Nicholas Brendon's legal team pursuing odd lawsuit after Buffy the Vampire Slayer star's death at 54

Lawyers for late actor Nicholas Brendon are making a perplexing move as they hope to continue to litigate a breach of contract lawsuit the Buffy the Vampire Slayer star had been involved in at the time of his death at 54. 

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 has reached out to Britton and Brendon's representative and lawyer for further comment on the story. 

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.'

Brendon's family announced his death last Friday, saying the actor, who played Xander Harris on the popular vampire show, died while sleeping due to natural causes. 

His family said on his social media pages: 'We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon.'

Brendon's relatives said, '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.'

Brendon's Buffy costar 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.'