Nicholas Brendon’s official cause of death has been revealed nearly two months after the Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor was found dead at an Indiana residence.
Keep reading to learn more.
According to a report from the Putnam County Coroner obtained by TMZ, Brendon died from complications related to atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease after being discovered unresponsive on March 20 inside a home in Putnam County, Indiana.
The death has now officially been ruled as natural.
Per the coroner’s findings, the actor suffered from severe plaque buildup in his arteries, including a reported 90% blockage of his right coronary artery. The condition, known as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, occurs when arteries narrow and harden due to fatty deposits restricting blood flow.
Page Six was first to report details surrounding the official cause of death.
Additional contributing factors listed in the report included acute pneumonia and a previous heart attack that Brendon had reportedly suffered years earlier.
According to the coroner’s report, a friend who had been helping care for Brendon as his health declined told investigators the actor had experienced a heart attack “several years ago” but declined further medical treatment afterward.
The same friend reportedly last saw Brendon around 5 a.m. the morning he died and recalled hearing him coughing heavily before later finding him unresponsive around 8 a.m.
Authorities were immediately contacted. The report also stated that Brendon had recently complained about chest pain but refused to visit a hospital, instead choosing to self-medicate using over-the-counter medications.
Investigators noted that the actor was a longtime smoker and reportedly hesitant about seeking medical treatment due to concerns tied to a recent back surgery.
Surveillance footage reviewed during the investigation reportedly showed Brendon “markedly coughing” and speaking with what the coroner described as a “raspy” voice in the period leading up to his death.
Brendon became a household name in the late 1990s and early 2000s through his role as Xander Harris on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, starring opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar throughout the show’s seven-season run.
As one of Buffy’s core characters, Xander became known for providing comic relief and emotional grounding amid the supernatural chaos of the cult-favorite series.
Following Buffy, Brendon appeared in television projects including Criminal Minds, Kitchen Confidential, and several independent films, while also remaining a popular figure on the fan convention circuit for years.
At the same time, much of Brendon’s post-Buffy life unfolded publicly through a series of legal troubles and health struggles.
Over the years, the actor spoke openly about issues involving addiction, mental health, and substance abuse. In 2017, he was charged with domestic violence after allegedly attacking his girlfriend while under the influence of alcohol.
Despite those struggles, his family said Brendon had recently entered a more hopeful chapter in his life before his death.
After news of his passing broke, relatives revealed that the actor had “found his passion in painting and art” during his later years.
“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,” his family said.
They also disclosed that Brendon had suffered a heart attack in 2023 before later being diagnosed with a congenital heart defect.
Share this with others who like to be kept up to date with the latest news from Hollywood.