United Kingdom, March 26 -- Nicholas Brendon was found dead by a friend, but there were "no signs of foul play", according to Putnam County Coroner Todd Zeiner.

Zeiner has told how he arrived at the scene last week and found the Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor - who passed away aged 54 - "positioned as if asleep".

The coroner said in a statement obtained by Us Weekly: "On Monday, March 20, I was notified of a deceased individual at a residence in west-central Putnam County.

"Upon arrival, I observed an adult male positioned as if asleep, who had been pronounced deceased by medical personnel prior to my arrival.

"There were no signs of foul play, and nothing at the scene indicated the death was anything other than natural. [Brendon] res...