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Nicholas Brendon

Nicholas Brendon Schultz (April 12, 1971 – March 20, 2026) was an American actor, writer, and artist best known for playing Xander Harris on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Nicholas Brendon Schultz (April 12, 1971 – March 20, 2026) was an American actor, writer, and artist best known for playing Xander Harris on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He also appeared as Kevin Lynch on Criminal Minds. Brendon was born in Los Angeles, California, and remained closely associated with the Buffy franchise throughout his career.

Career

Brendon’s breakthrough role was Xander Harris on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which made him widely known to television audiences. He later worked in film and television, including a recurring role on Criminal Minds.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Brendon portrayed Xander Harris across seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 1997 to 2003. Sources state that he appeared in all but one of the series’ 144 episodes.

Recognition

Brendon received Saturn Award nominations for his work on Buffy, reflecting the role’s strong reception among genre audiences. His portrayal became one of the most recognisable parts of his career.

Personal background

He was born in Los Angeles, California, and was also active as a writer and artist. Public sources identify him as Nicholas Brendon Schultz and note that he died in 2026.

Key facts

  • He was best known for portraying Xander Harris in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
  • He appeared in all but one of the show’s 144 episodes.
  • His performance earned Saturn Award nominations in 1998, 1999, and 2000.
  • He also played Kevin Lynch on Criminal Minds from 2007 to 2014.
  • He died on March 20, 2026, at age 54.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Nicholas Brendon?
Nicholas Brendon was an American actor, writer, and artist best known for playing Xander Harris on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
What character did he play on Buffy?
He played Alexander “Xander” Harris, one of Buffy’s close friends and a central human character in the series.
How long did he play Xander Harris?
He portrayed Xander Harris from 1997 to 2003, across seven seasons of the show.
Did he appear in every episode of Buffy?
No. Sources state that he appeared in all but one of the show’s 144 episodes.
What other major role did he have?
He played Kevin Lynch on Criminal Minds from 2007 to 2014.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Brendon
    Supports: Birth name, dates, nationality, occupation, Buffy role, Criminal Minds role, episode count.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0107183/
    Supports: Birth information, acting credits, Xander Harris role, and additional career details.
  3. Wikipedia (Spanish) — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Brendon
    Supports: Death date, Buffy role duration, episode count, Saturn Award nominations.
  4. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg9wgj9y5no
    Supports: Death announcement, age at death, Buffy role, and Saturn Award nominations.
  5. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nicholas-Brendon
    Supports: Role of Xander Harris in Buffy and his function in the series.