Nicholas Brendon, unforgettable Alex from Buffy, is dead

The American actor was 54 years old.

It’s been a terrible week for Buffy fans.

A few days after the unexpected cancellation of the new series New Sunnydale, we today learned of the tragic death of Nicholas Brendon.

Faithful accomplice of Buffy, sarcastic right-hand man and beating heart of the Scooby Gang, he was Alex Harris (Xander in the original version), much more than the simple “human” of the series. Alex won over an entire generation of fans with his loyalty and acid punchlines, taking on the forces of evil alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Buoyed by the success of the series, the actor then made appearances in the cinema, notably in Demon Island, Unholy or Psycho Beach Party, adaptation by Charles Busch, alongside Amy Adams and Lauren Ambrose.

But after the series ended in 2003, the trajectory went off the rails. Addictions, mental disorders, repeated visits to rehab: in 2004, he publicly announced his fight against alcoholism. Despite everything, he found a second wind on television by playing Kevin Lynch, a former hacker, in 21 episodes of Esprtis Criminels.

The rest is darker. Repeated arrests from 2010, accusations of violence, legal problems piling up. In 2015, he was arrested several times, notably for having attacked his partner. Other cases will follow in 2017 and 2021, adding to an already weakened journey. On social networks, the actor regularly gave his news, also sharing his paintings. In 2023, he revealed that he had undergone two spinal operations as well as a heart attack, speaking bitterly about the weight of the American health system. He also appealed for help from his fans to finance his treatment.

Nicholas Brendon died in his sleep Friday of natural causes, according to his family. He was 54 years old.

“Passionate, sensitive and driven by a constant need to create,” write those close to him in a press release. “Even though he experienced challenges, he was undergoing treatment and looked to the future with optimism. We ask for privacy to mourn his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination and heart.”