{"id":556046,"date":"2026-03-22T01:39:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T01:39:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/556046\/"},"modified":"2026-03-22T01:39:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T01:39:22","slug":"sarah-michelle-gellar-remembers-buffy-co-star-nicholas-brendon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/556046\/","title":{"rendered":"Sarah Michelle Gellar Remembers ‘Buffy’ Co-Star Nicholas Brendon"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tSarah Michelle Gellar<\/a> took to Instagram early Saturday to pay tribute to her long-time \u201cBuffy the Vampire Slayer<\/a>\u201d co-star Nicholas Brendon<\/a>, who died on Friday at the age of 54.<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\u201c\u2018They\u2019ll never know how tough it is to be the one who isn\u2019t chosen. To live so near to the spotlight, and never step in it. But I know. I see more than anybody realizes, because nobody\u2019s watching me,\u2019\u201d Gellar wrote, sharing a photo of her with Brendon. \u201cI saw you Nicky. I know you are at peace, in that big rocking chair in the sky.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe quote comes from a \u201cBuffy\u201d Season 7 exchange between Brendon\u2019s character, Xander, and Michelle Trachtenberg\u2019s Dawn. Trachtenberg died in February 2025<\/a> at the age of 39.<\/p>\n

\n\tFellow \u201cBuffy\u201d star David Boreanaz also remembered Brendon on Instagram<\/a>, writing, \u201cThere are people you work with, and then there are people you share time with. Nick was the latter. Some moments stay small on paper: a laugh between takes, a look that says we got this, the quiet understanding of showing up and doing the work together. But those are the things that last. He carried something real, not perfect, not polished, just real. And in this business, that matters more than most things. We don\u2019t always get to choose how long someone stays in the story, only that they were here. And he was \u2026Rest easy Brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tBrendon\u2019s family announced his death in a statement on Friday, writing, \u201cWe are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. 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. 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\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tIn the WB cult classic, Xander was one of Buffy\u2019s closest allies in the battle against the forces of darkness. Brendon was a fan favorite among the cast for his loyalty to his friends and sarcastic sense of humor. His other best-known TV role was playing former hacker Kevin Lynch on 21 episodes of \u201cCriminal Minds.\u201d On the film side, Brendon appeared in \u201cDemon Island,\u201d \u201cUnholy\u201d and an adaptation of Charles Busch\u2019s \u201cPsycho Beach Party\u201d with co-stars Amy Adams and Lauren Ambrose.<\/p>\n