Actor Nicholas Brendon has passed away at the age of 54. His family gave a statement to The Hollywood Reporter about his passing.

“We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes. 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. 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. 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. Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart. Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support.”

Brendon has had some legal troubles in his life, including domestic violence charges in 2017 after an altercation with his girlfriend involving alcohol.

He was a series regular on Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Xander Harris during the series’ seven-season run. It’s unclear if he would have been part of the recently scrapped Hulu reboot.

Outside of Buffy, he also had a 21-episode run on Criminal Minds and mostly starred in smaller independent films.

Join us in celebrating his life and his career. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family in this trying time.

RIP.