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Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Nicholas Brendon’s cause of death has been shared.
The actor died aged 54 on 20 March, with his family saying he “passed in his sleep of natural causes”.
According to a death certificate obtained by Page Six, Brendon died from heart disease caused by blocked arteries and high blood pressure – and he also had pneumonia. A previous heart attack suffered by Brendon was also listed as a contributing factor.
Nicholas Brendon died, aged 54, in March 2026 (Getty Images)
“Autopsy demonstrated an adult male with a markedly enlarged heart, severe stenosis of the right coronary artery, moderate stenosis of the left anterior descending and left circumflex arteries, acute pneumonia, and inflammation of the small bowel,” Putnam County Coroner Todd Zeiner wrote in the report.
“The small bowel inflammation is most likely secondary to ischemic changes related to the cardiogenic shock.”
Brendon has been open about his previous health issues.
In a since-deleted post shared on Brendon’s Instagram account in August 2022, it was revealed that he had been hospitalised because of tachycardia, an abnormal heart rhythm with a resting heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute. A normal resting heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute.
The post, reported on by several outlets at the time, mentioned that Brendon had a “similar incident after his second spinal surgery last year” for cauda equina syndrome, which occurs when there is damage to the nerve roots at the bottom of the spinal cord.
Brendon needed emergency surgery after a spinal injury from a fall in February 2021, the star’s manager, Theresa Fortier, previously told the Los Angeles Times.
There was a complication with Brendon’s second spinal surgery in October 2021, which caused the tachycardia, according to Fortier. After the August 2022 cardiac incident, Brendon was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, Fortier said.
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“He is currently under the care of a cardiologist and has been focusing on painting and reducing stress,” the manager said.
Brendon was best known for playing Xander Harris in TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The Emmy award-winning supernatural show aired for seven seasons. Brendon’s twin brother appeared alongside him in two episodes.
Nicholas Brendon played Xander in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer (The WB)
His co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played the lead role, led tributes to Brendon, writing: “I saw you, Nicky. I know you are at peace, in that big rocking chair in the sky.”
David Boreanaz, who played vampire Angel, added: “There are people you work with and then there are people you share time with. Nick was the latter,” while Willow actor Alyson Hannigan said: “My Sweet Nicky, thank you for years of laughter, love and Dodgers. I will think of you every time I see a rocking chair. I love you. RIP.”
