Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Nicholas Brendon’s touching final video before his death as he looks back on iconic role

Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Nicholas Brendon looked back on his iconic role in a touching final video in which he read and responded to comments from fans before his death.

The actor, who died Friday at the age of 54, was best known for his role as Xander Harris, opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar, on the hit television series. He also played the character Kevin Lynch in Criminal Minds.

His touching final video, released nearly a year before his death, included an Instagram Live recording titled ‘Candle time with Nicky’.

During the clip, Nicholas answered questions and read messages from his loyal fans.

One fan told the late star she ‘still looks good’, while another gushed: ‘You are iconic. We love you Nick. ‘I’ve been in love with you for years.’

A third added: ‘I love listening to you.’

The actor, who died Friday at the age of 54, was best known for playing Xander Harris opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar in the hit television series (in the 1997 portrait, from left to right: David Boreanaz, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon)

Nicholas was clearly impressed: ‘That’s a lovely thing to say, actually a really sweet thing to say. Wow – Thank you.’

The heartwarming footage showed Nicholas relaxing on the sofa at his home, with a warm fire and candle glowing in the background.

Nicholas’ family released a heartbreaking tribute following his death on Friday.

‘We are saddened to share the passing of our brother and son Nicholas Brendon. In the statement shared on his account on Friday, it was said: “He passed away in his sleep due to natural causes.”

Four of Nicholas’ family members were seen posing with him in a group photo they shared along with their statements.

His family praised him for his passion for art and his ‘exuberant talent’ and shared some of his paintings as well as acting photos.

‘Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and the characters he has brought to life over the years,’ the statement said.

‘Nicky has found his passion in painting and art in recent years,’ he continued. ‘Nicky loved sharing his exuberant talent with family, friends and fans.’

‘We are saddened to share the passing of our brother and son Nicholas Brendon. “He died in his sleep of natural causes,” his loved ones said in a statement on Friday, sharing a family photo.

His family praised him for his passion for art and ‘exuberant talent’ by sharing some of his pictures as well as acting photos

His family described the multi-hyphenate artist as ‘passionate, sensitive and endlessly determined to create.’

‘Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was.’

“Our family asks for privacy at this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination and heart,” family members said in a joint statement.

‘Thank you to everyone who showed love and support.’

The statement shared by the late actor’s family has been edited, but an earlier version published a few hours ago suggested that Nicholas was being treated for an unspecified diagnosis at the time of his death.

Per Hollywood ReporterHis family previously wrote: ‘While it was no secret that Nicholas had struggled in the past, he was receiving medication and treatment to correct his diagnosis and was optimistic about the future at the time of his death.’

The actor previously announced that he had a heart attack in 2022 and was subsequently diagnosed with a congenital heart disease.

She has previously spoken out about her struggles with addiction, explaining that it also plays a role in her ongoing health struggles, including cauda equina syndrome.

According to the report, after the serious decline in February 2021 Los Angeles TimesHe suffered from cauda equina syndrome, which is compression of the collection of nerve roots located in the lower part of the spinal cord. Cleveland Clinic — and has required multiple corrective spine surgeries over the years.

According to his Facebook post in November 2025, Nicholas also underwent ‘knee surgery’ late last year.

She played the lovable sidekick to Sarah Michelle Gellar’s character, Buffy Summers; Picture taken in October 1998

Brendon appeared in all seven seasons of the hit series, which aired from 1997 to 2003; Photo from 1998, left to right: Gellar, Charisma Carpenter, Brendon, Alyson Hannigan and Seth Green

On Buffy, Nicholas played the lovable sidekick to Gellar’s title character, and together they appeared in all seven seasons of the hit supernatural drama series, which aired from 1997 to 2003.

He also had recurring roles on Criminal Minds and Kitchen Confidential, a sitcom starring Bradley Cooper and based on Anthony Bourdain’s memoir of the same name, which aired for only one season on Fox.

In addition to his major television roles, he starred opposite Lauren Ambrose and Amy Adams in the 2000 film adaptation of Charles Busch’s Psycho Beach Party.

He also appeared in the 2002 thriller Demon Island, the 2007 horror film Unholy, and the 2013 science fiction film Coherence.

Following his time on Buffy, Nicholas’ struggles with substance abuse and mental health became public and resulted in a number of arrests, including for prescription fraud.

Beginning in 2010, he was charged with crimes ranging from aggravated vandalism, resisting or obstructing officers, criminal mischief, and causing great bodily harm to a spouse; the second resulted in a plea agreement and three years of probation.

His recovery journey was intertwined with arrests as he attended rehab and described his struggles with mental health and addiction over the years.

Shortly after the tragic news was announced, co-star Alyson Hannigan was among the first to pay tribute to Nicholas on social media.

The actress, who plays Willow Rosenberg on Buffy, shared some of her fond memories on Instagram.

“My sweet Nicky, thank you for the years of laughter, love, and the Dodgers,” she wrote alongside a photo of them hugging and crying in an emotional scene.

‘Every time I see a rocking chair, I will think of you. I love you. RIP,’ she wrote alongside emojis of a broken heart and a crying emoticon.

Emma Caulfield, who played Brendon’s love interest in the series, also published a tribute on her Instagram Story.

‘My heart is heavy. “I can’t yet put into words how this has affected me,” she wrote of her co-star alongside a scene of them dancing in the hit musical episode from season six.

‘Let this clip we gave our all be a placeholder,’ he wrote. ‘Rest, Nicky. To relax. I love you.’