) and Kitchen Confidential (2005 to 2006), a TV adaptation of late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain’s memoir.

Brendon had previous health struggles. In a 2023 Instagram post, he told fans he had undergone two spinal operations and had a heart attack.

In its post on March 20, Brendon’s family asked for privacy “as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart”. AFP