Fellow “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Charisma Carpenter has paid tribute to Nicholas Brendon following his tragic passing.
Brendon, 54, died on Friday, March 20. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, his family said, “We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon.” It explained, “He passed in his sleep of natural causes.”
Numerous co-stars of Brendon’s have taken to social media to pay their respects to him, with Carpenter the latest of many.
Carpenter, of course, played obnoxious cheerleader Cordelia Chase alongside Brendon’s geeky Xander Harris in the iconic supernatural horror drama series. Cordelia and Xander were on-off boyfriend and girlfriend in the early seasons of the show.
The 55-year-old actress took to her Instagram account to share her thoughts on Brendon’s passing with her 399,000 followers.
Charisma Carpenter Remembers ‘Warm and Loving’ Nicholas Brendon
GettyCharisma Carpenter’s post about Nicholas Brendon is accompanied by five images. The first is of Brendon looking happy in his “Buffy the Vampire Slayer days.” The other four all feature both Carpenter and Brendon, alongside their co-stars on the show. Other actors who feature include Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Seth Green, Anthony Head, and David Boreanaz.
The lengthy caption on her post begins, “I will miss the version of the man I once knew – someone who was so warm and loving. He was cuddly, funny, silly, self-deprecating, and supremely talented. I loved every scene we had together back in the day. He always kept me on my toes, never delivering a line the same way twice, forcing me to become a better actor by listening.”
Presumably, the reference to “the man I once knew” refers to the fact that, in his later life, Brendon had become a troubled soul who had sadly endured numerous health and legal issues.
Carpenter Hopes Brendon Is ‘At Peace’ Now
GettyCarpenter’s caption continues, “I will always remember him in my mind’s eye, in his trailer with the door wide open, in his rocking chair, smoking a cigarette and listening to music. From his trailer, which my window faced on the lot, I could hear all the bands that exemplify the 90s but are also, for me, tied up in the memory of Nicky. Bands like: Oasis, Red Hot Chili Peppers, STP, Foo Fighters, OMC, Green Day, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Sublime, Creed, Barenaked Ladies, Smashing Pumpkins, The Cranberries, Lauryn Hill, Blink-182, 311, Blur, Garbage, Counting Crows, Goo Goo Dolls, & Snow Patrol. I miss those days and cling to those memories of him today.”
It goes on, “I offer my condolences to his family, his closest friends – who were with him to the end – and to the fans around the world who found comfort in his work.”
The post concludes with Carpenter saying, “May he be at peace now.”
It was a wholly appropriate and sincere post that emphatically conveyed Carpenter’s feelings about Brendon.
Carpenter’s Followers Praise ‘Beautifully Written’ Tribute
GettyCharisma Carpenter’s followers flocked to the comments to express their shared grief about Nicholas Brendon, and to praise her post about his passing.
One follower wrote, “Beautifully written. Thank you for sharing those memories with us. Sending love to all who are hurting with this loss❤️.”
Fellow “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” alum Julie Benz wrote, “Beautiful post ❤️ My heart goes out to his family and loved ones 🕊️.”
Actress Rebecca Gayheart, who recently lost her husband, actor Eric Dane, commented, “Im so sorry for your loss 💔❤️.”
Another follower said, “I so appreciate your honesty while remaining kind; it shows respect to his victims while acknowledging there was a time when things were different 🤍✨.”
Hollywood star Selma Blair chimed in, saying, “I am so sorry for your loss my friend. ❤️.”
Finally, Emma Caulfield, who played Xander Harris’ most notable girlfriend, Anya, on “Buffy,” simply posted, “❤️❤️❤️.”
We hope Charisma Carpenter is coping as well as she can with Nicholas Brendon’s passing. We also hope everyone else close to him is doing okay. May he rest in eternal peace.
