{"id":670519,"date":"2026-03-21T02:48:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T02:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/670519\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T02:48:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T02:48:15","slug":"buffy-the-vampire-slayer-star-was-54","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/670519\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Star Was 54"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tNicholas Brendon<\/a>, who played Xander Harris on \u201cBuffy the Vampire Slayer<\/a>\u201d and Kevin Lynch on \u201cCriminal Minds,\u201d died in his sleep Friday, according to a statement from his family. He was 54. <\/p>\n

\n\tThe statement from his family read, \u201cWe are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes. 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. While it\u2019s 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. 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. Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support.\u201d<\/p>\n

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We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes. pic.twitter.com\/DqVQfVL8Xk<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Nicholas Brendon (@NicholasBrendon) March 21, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n\tAs Xander, one of Buffy\u2019s (Sarah Michelle Gellar) best friends, and a stalwart member of her Scooby Gang, Brendon won the heart of the show\u2019s fans, with his loyalty and sarcastic quips, all as they fought the forces of darkness through their young adulthood. With his star on the rise during \u201cBuffy,\u201d Brendon appeared in movies like \u201cDemon Island,\u201d \u201cUnholy,\u201d and an adaptation of Charles Busch\u2019s \u201cPsycho Beach Party\u201d with co-stars Amy Adams and Lauren Ambrose.<\/p>\n

\n\tAfter \u201cBuffy\u201d ended in 2003, though, Brendon suffered publicly from addiction issues and mental illness, announcing at a 2004 fan convention that he was entering rehab for alcoholism. <\/p>\n

\n\tDespite deepening personal issues, he appeared on 21 episodes of \u201cCriminal Minds\u201d as the former hacker Kevin Lynch. He was arrested numerous times, beginning in 2010. He was then arrested twice within two months in February and March of 2015, after which he went he went on the Dr. Phil show \u2014 but walked off. Later that year, he was arrested again, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., for strangling his girlfriend. He was charged with felony third-degree robbery, criminal mischief and obstruction of breathing, and, when he pleaded guilty, agreed to enter rehabilitation again. The arrests continued for years: In 2017 \u2014 again, for assaulting a different girlfriend \u2014 and 2021 (on a prescription fraud charge), which was a violation of his probation.<\/p>\n

\n\tBrendon was an occasional user of social media, and would give semi-regular updates on Facebook and Instagram about his life and health, as well as posting some of his paintings. In 2023, he posted on Instagram<\/a> that he\u2019d had two spinal surgeries and a heart attack in 2022, and wrote that \u201cdealing with health insurance and pre-approvals feels nearly as emotionally exhausting and painful as dealing with my actual injuries.\u201d In the post, he was soliciting funds from fans, writing \u201ceven though money can\u2019t buy happiness, it can buy food and paint as well as pay for doctor appointments!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tOn March 14, Hulu passed on a revival of \u201cBuffy the Vampire Slayer\u201d<\/a> that the streamer had in the works \u2014 it would have starred Gellar returning to the role of Buffy. Had it moved forward, the show\u2019s previous stars likely would have made appearances, but because of Brendon\u2019s multiple arrests, he wasn\u2019t thought to be one of them. In a Facebook livestream after Hulu passed on the project, Brendon lashed out at Gellar, saying she\u2019d betrayed him by doing a sequel series without him<\/p>\n

Born in Los Angeles as an identical twin with his brother Kelly Donovan, he started acting to help overcome his stutter. He was married and divorced twice. <\/p>\n