Buffy star Nicholas Brendon details his ‘long’ recovery from heart attack and two spinal surgeries

Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Nicholas Brendon has detailed his long recovery from a heart attack and two spinal surgeries.

The actor had a cardiac incident last August, with his sister revealing at the time it was his second in a matter of months after he underwent a second spinal surgery in 2021 to relieve his cauda equina.

The rare condition causes the nerves in the lower back to become severely compressed and can causes numbness in the lower body, and loss of bowel or bladder control.

In a new Instagram post this week, Brendon, who hadn’t posted since September 2022, addressed his recent health scare and shared his gratitude for fans’ birthday wishes after he turned 52 on Wednesday.

He penned: “Thank you to everyone for all the HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes yesterday. I’ll also pass on any messages I received to my twin brother Kelly and I’m sure he will appreciate the love.

“Sorry for the extra long disappearing act.

“After two spinal surgeries and a heart attack, I’ve had multiple doctor appointments to juggle and dealing with health insurance and pre-approvals feels nearly as emotionally exhausting and painful as dealing with my actual injuries.

“You’d think when the doctor says someone needs an urgent MRI and possibly an additional emergency surgery, that the insurance company would get back to the doctor with any kind of answer at all. Right???

“I also needed time to rest…or at least as much as I’m capable of resting.

“So, I somehow ended up ‘trapped’ in Idyllwild-Pine Cove (California) by about three feet of snow and nothing but time to swing on the back porch or paint in front of the fireplace.”

The TV star then went on to update fans hoping to buy his artwork that he has plans to get his shop “up and running” once “things settle down a bit”.

He continued: “In the meantime, you can message the page to say hello or if there is something you’d like to buy.

“You can also check my bio for my Linktree where you can get links to all my socials and also if you want to send some love and/or money…and even though money can’t buy happiness, it can buy food and paint as well as pay for doctor appointments!

“I’m sorry it’s taken so long to get to some of them. I’ve been trying to get them done between everything and T has also been dealing with some medical issues of her own.”

Brendon starred in all but one of the 145 episodes of Buffy alongside cast mates Sarah Michelle Gellar and Alyson Hannigan.

After the show came to an end in 2003 after seven seasons, he went on to appear in Criminal Minds until 2007.

His personal life has often overshadowed his onscreen career, having been arrested multiple times over the past decade and checking into rehab twice.