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Nicholas Brendon, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Actor, Dead at 54
Sarah Michelle Gellar is remembering the life of Nicholas Brendon.
After Nicholas died March 20 at the age of 54, his Buffy the Vampire Slayer costar penned a heartfelt goodbye for the late actor.
“‘They’ll never know how tough it is to be the one who isn’t chosen,’” Sarah, 48, captioned a March 21 Instagram post, quoting Nicholas’ character Xander Harris in the show. “‘To live so near to the spotlight, and never step in it. But I know. I see more than anybody realizes, because nobody’s watching me.’”
“I saw you Nicky,” Sarah added alongside a throwback photo of the pair. “I know you are at peace, in that big rocking chair in the sky.”
Her emotional tribute comes one day after Nicholas’ family confirmed his death.
"He passed in his sleep of natural causes," they said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and for the characters he brought to life over the years."
Brendon's family said he was "on medications and treatment to manage his diagnosis," including his struggles with cauda equina syndrome (CES), a congenital heart defect which is caused by nerve damage at the base of the spinal cord, per Cleveland Clinic. However, he was "optimistic about the future at the time of his passing."
"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," they shared. "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."
Their statement concluded, "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.”
Indeed, following his death, more of Nicholas’ Buffy castmates took time to express their condolences.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images, Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage
"My Sweet Nicky, thank you for years of laughter, love and Dodgers," Alyson Hannigan wrote on Instagram March 20. "I will think of you every time I see a rocking chair. I love you. RIP."
Meanwhile, Emma Caulfield—who portrayed Xander's love interest Anya Jenkins—wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post, "Rest Nicky. Rest. I love you.”
"My heart is heavy," she added on Instagram Stories, per a screenshot published by Deadline. "I can’t put into words just how this has hit me."
For a look back at Nicholas’ life in pictures, read on…
Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images
1998
Bei/Shutterstock
1998
With Buffy the Vampire Slayer costar Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images
1998
With Buffy the Vampire Slayer costar David Boreanaz.
Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage for InStyle Magazine
2002
With Buffy the Vampire Slayer costar Alyson Hannigan.
Norm Betts/Shutterstock
2002
With Buffy the Vampire Slayer costar Amber Benson.
20th Century Fox Television/Kobal/Shutterstock
2003
MediaPunch/Shutterstock
2005
SBM/Plux/Shutterstock
2005
Sipa/Shutterstock
2008
With Buffy the Vampire Slayer costar Michelle Trachtenberg.
Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
2008
MediaPunch/Shutterstock
2010
Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images
2012
Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images
2017
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