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The cast of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is mourning the loss of their co-star Nicholas Brendon, who has passed away at the age of 54.
Alyson Hannigan, known for her role as Willow Rosenberg on the iconic series, shared an emotional tribute on Instagram this past Friday.
“My Sweet Nicky, thank you for years of laughter, love and Dodgers,” she wrote alongside a still from the show’s sixth season. “I will think of you every time I see a rocking chair. I love you. RIP 💔😢.”
Emma Caulfield, Brendon’s on-and-off screen love interest, expressed her grief on Instagram Stories, stating, “My heart is heavy. I can’t put into words just yet how this has hit me.”
She also posted a video of the duo’s performance from the memorable musical episode in Season 6, adding, “Rest Nicky. Rest. I love you.”
The actor’s death was announced by family in a social media statement on Friday.
“We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon,” the statement read. “He passed in his sleep of natural causes. Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and for the characters he brought to life over the years.”
“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,” it continued.
“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.”
The message concluded by asking the public for privacy as the actor’s surviving family members “grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart.”
Prior to his death, the “Criminal Minds” alum had been hospitalized after suffering a “cardiac incident” in 2022, and was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect.
“Nicky is doing fine now but he had to be rushed to emergency about two weeks ago because of a cardiac incident (tachycardia/arrhythmia),” his sister captioned a since-deleted carousel on his Instagram account at the time, showing the beloved actor in an ambulance and hospital room.
“Some of you might remember he had a similar incident after his second spinal surgery last year (for Cauda Equina) but this time. He is trying to get a little more rest and has been concentrating on medical appointments.”
The actor had also undergone spinal surgeries in recent years to address paralysis in his legs and genitals, which his manager had claimed was exacerbated by sleeping on concrete in a jail cell following an arrest for prescription fraud in 2021.
In a 2017 interview with the A.V. Club, the actor, who played Xander Harris in “Buffy,” gushed over the cast.
When asked who he’d play if he weren’t cast as Xander, he quipped, “Buffy, and for reasons I won’t even tell you.”
He added, “It’s just that everyone did such a great job. It was one of those shows that I just feel was perfectly cast.”