“I saw you Nicky.”

Sarah Michelle Gellar breaks her silence on Nicholas Brendon’s death with heart-wrenching Buffy the Vampire Slayer quote

"I saw you Nicky."

By Sarah Hearon

March 21, 2026 8:19 a.m. ET

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The cast of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'. Credit:

Fotos International/Getty

Xander will always have a special place in Buffy's heart.

Hours after the news broke that Nicholas Brendon had died at 54, Sarah Michelle Gellar took to Instagram to pay tribute to her late *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* costar. She included a quote from the final season of the series, during which Xander consoles Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) when she learns she isn't set to follow in her sister's footsteps as a potential slayer.

“'They’ll never know how tough it is to be the one who isn’t chosen. To live so near to the spotlight, and never step in it. But I know. I see more than anybody realizes, because nobody’s watching me[.]' I saw you Nicky," Gellar wrote alongside a throwback photo of the pair. "I know you are at peace, in that big rocking chair in the sky."

Gellar and Brendon both starred on all seven seasons of *Buffy*, which aired from 1997 to 2003. The Xander quote was a poignant choice for several reasons, including the fact that Brendon suffered public mental health struggles and battled substance abuse over the years.

The character also says the words to Trachtenberg's Dawn. The actress died a little more than one year ago in Feb. 2025 at age 39. Her cause of death was later revealed as natural causes due to complications of diabetes mellitus.

Brendon's family confirmed his passing via a statement on Friday.

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“We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes," the statement said. "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. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was."

The statement went on to acknowledge his ups and downs: "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. Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart. Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support.”

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Just like Gellar's tribute, Alyson Hannigan included a reference to a rocking chair in her post about Brendon's passing.

"My Sweet Nicky, thank you for years of laughter, love and Dodgers," Hannigan, who played Willow for all seven seasons, wrote via Instagram. "I will think of you every time I see a rocking chair.  I love you. RIP 💔😢"

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