‘Buffy’ star Nicholas Brendon ‘doing fine’ after heart issue

Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Nicholas Brendon, best known for playing titular character Xander’s sidekick on the TV series, was recently hospitalized after suffering another heart attack, according to his sister.

The 51-year-old actor was hospitalized about two weeks ago with tachycardia, a condition that causes the heart to beat abnormally fast, his sister wrote on Brendon’s official Instagram account on Tuesday. She also shared pictures of the actor receiving medical attention in an ambulance and in a hospital.

“Nicky is sending his love and wanted me to apologize for not going live that much lately and give everyone an update,” she wrote. “Nicky is fine now but had to be taken to the ER about two weeks ago for a heart attack (tachycardia/arrhythmia).”

Brendon officials did not immediately respond to the Times request for comment Thursday.

The Post also said the “Criminal Minds” star had a similar health scare after undergoing a second spinal surgery last year to treat cauda equina syndrome, a rare condition that affects the nerve bundles in the lumbar region – or sacral spine are compressed or not functioning properly.

“He’s trying to get some more rest and is concentrating on doctor appointments,” his sister said in the Post.

Last year Brendon underwent surgery after suffering from paralysis in his genitals and legs, the Daily Mail reported, which his manager said was due to Brendon sleeping on the concrete floor of a prison cell last year after being jailed in Indiana on suspicion arrested on prescription fraud for falsely informing officials of his identity.

Prison life aggravated Brendon’s spinal problems, and he struggled to walk amid “deep-seated medical problems and immense pain,” his manager, Theresa Fortier, told the Daily Mail in September. It also forced him to retire from promoting the psychological thriller Wanton Want, which Brendon had hoped would distract from the headline-grabbing legal troubles associated with it over the past decade.

Brendon was released from Vigo County Jail on his own and reached a settlement in February, WLFI reported.

The actor was previously arrested for grand larceny, resisting arrest, charging a peace officer and criminal mischief, as well as criminal records in California, Idaho, Florida and New York. He famously went from “Dr. Phil” in 2015 and said he’s battled depression and substance abuse.

In 2020, Brendon struck a plea deal after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend at a Palm Springs hotel in 2017. Brendon agreed to serve three-year probation and complete a 52-week domestic violence course and 20 hours of community service as part of the deal, according to the Desert Sun. The charge of assaulting a spouse was reduced to trespassing.