Nicholas Brendon, star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, dies at 54

Nicholas Brendon was best known for playing Xander Harris in the hit ‘90s TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The news of his death was confirmed in a post on his verified Instagram, which was also shared with The Hollywood Reporter.

“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. 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,” the statement read.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran for seven seasons, from 1997 until 2003.

A year after the show ended its run, Nicholas Brendon voluntarily checked himself into a rehabilitation facility due to an alcohol problem, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Brendon’s problems continued in 2010, as reported by People at the time, when he again checked into rehab after having a run-in with police.

In 2014 and 2015, Brendon was arrested several more times in Florida, South Carolina and New York, and entered programs for depression, alcohol, and substance abuse at least twice, the magazine reported.

Brendon was again arrested in 2017 after allegedly attacking his girlfriend in a California hotel room.

His medical issues were publicised in 2021, when he reportedly experienced paralysis in his body due to a spinal issue, which led to multiple surgeries.

The following year, the actor experienced what his family described at the time as a “cardiac incident (tachycardia/arrhythmia).”

Actress Alyson Hannigan, who played Willow on the Buffy series, paid tribute to her late costar on Instagram late Friday with a photo of the pair from the show.

Calling Brendon her “Sweet Nicky,” Hannigan thanked him for “years of laughter, love and Dodgers,” the Los Angeles-based MLB team.

Other credits for the late actor include the 2000 film Psycho Beach Party and the 2013 movie Coherence, in which he appeared with his identical twin brother Kelly Donovan.

The news of Brendon’s death comes a little over a year after the passing of Michelle Trachtenberg, another star of the original Buffy series.

CNN has reached out to Brendon’s representative for further information.

Source: RNZ
--Agencies