This has been a bad week for the Slayer.
A week after we learned the Buffy revival was turned down by Hulu, it’s been revealed that Nicholas Brendon, who played Xander Harris on the show from 1997 to 2003, died of natural causes this week at the age of 54. The news broke just after two p-m Pacific.

Aside from the first guy to learn Buffy’s identity in a certain place where the book lives, he was a semi-regular in Criminal Minds and appeared in movies including Psycho Beach Party, Coherence, and Demon Island.

This is a big loss. He was a major part of the Buffy lore as a loyal sidekick to Buffy and occasional demon hunter. While being goofy, he got the attention of a nerdy girl turned sorceress and a former vengeance demon.
He even saved the world.

Much has been said about his personal life after the show. He had suffered from mental illness and substance abuse. He was arrested several times for vandalism and corporal injury of a spouse, However, he enjoyed new life as a painter.

This is the family’s statement:

“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.”

He also had several videos on his Facebook page. His last reel was last Saturday (March 14), talking about the Buffy pilot. He also commented on whether it should happen without Joss Whedon’s involvement.

The reels are in this link, and it’s best to get his viewpoint by looking at it, Safe to say, he’s got some interesting things to say and worth watching.

I met him at a Reno bowling party he had a few years ago. My bowling form was bad (since I don’t do it very often). It was still a great experience. I even got a DVD from Coherence signed by him.

Godspeed, Xander Lavelle Harris

Nicholas Brendon also appeared at HellmouthCon in 2017. In response to his passing, Hellmouth Events shared a community statement reflecting on that experience and the range of fan interactions that followed.

You can read their full response here