Nicholas Brendon, an actor who performed the lovable, clownish sidekick on the hit tv present “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” has died. He was 54.
His household confirmed the dying in a short assertion on Mr. Brendon’s Instagram web page on Friday, saying he had died in his sleep. The assertion didn’t say the place or when he died.
Mr. Brendon stated in 2023 that he had suffered a coronary heart assault. He additionally had a number of surgical procedures for a syndrome associated to nerve compression on the finish of the spinal wire.
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” which aired from 1997 to 2003, depicted Buffy, a teenage woman known as upon to guard the world from monsters as she and her buddies navigated highschool life. It aired on the WB community for 5 seasons earlier than transitioning to UPN for its closing two.
Mr. Brendon performed Xander Harris, an in depth good friend and unrequited admirer of Buffy, performed by Sarah Michelle Gellar. A New York Instances overview of the present’s premiere described Xander as a would-be Don Juan who had a “tragic coiffure” — shaggy bangs falling over his eyes — and emanated a untimely sense of his personal attractiveness to ladies.
Mr. Brendon would go on to play Xander in an animated sequence and online game spinoffs.
After his breakout position in “Buffy,” he performed the pastry chef Seth Richman in “Kitchen Confidential,” a TV adaptation of Anthony Bourdain’s memoir of the identical identify. He starred alongside Bradley Cooper, who performed Jack Bourdain, an govt chef recovering from substance abuse. The present, which premiered on Fox in 2005, was canceled after 13 episodes.
From 2007 to 2014, he had a recurring position as an FBI technical analyst on the police procedural sequence “Legal Minds.” In 2010, he appeared in 4 episodes of the medical drama “Non-public Follow” as Lee McHenry, a affected person who assaults one of many present’s leads.
He additionally starred in a handful of thriller movies, together with “Redwood” (2017), “The Nanny” (2018) and “Christmas Slasher” (2024), his closing performing credit score.
Nicholas Brendon Schultz was born on April 12, 1971, in Los Angeles, in keeping with his web site. He arrived three minutes after his twin brother, Kelly Donovan Schultz, who would later seem in an episode of “Buffy” as Xander’s sinister double.
Mr. Brendon performed baseball at Chatsworth Excessive Faculty, however an arm harm that he suffered after commencement ended his dream of enjoying for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The harm compelled him to think about different profession choices, and he settled on performing.
About two months after he began performing, Mr. Brendon stated lately, he was forged in “Buffy.”
“I acquired fortunate,” he stated.
His first movie position was in “Psycho Seaside Celebration” (2000), a campy satire about youngsters in Nineteen Sixties Malibu exploring their sexuality. Mr. Brendon, who used his center identify as his final identify for his performing profession, portrayed Starcat, the love curiosity of the movie’s protagonist, Chicklet.
Mr. Brendon credited performing with serving to him to beat the stutter he developed at age 7, and he served as an envoy for the Stuttering Basis, a nonprofit that helps analysis into the causes of stuttering.
He married the actor Moonda Tee in October 2014, days after asserting their engagement on social media. He stated a couple of months later that that they had separated.
Exterior of performing, he was a painter and a photographer. He co-wrote a quantity of a preferred “Buffy” comedian guide sequence in 2014.
Details about his survivors was not instantly accessible on Saturday morning.
In 2023, Mr. Brendon stated on social media that he had suffered a coronary heart assault.
He additionally suffered from cauda equina syndrome, which is brought on by a compression of nerves on the finish of the spinal wire and infrequently results in ache and weak spot within the decrease physique. He stated in 2021 that he was having a second spinal surgical procedure to right the syndrome. His supervisor stated on social media final 12 months that had undergone one other spinal surgical procedure.
Mr. Brendon brazenly mentioned his battle with melancholy after a 2015 incident in Tallahassee, Fla., wherein he broken a resort room. He stated he had stopped taking his medicine for melancholy, which led to him taking too many sleeping tablets with alcohol.
“A variety of it has to do with my coming to phrases with the stuff I’m having to take care of within my head, which isn’t enjoyable,” he stated in an interview that 12 months with the Tallahassee Democrat.
He ceaselessly spoke to followers via Fb livestreams, answering questions on “Buffy,” his profession and his well being. In a livestream on March 15, he addressed Hulu’s cancellation of a deliberate “Buffy” reboot, saying that he felt harm as a result of the sequence’ creator, Joss Whedon, had not been concerned within the reboot.
Ms. Gellar confirmed the cancellation a couple of days later.
Mr. Whedon’s picture as a feminist and a considerate nerd has collapsed in recent times, after he was accused of treating actors cruelly on set and having affairs with workers. He has disputed among the allegations.
“It broke my coronary heart,” Mr. Brendon stated on the livestream, referring to the fallout from the allegations. He requested followers to forgive Mr. Whedon.
Mr. Brendon stated that though his spinal syndrome had compelled him to retire from performing, he believed there have been extra tales to be informed about “Buffy” and her buddies.
He added that hundreds of individuals had informed him that the present helped them in onerous instances.
“It simply acquired them via, which implies that this present is extra than simply {dollars} and cents,” he stated. “It’s one thing that must be honored.”
