Nicholas Brendon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star Alyson Hannigan was among the first to pay tribute to him in the wake of his shock death.
, his family said on Friday in a statement shared on social media.
Shortly after, Hannigan, 51, took to Instagram to post a photo of their characters sharing an emotional embrace in a scene from the late 90s horror series.
'My Sweet Nicky, thank you for years of laughter, love and Dodgers,' she wrote. 'I will think of you every time I see a rocking chair. I love you. RIP.'
Brendon was known for playing Xander Harris in Buffy, and later for his performance as Kevin Lynch in Criminal Minds.
Another Buffy alum, Emma Caulfield, 52, took to Instagram Stories to write, 'My heart is heavy. I can’t put into words just yet how this has hit me. Rest Nicky. Rest. I love you,' according to Page Six. The post has since been deleted.
Nicholas Brendon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star Alyson Hannigan was among the first to pay tribute to him in the wake of his shock death
Hannigan, 51, took to Instagram to post a photo of their characters sharing an emotional embrace in a scene from the late 90s horror series
'My Sweet Nicky, thank you for years of laughter, love and Dodgers,' she wrote. 'I will think of you every time I see a rocking chair. I love you. RIP'
'We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes,' his family's announcement read.
Four of his family members posed with him in a group photo they shared alongside the note.
Emma Caulfield, who played Brendon's love interest in the series, also posted a tribute on her Instagram Story
L-R Emma Caulfield, Brendon, Hannigan, James Marsters, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Michelle Trachtenberg in 2001
Brendon was known for playing Xander Harris in Buffy; pictured with co-stars Hannigan, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Charisma Carpenter
Brendon passed 'in his sleep of natural causes', his loved ones said in an statement on Friday; The actor pictured in 2017
Per The Hollywood Reporter, his family previously wrote: '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.'
