Coroner: ‘Buffy’ actor Nicholas Brendon died of natural causes in Indiana

(WISH) — Nicholas Brendon, the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” actor, died a week ago of natural causes at a central Indiana home, according to entertainment news websites.

TMZ reported Wednesday, “According to Putnam County Coroner Todd Zeiner in Indiana … he was notified of the deceased individual on Friday March 20 — and, when he arrived, he found ‘an adult male positioned as if asleep’ who had already been pronounced dead.”

People on Thursday shared a statement from the coroner: “The decedent resided alone and was discovered by a longtime friend who had been staying overnight to provide care. Evidence indicated the time of death was very recent. Investigators are reviewing recently posted videos as potential evidence of prior illness.”

The identity of the friend who found Brendon was not disclosed.

The coroner noted he found no signs of foul play, and the final cause and manner of death will be released upon the completion of an autopsy.

Putnam County, with about 37,900 residents, is about an hour’s drive west-northwest of downtown Indianapolis.

The Los Angeles native played Xander on the 1990s TV series. His family said he’d been diagnosed in recent years with a congenital heart defect.

According to Indiana online court records, Brendon in August 2021 was...