Buffy Actor Nicholas Brendon’s Cause of Death Revealed

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Nicholas Brendon, the actor famous for playing Xander Harris on , died in March at 54 years old. The official cause of his death has now been announced.

According to a report from the Putnam County Coroner’s office released on May 5th, Brendon died from heart disease caused by plaque buildup in his arteries and high blood pressure. Pneumonia and a previous heart attack also played a role. The coroner determined a 90% blockage in a major artery was the immediate cause of death.

There Were No Signs of Foul Play

Coroner Todd Zeiner’s report stated that investigators found no evidence of wrongdoing and helped him document the scene, noting everything appeared normal. Zeiner also mentioned that Brendon’s friend, Theresa Fortier, called 911 and had previously noticed Brendon experiencing health issues before his death.

According to Theresa, the man had been dealing with a continuous cough and trying to treat it himself with over-the-counter medicine. He’d also been experiencing chest pain. Theresa suggested he go to the hospital, but he refused. Zeiner added that the man was a long-time smoker and hesitant to seek medical attention because of recent back surgery. Theresa also mentioned he’d had a heart attack several years prior, but didn’t pursue treatment then either.

The autopsy revealed Brendon had a significantly enlarged heart and several blocked arteries. He also had pneumonia and inflammation in his small intestine. Doctors believe the intestinal inflammation was likely caused by reduced blood flow resulting from severe heart problems and shock.

Nicholas Brendon Died in March at Age 54

Brendon died on Friday, March 20th, as announced on his Instagram account. His family shared a statement explaining that he “passed away peacefully in his sleep from natural causes.” They also mentioned that while he had faced challenges in the past, he was receiving medical treatment, taking medication, and felt hopeful about the future when he died.

Buffy star Kristy Swanson has been publicly dealing with health issues for some time. In August 2021, her representative shared that she was experiencing serious medical problems and significant pain. The following year, reports surfaced that she had suffered a cardiac incident.

Nicky is recovering well after a recent health scare. About two weeks ago, he had to go to the emergency room due to a fast or irregular heartbeat. He experienced something similar after spinal surgery last year, but this time it was a bit different, according to a recent statement.

Following his passing in March, fans worldwide shared their grief online. Many of his colleagues from the show Buffy also expressed their sympathy and offered condolences to his family.

Sarah Michelle Gellar shared a heartfelt message, saying she saw Nicky and believes he’s now at peace, imagining him relaxing in a rocking chair in the sky.

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2026-05-05 19:38