‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Star Was 54

Nicholas Brendon, widely recognized for his roles as Xander Harris in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and Kevin Lynch in “Criminal Minds,” passed away in his sleep on Friday, as confirmed by his family. He was 54 years old.

In a statement, his family expressed their sorrow: “We 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’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. 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.”

As Xander, one of Buffy’s (Sarah Michelle Gellar) closest friends and a loyal member of her Scooby Gang, Brendon captured the affection of the show’s fans with his loyalty and humor as they battled the forces of darkness. During “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” Brendon also appeared in films such as “Demon Island,” “Unholy,” and the adaptation of Charles Busch’s “Psycho Beach Party” alongside Amy Adams and Lauren Ambrose.

Following the conclusion of “Buffy” in 2003, Brendon publicly faced challenges with addiction and mental health, revealing at a 2004 fan convention that he was entering rehab for alcoholism.

Despite ongoing personal struggles, he continued acting in 21 episodes of “Criminal Minds” as Kevin Lynch, a former hacker. Brendon encountered legal troubles, starting with arrests in 2010 and twice more in early 2015. After appearing on the Dr. Phil show, from which he walked off, he faced additional charges later that year in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., for an incident involving his girlfriend. He was charged with felony third-degree robbery, criminal mischief, and obstruction of breathing, and upon pleading guilty, agreed to undergo rehabilitation again. Further arrests included incidents in 2017 for assault and in 2021 for a prescription fraud charge, violating his probation.

Brendon was occasionally active on social media, sharing updates about his health and life, as well as his artwork, on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. In 2023, he disclosed on Instagram that he had undergone two spinal surgeries and suffered a heart attack in 2022, expressing the emotional toll of dealing with health insurance and pre-approvals. He sought financial support from fans, stating, “even though money can’t buy happiness, it can buy food and paint as well as pay for doctor appointments!”

On March 14, Hulu decided not to proceed with a revival of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” that was in development, which would have featured Gellar reprising her role as Buffy. If the project had moved forward, previous stars of the show were expected to make appearances, but due to Brendon’s legal issues, he was not considered likely to be involved. Following Hulu’s decision, Brendon criticized Gellar in a Facebook livestream, accusing her of betraying him by participating in a sequel series without him.

Born in Los Angeles as an identical twin with his brother Kelly Donovan, Brendon began acting to overcome a stutter. He was married and divorced twice.