Everything “Buffy” Star Nicholas Brendon Said About His Congenital Heart Defect and Cauda Equina Syndrome Before His Death
Everything “Buffy” Star Nicholas Brendon Said About His Congenital Heart Defect and Cauda Equina Syndrome Before His Death
Desiree AnelloSat, March 21, 2026 at 5:13 PM UTC
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Nicholas Brendon on June 2, 2017Credit: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty -
Nicholas Brendon died “in his sleep of natural causes” at age 54, his family said in a statement on March 20
“He was on medications and treatment to manage his diagnosis and he was optimistic about the future at the time of his passing,” they said without elaborating on the diagnosis
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum was previously candid about having been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and cauda equina syndrome
Nicholas Brendon was candid about his health in the years before he died.
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum died “in his sleep of natural causes” at age 54 on Friday, March 20, according to his family.
"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,” the family wrote in a statement on social media. “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.”
After suffering a heart attack in August 2022, Brendon revealed months later in 2023 that he had been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect.
He also had cauda equina syndrome, which occurs when “an injury or herniated disk compresses nerve roots at the bottom of your spinal cord,” often causing pain, weakness and incontinence, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Here’s everything Brendon and his loved ones said about his congenital heart defect and cauda equina syndrome before his death.
Brendon experienced “deep-seated medical problems and immense pain” after a jail stint in 2021
Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris in "Buffy The Vampire Slayer Year 5" season 5Credit: Online USA/Getty
After Brendon was arrested and charged with felony prescription fraud in 2021, the late actor’s manager, Theresa Fortier, told the Daily Mail that Brendon was experiencing “paralysis in his genitals” and legs.
She also claimed that he was struggling to walk due to “deep-seated medical problems and immense pain,” which would later require major back surgery, and that his condition was exacerbated by sleeping on the floor and being handled without care during his brief stint in jail after his 2021 arrest. (Court records show he later filed a plea agreement in February 2022 and the case was finalized on April 4, 2022, when he pleaded guilty to the felony prescription fraud charge. He was sentenced to one year of probation.)
“Right now, he is concentrating on his health,” she said at the time, noting that Brendon would not be doing promotion for the film Wanton Want. “This past week and a half, things have turned drastically worse. He is suffering from paralysis in his genitals and private parts.”
“He has difficulties with flying,” she continued. “Sadly his condition means he needs surgical intervention for his increasing problems. I wish he was on the mend and able to promote this movie.
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The actor underwent two spinal surgeries to manage his cauda equina syndrome
Nicholas Brendon on April 15, 2012Credit: Barry Brecheisen/WireImage
Fortier told the Los Angeles Times in August 2022 that Brendon suffered a serious spinal injury in February 2021 that required immediate surgery to prevent complete paralysis.
After undergoing a second spinal surgery in October 2021, during which his spinal cord was punctured and there was a cerebrospinal fluid leak that resulted in tachycardia, Fortier shared that Brendon was “trying to get a little more rest and has been concentrating on medical appointments.”
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“After a second cardiac incident two weeks ago, Brendon was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect that is more common in twins,” Fortier continued. “He is currently under the care of a cardiologist and has been focusing on painting and reducing stress.”
He was rushed to the hospital due to another “cardiac incident” in 2022
‘Buffy’ cast members Emma Caulfield, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, James Marsters, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Michelle Trachtenberg in 2001Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty
In August 2022, a message shared to the actor’s Instagram revealed that he had been hospitalized for a cardiac issue.
"Nicky sends his love and wanted me to apologize that he hasn't been going live as much lately and to give everyone an update," the since-deleted post began, alongside photos of Brendon on an ambulance stretcher, in a wheelchair and asleep in a hospital bed. "Nicky is doing fine now but he had to be rushed to emergency about two weeks ago because of a cardiac incident (tachycardia/arrhythmia).”
“Some of you might remember he had a similar incident after his second spinal surgery last year (for Cauda Equina) but this time, he is trying to get a little more rest and has been concentrating on medical appointments," the post continued.
Brendon admitted that dealing with his injuries and juggling health insurance was “emotionally exhausting and painful”
“Sorry for the extra long disappearing act,” he wrote on Instagram in April 2023 alongside a few photos of his paintings. “After two spinal surgeries and a heart attack, I've had multiple doctor appointments to juggle and dealing with health insurance and pre-approvals feels nearly as emotionally exhausting and painful as dealing with my actual injuries.”
“I also needed time to rest...or at least as much as I'm capable of resting,” he continued. “So I somehow ended up ‘trapped’ in Idyllwild-Pine Cove (California) by about 3 feet of snow and nothing but time to swing on the back porch or paint in front of the fireplace.”
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
