Officials have released the cause of death for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” actor Nicholas Brendon.
Brendon died in March at 54.
According to the coroner’s report obtained by Fox News Digital, the actor’s manner of death was listed as natural.
The cause of death, according to autopsy results, is atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease. The report also cited acute pneumonia and a previous myocardial infarction as contributing factors.
Putnam County Coroner Todd Zeiner said he was dispatched to Brendon’s residence around 9:20 a.m. March 20. Law enforcement present said there were no obvious signs of foul play.
First responders arrived at the home after receiving a 911 call around 8:21 a.m. from Brendon’s longtime friend, Theresa Fortier.
Fortier had been staying with Brendon due to his declining health. Fortier, who was sleeping in a separate bedroom, said she last saw Brendon around 5 a.m., when she heard him coughing. She woke around 8 a.m. and found him dead.
Medics declared Brendon deceased upon arrival due to “obvious signs of death,” the report stated.
Zeiner said the time of death was around 6 a.m.
“Law enforcement present found no obvious signs of foul play and assisted me with cataloging the scene,” Zeiner wrote in the report. “Nothing seemed out of place or disturbed. The home appeared as though he had been renovating.”
Fortier said Brendon had been having a persistent cough and had been self-medicating with over-the-counter medications, the report stated. He had been complaining about chest pain, but would not go to the hospital.
His family confirmed his death in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter at the time.
“We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes,” the statement read. “Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and for the characters he brought to life over the years. In recent years, Nicky has found his passion in painting and art. Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans. He was passionate, sensitive and endlessly driven to create.”
In 2023, Brendon said he had a heart attack in 2022.
The actor previously revealed he was diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome, which the Cleveland Clinic explained is “the compression of a collection of nerve roots” found “at the bottom of your spinal cord” that control the ability to “move and feel sensations in your legs and urinary bladder.”
