Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast share touching tributes to co-star Nicholas Brendon after his shock death at 54

Nicholas Brendon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star Alyson Hannigan was among the first to pay tribute to him in the wake of his shock death.

Brendon died in his sleep at age 54, his family said on Friday in a statement shared on social media.

Shortly after, Hannigan, 51, took to Instagram to post a photo of their characters sharing an emotional embrace in a scene from the late 90s horror series.

'My Sweet Nicky, thank you for years of laughter, love and Dodgers,' she wrote. 'I will think of you every time I see a rocking chair. I love you. RIP.'

Brendon was known for playing Xander Harris in Buffy, and later for his performance as Kevin Lynch in Criminal Minds. 

Another Buffy alum, Emma Caulfield, 52, took to Instagram Stories to write, 'My heart is heavy. I can’t put into words just yet how this has hit me. Rest Nicky. Rest. I love you,' according to Page Six. The post has since been deleted.

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

Four of his family members posed with him in a group photo they shared alongside the note.

His loved ones praised him for his passion for art and his 'enthusiastic talent' as they shared photos of him acting as well as some of his paintings.

'Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and for the characters he brought to life over the years,' the post read.

'In recent years Nicky has found his passion in painting and art,' it continued. 'Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans.'

His family described the multi-hyphenate artist as '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.

'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,' the message concluded.

The statement was edited – an earlier version published hours prior suggested that Brendon was going through treatment at the time of his death.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, his family previously wrote: '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.'

In 2023 the actor revealed he suffered a heartattack and was subsequently diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, per the outlet.

He also once opened up about addiction, explaining it played a role in his health battles, which included cauda equina syndrome.

Due to the condition – the compression of a collection of nerve roots located at the bottom of the spinal cord, per the Cleveland Clinic – he was required to undergo multiple corrective spinal surgeries over the years.

Late last year Brendon also underwent knee surgery, according to a November 2025 Facebook post.