Nicholas Brendon, who was best known for playing Xander Harris in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer between 1997 and 2003, and Kevin Lynch in Criminal Minds, has died
01:42, 21 Mar 2026Updated 03:33, 21 Mar 2026
Nicholas Brendon has died at the age of 54 (file image)(Image: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)
TV star Nicholas Brendon – who was in Buffy the Vampire Slayer for six years – has died at the age of 54.
The actor passed away on Friday, March 20, in his sleep, his family has confirmed. They said in a poignant post on his Facebook page: “We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes.
“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.”
The actor, born in Los Angeles, California, was well-known for playing Xander Harris on the 90s hit show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He played Xander for six years and was in all but one of the shows 144 episodes, according to Australian news site news.com.
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Brendon, pictured right as Xander in Buffy, worked alongside (left to right) Alyson Hannigan, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Charisma Carpenter(Image: BBC)
Brendon also appeared in Criminal Minds as as Kevin Lynch between 2007 and 2014. His family, though, said that while most people know Nicholas for his acting work, he had found a love for painting and art in recent years.
Their statement continued: “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. 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.
“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. 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.”
Before his role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Brendon was in other popular films and programmes, such as sitcoms Dave’s World and Married… With children on CBS and Fox respectively.