Nicholas Brendon, best known for playing Xander Harris on all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died at the age of 54, according to a statement posted on Instagram Friday.
“We are heartbroken to learn of the death of our brother and son Nicholas Brendon. He passed away in his sleep from natural causes,” the family wrote, adding, “Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and the characters he brought to life over the years.”
“In recent years, Nikki has developed a passion for painting and art,” the statement continued. “Nicki loved sharing her enthusiastic talents with her family, friends, and fans.
The statement added that Brendon was “passionate, sensitive and relentlessly driven to create.”
“Those who truly knew him understood that his art was the purest reflection of who he was as a person. It is no secret that Nicholas had struggled with illness in the past, but he was on medication and treatment to overcome his diagnosis, and at the time of his death he was optimistic about his future.”
The family concluded by asking for privacy, saying, “We are saddened by his death and honor the life of a man who lived with strength, imagination, and heart.”
“Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support.”
Buffy co-star Alyson Hannigan, who played Willow Rosenberg for all seven seasons, liked a statement on social media Friday afternoon and shared a still from the series’ heartbreaking season 6 on her account.
“Thank you my sweet Nicki for all the years of laughter, love, and Dodgers,” she captioned the upload. “Every time I look at the rocking chair I think of you. I love you. Rest in peace 💔😢”
Brendon starred in the popular Vampire series from 1997 to 2003 alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar, Charisma Carpenter, David Boreanaz, Seth Green, Anthony Stewart Head, and Hannigan.
In 2022, Brendon revealed that he experienced a heart attack and was subsequently diagnosed with a congenital heart defect.
The actor also battled cauda equina syndrome, for which he underwent multiple spinal surgeries.
Born Nicholas Brendon Schultz in Los Angeles in 1971, the identical twin brother of his brother Kelly Donovan, the actor’s television credits include appearances on “Criminal Minds,” “Private Practice,” “Married with Children,” and “Kitchen Confidential.”
His films include “Psycho Beach Party,” “Coherence,” and “The Nanny.” His most recent role was in 2021’s “Wanton Want.”
In a 2017 interview with The AV Club, Brendon said, “But Buffy the Vampire Slayer felt like a kind of blessed, ordained project.”
“There were so many times when I was on set and in this amazing place and I said, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe I’m on this show,'” he recalls. “It was like a dream.”
