Nicholas Brendon passed away at the age of 54, his family confirmed on Friday.
The actor was best known for playing Xander Harris in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer as well as Kevin Lynch in Criminal Minds.
‘We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes,’ his family said in a statement shared on his Instagram account.
Four of Brendon’s family members were seen posing with him in a group photo that they shared alongside the emotional statement.
His family praised him for his passion for art and his ‘enthusiastic talent’ as they shared photos of him acting as well as some of his paintings.
‘Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and for the characters he brought to life over the years,’ the statement read.
‘In recent years Nicky has found his passion in painting and art,’ it continued. ‘Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans.’
His family described the multi-hyphenate artist as ‘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.’
Nicholas Brendon passed away at the age of 54, his family confirmed on Friday; pictured in June 2017
The actor was best known for playing Xander Harris in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer; pictured in 1997 portrait, from left to right: David Boreanaz, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon
His family said in a statement that the actor ‘passed in his sleep of natural causes’; pictured from left to right: Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Cordelia Chase
