Sarah Michelle Gellar Leads Emotional Tributes to Buffy Co-Star Nicholas Brendon
American actress Sarah Michelle Gellar has led heartfelt tributes from the cast of Buffy The Vampire Slayer following the death of her co-star Nicholas Brendon at the age of 54. Brendon passed away in his sleep from natural causes, as confirmed by his heartbroken family in a social media announcement on Friday.
Cast Members Share Personal Memories and Photos
Gellar, 48, shared a poignant photo with her five million Instagram followers, accompanied by a moving message. "They’ll never know how tough it is to be the one who isn’t chosen. 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," she wrote. Gellar added, "I saw you Nicky. I know you are at peace, in that big rocking chair in the sky."
David Boreanaz, who played Angel on the cult supernatural drama, posted a nostalgic picture of the pair from their time on the show. He reflected, "There are people you work with and then there are people you share time with. Nick was the latter." Boreanaz described Brendon as "real" and noted, "We don’t always get to choose how long someone stays in the story, only that they were here. And he was… Rest easy brother. Some people leave a mark without trying."
Alyson Hannigan, who portrayed Willow Rosenberg, shared a photo of herself with Brendon, writing, "My Sweet Nicky, thank you for years of laughter, love and Dodgers. I will think of you every time I see a rocking chair. I love you. RIP." Emma Caulfield, who played Anya Jenkins, Brendon's on-off love interest, posted a video of the actor on Instagram with a broken heart emoji and the caption, "I love you Nicky."
Brendon's Career and Personal Struggles
Nicholas Brendon rose to fame as Xander Harris, the loyal best friend to Gellar's Buffy Summers and Hannigan's Willow Rosenberg on Buffy The Vampire Slayer, which aired from 1997 to 2003 under creator Joss Whedon. After the show ended, he had recurring roles as cyber expert Kevin Lynch on seven seasons of Criminal Minds and appeared on Private Practice. Brendon also starred in Kitchen Confidential, an adaptation of Anthony Bourdain's memoir, and films such as Psycho Beach Party, Big Gay Love, and Unholy.
In recent years, Brendon had found passion in painting and art, as highlighted by his family in a statement on X. They remembered him as "passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create," sharing photos of him through the years. Brendon was open about his health challenges, including a heart attack and two spinal operations for cauda equina syndrome, a rare condition affecting movement and bodily functions. He also spoke candidly about struggles with addiction and mental health.
His family emphasized, "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 requested privacy as they grieve, adding, "Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support."
