Buffy star Nicholas Brendon found dead by friend after shock passing at age 54 as 'foul play' not suspected

Nicholas Brendon was found dead by his friend after the actor's shock passing at the age of 54 while 'foul play' is not suspected. 

The late star had been known for playing the character of Xander Harris in the hit series Buffy The Vampire Slayer as well as appearing in other shows such as Criminal Minds. 

His loved ones confirmed his death in an emotional statement last week on Friday, and shared Brendon 'passed in his sleep of natural causes.' 

A close pal of the actor had been staying at the house overnight before his passing, Putnam County Coroner Todd Zeiner told Us Weekly in a statement on Wednesday.

Zeiner said he was 'notified of a deceased individual at a residence in west-central Putnam County' on March 20. 

'Upon arrival, I observed an adult male positioned as if asleep, who had been pronounced deceased by medical personnel prior to my arrival.' 

While it is not yet known when the exact time of the death occurred, Zeiner said it happened close to when the body was first discovered. 

The coroner also stated that there were 'no signs of foul play, and nothing at the scene indicated the death was anything other than natural,' per Us Weekly.

Brendon's family had previously suggested that the late star was going through treatment for an unspecified diagnosis at the time of his death.

In 2022, the actor suffered a heart attack before being diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. 

The results of both an autopsy and toxicology tests have yet to be revealed. 

His loved ones announced his passing last week on Friday in a statement uploaded to the star's Instagram account. 

'We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes,' they began. 

'Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and for the characters he brought to life over the years,' his family said, before adding that he also had a 'passion' for both painting and art. 

Brendon was 'passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create,' the statement continued. 

'Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was.'

His loved ones concluded with, '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.' 

An earlier version of the statement - before it was edited - suggested that Brendon was undergoing treatment for an unspecified diagnosis leading up to his passing. 

'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,' they had written, per The Hollywood Reporter. 

He previously opened up about his addiction struggles, explaining that also played a role in his ongoing health battles, including cauda equina syndrome. 

And according to a Facebook post shared late last year, Brendon also underwent 'knee surgery' in 2025. 

Brendon's Buffy co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar described his death as tragic and premature.

'It's a tragedy when you lose anyone at any point,' Gellar said. 'It's a bigger tragedy when you lose someone way sooner than needs to be.'

She called Brendon 'an integral part of Buffy, and that never goes away.'

Gellar said of her late colleague's work on the series: 'I think as actors we talk a lot or think a lot about legacy.

'He brought so much joy to so many people on that show, and that lives on. And that's the truth.'

It was also recently revealed that lawyers for Brendon are making a perplexing move as they hope to continue to litigate a breach of contract lawsuit the star had been involved in at the time of his death.

Brendon had been entangled in legal proceedings with Stephen Britton, an Ohio-based contractor who he had sued for more than $121,000 over a work dispute.

In legal docs reviewed by Us Weekly, Brendon told the court that he was unhappy with Britton's construction work on his home in Ohio.

Britton said in legal documents filed in December of 2025 that the late actor cursed at his construction workers and tossed projectiles at them.

The workers were fearful of working in the late actor's home, Britton said in legal documents, as there were weapons such as axes often accessible.

The Daily Mail reached out to Britton and Brendon's representative and lawyer for further comment.

The contractor said in legal docs that he 'became worried for his safety and his workers' safety' as result of the late actor's mercurial temperament. 

Amid the enmity, the late actor placed an Apple AirTag in his work bag to keep track of his whereabouts, Britton told the court, which Brendon denied.

'I've never had this happen to me before, and it was alerted for probably three days prior that my iPhone picked it up,' Britton said in legal docs.

Britton said of the tense atmosphere on the job: 'I feared, immensely for my life. 

'To be able to go there and work, to be able to get a job done, to worry about weapons and axes that are going to get - you know, am I going to get a plate thrown at me?'

He added: 'Am I going to get physically assaulted? I was fearful, but then when a tracking device is put on my person, that’s not acceptable.'

Brendon said that a $20,000 loan he provided the contractor with was not repaid, leading his attorneys to request a total of $121,260 with interest.

Attorneys for Brendon said that his estate is planning on picking out a representative who will see the case through the system in the wake of his unexpected passing.

Brendon had denied the claims, telling the court, 'I don't threaten people.'

His lawyer added, 'He's a very calm, relaxed, individual with lots of physical problems and is not threatening in any way shape or form.'