'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Actor Nicholas Brendon's Cause of Death Revealed
Autopsy results cite a 90% blockage in his right coronary artery, with acute pneumonia and a prior heart attack also contributing, officials said.
- On Friday, March 20, the Putnam County Coroner's office released autopsy results for Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor Nicholas Brendon, confirming he died of atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease with acute pneumonia and a previous heart attack as contributing factors.
- Brendon was best known for playing Xander Harris on seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, though he faced documented health challenges including cauda equina syndrome from a 2021 fall and past struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction.
- Coroner Todd Zeiner detailed a 90 percent blockage of Brendon's right coronary artery, while surveillance video showed the actor 'markedly coughing' before his death; a friend staying overnight to provide care discovered him.
- Following the autopsy release, Buffy co-stars including Sarah Michelle Gellar posted tributes, while Brendon's family previously stated he 'passed in his sleep of natural causes,' describing him as 'passionate, sensitive and endlessly driven to create.'
- Despite facing significant medical hurdles, Brendon remained optimistic about the future, admitting in a 2023 Instagram post that juggling doctor appointments felt 'nearly as emotionally exhausting' as dealing with his physical injuries.
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The cause of the death of actor Nicholas Brendon was revealed on last Tuesday (5). The actor, who was best known for his role as Xander Harris in the series "Buffy, the Vampire Hunt", died on March 20, at the age of 54. At the time, the family disclosed that the death occurred while he slept, and the cause was described as natural. Ted Turner: founder of CNN dies at the age of 87 Works that 'transcend generations and borders': Studio Ghibli rece…
Le Journal de Montreal
Le Journal de QuebecThe cause of Nicholas Brendan's death has been confirmed.
Nicholas Brendon died in his sleep on March 20, 2026. Now the autopsy report is available – and he paints a shocking picture of his state of health.
At the end of March, news of the death of Nicholas Brendon shocked the fans of the cult series "Buffy – In the spell of the demons". Now the official cause of death of the actor became known. Fans of "Buffy – In the spell of the demons" knew Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris. At the end of March, it became known that the serial star died at the age of only 54. The report of the coroner revealed the reasons for his death.Heart-circuit disease as …
The Independent
Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Nicholas Brendon’s cause of death revealed
Actor, who played Xander in hit series, died in March, aged 54
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