Sci-Fi Bulletin: Exploring the Universes of SF, Fantasy, Horror and Spy-fi!

Nicholas Brendon, who played Xander in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died aged 54.

His family announced the news: “We 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’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.”

Brendon appeared in all seven seasons of the show, only missing one episode, and also contributed to scripts for the continuation comic. His other genre work included Children of the Corn 3, Demon Island, Unholy and Fire Serpent,

On a personal note, I had the pleasure of interviewing Brendon on set on multiple occasions as well as interviewing him on stage when I MCed the 1998 Visions convention in Chicago.