Nicholas Brendon

Nicholas Brendon

Brendon in San Diego Comic-Con 2011.
Born Nicholas Brendon Schultz
April 12, 1971
Los Angeles, California, United States
Occupation Actor
Years active 1993–present
Spouse(s) Tressa di Figlia (m.2001-2007)
Moonda Tee (m. 2014)

Nicholas Brendon (born April 12, 1971, as Nicholas Brendon Schultz in Los Angeles, California), is an American actor and writer. He is best known for playing Xander Harris in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003) and Kevin Lynch in Criminal Minds (2007–present). Since 2014 he has been writing on the Buffy Season 10 comic book.[1]

Early life

Nicholas Brendon was born Nicholas Brendon Schultz on April 12, 1971, in Los Angeles,[2] three minutes after his identical twin brother, Kelly Donovan.[3]

As a child, he aspired to become a professional baseball player, but he "lost the passion for it" at 20.[4] Instead, he decided to pursue acting in an attempt to overcome his stuttering problem,[5] which had first become apparent at age seven or eight, and had made him so fearful of speaking or interacting with strangers that he did not begin dating until 21 or 22. Brendon comments, "Every day I still have to remind myself to slow down and concentrate. Constant repetition of tongue-twisters was like lifting weights for me, but patience and persistence have paid off."[6][7][8]

He gave up acting after two years because he "couldn't stand the politics in Hollywood." Brendon returned to school to study medicine, which didn't work out; he also tried his hand at a variety of odd jobs, including plumber's assistant, veterinary janitor, day care counselor, waiter, and production assistant for the television show Dave's World.[9][10]

Career

Brendon with Anthony Stewart Head at the 2004 Oakland Super SlayerCon.

At the age of 25, Brendon decided to return to acting. He signed with a manager and obtained the role of Xander Harris on Buffy the Vampire Slayer three months later.[11] He appeared in all but one of the 144 episodes in the series, and even shared the screen with his twin, Kelly Donovan, when his character was split in two in the fifth-season episode "The Replacement".[12]

After the series ended in 2003, Brendon joined the cast of the Fox television pilot The Pool at Maddy Breakers. The series was not picked up by the network. In 2004, he co-starred in his first ABC Family movie, Celeste in the City. The following year, he returned to Fox as part of the cast of Kitchen Confidential, based on the book by chef Anthony Bourdain. Thirteen episodes were made, but the series was canceled on December 9 of the same year after the fourth episode aired, due to low ratings.

In 2006, he voiced Huntsboy #89 for season 2 of the animated series American Dragon: Jake Long. That same year, he reunited with his former Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star Charisma Carpenter in the ABC Family TV movie Relative Chaos.

From July 26 through August 30, 2006, Brendon co-starred with Noah Wyle in the play Lobster Alice at the Blank Theatre Company in Los Angeles. He subsequently appeared in the Blank Theatre's annual Young Playwrights Festival[13] and its productions of The SantaLand Diaries (November 20 – December 20, 2009),[14] and Why Torture Is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them.[15]

In 2007, Brendon began appearing on the TV series Criminal Minds in the recurring role of FBI technical analyst Kevin Lynch.[16] He has appeared in episodes in each season since, through the tenth season.[17][18]

On September 29, 2010, he premiered his web comic Very Bad Koalas, co-created with animation director/producer Steve Loter. The comic follows the journey of two sheltered and innocent koalas experiencing a variety of people and places while on the run from the law in a 1958 Cadillac El Dorado.[19]

On October 28, 2010, Brendon began a four-episode arc on ABC's Private Practice playing Lee McHenry, a mentally disturbed man who assaults Charlotte King.

On 2014, Brendon was part of a summit for writers of Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics, which included Joss Whedon, Jane Espenson, Drew Greenberg, Andrew Chambliss and the then-incoming Buffy writer Christos Gage. He is currently involved with the show's canonical comic book series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten, on stories centering on his character.[20]

It was announced on August 27, 2014, that Brendon will star in the new "Untitled Web Series About a Space Traveler Who Can Also Travel Through Time" feature film along with Sylvester McCoy, Robert Picardo, Mayim Bialik, Chase Masterson, Rosearik Rikki Simons, Travis Richey, Eric Loya, and Carrie Keranen.[21]

Charity work

(From left to right) Alexis Denisof, Alyson Hannigan, Brendon, Nathan Fillion, Danny Strong and Tom Lenk at a John Kerry fund raiser.

Brendon has done work for the Stuttering Foundation of America, which approached him around 2001,[7] and made him its honorary chairperson for its National Stuttering Awareness Week in May 2001,[6] May 2002[22] and May 2003.[23]

Personal life

On April 25, 2004, at a Buffy fan convention in Cleveland, Ohio, he announced that he had voluntarily entered rehab for alcoholism.[24]

In the early morning of March 17, 2010 Brendon was tasered and arrested by Los Angeles police, who confronted Brendon in response to a call about an intoxicated individual. Brendon allegedly swung his fists at the officers and attempted to run away, and after being subdued, was arrested for felony vandalism. Brendon was initially held on $20,000 bail.[25][26][27] Brendon was later charged with four misdemeanors, including one count of resisting arrest, two counts of battery against a police officer, and one count of vandalism.[28]

In May 2010, Brendon checked himself into the SOBA Recovery Center in Malibu to address his addiction to alcohol and sleeping pills.[29] On June 19, 2010, Brendon pleaded no contest to all four charges and received a one-year suspended jail sentence, was placed on probation for 36 months, and was required to perform 10 days of community service.[30]

On October 17, 2014, Brendon, participating in the Tree City Comic Con, was arrested in a Boise, Idaho hotel lobby, for misdemeanor charges of Malicious Injury To Property and Resisting or Obstructing Officers. According to authorities, Brendon was booked in the Ada County Jail and released after posting bond.[31][32]

On October 5, 2014, Brendon married Moonda Tee in Las Vegas.[33] They announced their separation and intention to divorce on February 14, 2015.[34]

On February 16, 2015, Brendon was arrested on suspicion of grand theft by Fort Lauderdale police, after Brendon reportedly trashed his hotel room and refused to pay the bill.[35] Brendon had been in Fort Lauderdale for a local comic convention. Brendon's spokesman released a statement shortly after the incident: "Nicholas is, unfortunately, battling a disease that many of us don't understand. ... He's sorry for his actions. ... We are aware that Nicholas' actions are of a much deeper origin - and we are working toward creating a healthy environment for him to thrive in. The past several months have been trying, and Nicholas' disease is damaging and consistently misunderstood. We are doing everything in our power at Camp Nick to assure his recovery."[36]

On March 13, 2015, Brendon was arrested again after destroying another hotel room after demanding an upgrade because he was a "TV star".[37] In an interview the next day, Brendon said he has been struggling with depression since he was a kid and had stopped taking his medication recently, which was a mistake and culminated in his taking some sleeping pills and then going into a blackout. He said, "a lot of it has to do with my coming to terms with the stuff that I am having to deal with inside of my head which is not fun - and it's not funny, and people who make fun of it and make light of it, I wish that it doesn't happen to them." Brendon said he plans to go back to his doctor to get back on the right medication. Regarding the first day of the ALT*Con conference that he missed due to his arrest, he said, "I hate how I feel right now. I hate how I have come off. This isn't who I am." Regarding his plans to keep his commitment to appear on the second day of the ALT*Con convention in Tallahassee, Florida, he said, "These events kind of give me hope and I love meeting my fans. So, it's kind of like the refuge outside of my head."[38]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest Basketball Player One
2000 Psycho Beach Party Starcat
2002 Demon Island Kyle
2007 Unholy Lucas
2008 Blood on the Highway Chase Sinclair
2009 A Golden Christmas Michael
2009 My Neighbor's Secret Brent Keller
2010 The Portal Paul
2013 Big Gay Love Andy
2013 Coherence Mike
2014 Indigo Gary
2014 Attack of the Morningside Monster Mark Matthews

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Married… with Children Guy in Ray-Ray's Gang Episode: Hood 'n the Boyz
1995 Dave's World Episode: Do the Write Thing
1997–2003 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Xander Harris 143 episodes
2003 The Pool at Maddy Breaker's Movie
2004 Celeste in the City Dana Blodgett/Harrison
2005–2006 Kitchen Confidential Seth Richman 13 episodes
2006 Relative Chaos Gil Gilbert Movie
2006–2007 American Dragon: Jake Long Huntsboy No. 89 Voice
6 episodes
2007 Fire Serpent Jake Relm Movie
2007–present Criminal Minds Kevin Lynch Recurring character
2009 Without a Trace Edger Episode: Undertow
2010–2011 Private Practice Lee McHenry All in Season 4
Episode: All In The Family (Brief appearance)
Episode: Did you hear what happened to Charlotte King?
Episode: Can't Find My Way Back Home
Episode: Blind Love
2012 Hollywood Heights Dan Testa Episode: Loren and Kelly Clash
2014 Faking It Episode: Busted

Video games

Year Title Voice role
2002 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Xander Harris
2003 Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ↑ "Xander explains why he's in charge in the Buffy season 10 comics". Io9. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Nicholas Brendon". TV Guide. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  3. ↑ Donovan, Kelly (November 15, 1999). "Oh, Brother!". People.
  4. ↑ "Tough Talk". People 56 (16). October 15, 2001.
  5. ↑ "Goodbye Buffy". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Moran, W. Reed (May 15, 2001). "Nicholas Brendon faces down stuttering demon". USA Today.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Biegel, Alan (June 20, 2011). "An interview with Nicholas Brendon". Non-Sport Update.
  8. ↑ Carney, Kat (November 25, 2002). "Actor gets the word out on stuttering". CNN.
  9. ↑ "Nicholas Brendon". BuddyTV. July 17, 2007
  10. ↑ "Biography". NickBrendon.com. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Talking Confidential". Back Stage. 2005.
  12. ↑ "Oh, Brother! Nicholas Brendon, Kelly Donovan To Attend Philadelphia Comic Con!". Wizard World. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  13. ↑ "About the Young Playwrights Festival"
  14. ↑ Bacalzo, Dan (October 20, 2009). "Buffy the Vampire Slayers Nicholas Brendon to Star in Blank's Santaland Diaries". TheaterMania.
  15. ↑ Jette, D. (February 12, 2010). "Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them at the Stella ADler Theatre". LA Theatre Review.
  16. ↑ "Nicholas Brendon back on 'Criminal Minds'". NickBrendon.com. May 5, 2009
  17. ↑ "Listings – Criminal Minds on CBS". The Futon Critic. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Nicholas Brendon". IMDb. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  19. ↑ "About Very Bad Koalas". verbadkoalas.com. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  20. ↑ Glendenning, Daniel (October 11, 2013). "NYCC EXCLUSIVE: Dark Horse Comics Unveils 'Serenity' and 'Buffy: Season 10'". Comic Book Resources.
  21. ↑ "The Inspector Chronicles: Untitled Motion Picture About A Space Traveler Who Can Also Travel Through Time". Retrieved August 27, 2014
  22. ↑ "Back for 2002, Brendon Has Yearlong Impact on Stuttering Awareness" (Press release). Stuttering Foundation of America. Summer 2002. Archived from the original on September 12, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  23. ↑ "Don't Take Speech For Granted: Stuttering Awareness Week, May 12-18" (Press release). Stuttering Foundation of America. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  24. ↑ Susman, Gary (June 20, 2011). "Blood Alcohol". Entertainment Weekly.
  25. ↑ Moody, Mike (March 18, 2010). "'Buffy' star Nicholas Brendon 'arrested'". Digital Spy.
  26. ↑ "Nicholas Brendon Arrested". Hollywood Crush. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  27. ↑ "'Buffy' star Brendon arrested". Canoe. March 17, 2010.
  28. ↑ Vena, Jocelyn (March 17, 2010). "'Buffy' Star Nicholas Brendon Arrested, Tased By Police". MTV.
  29. ↑ "'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' star Nicholas Brendon enters rehab, report claims". Fox News Channel. May 11, 2010.
  30. ↑ "Actor Nicholas Brendon gets probation". UPI. June 20, 2010.
  31. ↑ "Nicholas Brendon, 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' Actor, Arrested In Idaho". huffingtonpost.com. Associated Press. October 21, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  32. ↑ Payne, Ed (October 20, 2014). "'Buffy' star Nicholas Brendon arrested after hotel disturbance in Boise, Idaho". CNN. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Star Nicholas Brendon Gets Married One Week After Proposing". E! Online. October 4, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Done after just four months of marriage! Nicholas Brendon announces split from wife Moonda Tee on social media". Daily Mail. February 14, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Former Buffy star Nicholas Brendon faces grand theft charge for allegedly trashing Florida hotel room ...just days after announcing split from wife". Daily Mail. February 18, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  36. ↑ "Nicholas Brendon: Buffy The Vampire Slayer actor arrested for trashing Hilton hotel room and not paying the bill". The Independent. February 18, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  37. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2994916/Former-Buffy-star-Nicholas-Brendon-arrested-allegedly-trashing-Florida-hotel-room.html
  38. ↑ "Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor Nicholas Brendon arrested". The Tallahassee Democrat. March 14, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2015.

External links

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