Sarah Michelle Gellar has shared a heartfelt tribute to her Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star Nicholas Brendon after his death aged 54.

The actor, best known for playing the titular vampire slayer’s friend Xander Harris in the hit supernatural series, died Friday “in his sleep of natural causes,” his family said in a statement.

Gellar, who led the series as Buffy, shared a tribute Saturday morning, featuring a throwback photo and a quote that Brendon’s character famously said on the hit show.

“They’ll never know how tough it is to be the one who isn’t chosen. To live so near to the spotlight, and never step in it,” read the quote. “But I know. I see more than anybody realizes, because nobody’s watching me.”

Gellar continued: “I saw you Nicky. I know you are at peace, in that big rocking chair in the sky.”

The quote was taken from the episode titled “Potential” from the seventh season of the series, in which Brendon’s character Xander opened up about not having supernatural powers to Dawn, played by Michelle Trachtenberg, who died in 2025 at the age of 39.

The speech is considered to be a key moment in the series.

Gellar and Brendon co-starred on Buffy the Vampire Slayer for seven seasons, which ran from 1997 to 2003.

The two actors, along with co-star Alyson Hannigan, were the only cast members who are credited with appearing in the majority of its 144 episodes.

Brendon’s family said in their statement: “Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and for the characters he brought to life over the years. In recent years, Nicky has found his passion in painting and art. Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans,” his family said.

“He was 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.”

Hannigan, who starred as Xander’s best friend Willow Rosenberg on the show, said in a tribute: “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,” she added.

Alongside his role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Brendon appeared in a number of TV shows, including Criminal Minds, Private Practice and Kitchen Confidential – an adaptation of Anthony Bourdain’s bestselling memoir.

The actor had been open about his various health conditions in the past.

He said in 2023 that he had been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and had experienced a heart attack. He also had cauda equina syndrome (CES), which occurs when there is damage to the nerve roots at the bottom of the spinal cord.

In a since-deleted post shared on Brendon’s Instagram account in August 2022, it was revealed that he had been hospitalized because of tachycardia, an abnormal heart rhythm which can cause a resting heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute. A normal resting heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute.

His family’s statement continued: “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.”

Buffy the Vampire Slayer won two Emmy Awards and 14 nominations across its seven seasons between 1997 and 2003.