Nicholas Brendon, Xander to a legion of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" fans, announced on Wednesday (April 28) that he has voluntarily entered an undisclosed alcohol treatment center.

"After realizing that I had a disease that was taking control of my life, I decided that the best way for me to regain my health was to enter a treatment facility," Brendon says in a statement on his official website. "I'm grateful for the love and support I've gotten from my wife, Tressa; my entire family; my business associates; and my friends."

Prior to the 1997 launch of "Buffy," Brendon was best known as a basketball playing extra in "Children of the Corn III." In his seven seasons on the cult WB and UPN hit, Brendon's Xander Harris helped save the world ... a lot, ditched a former vengeance demon at the altar and never entirely forgot the military training he acquired in the show's first Halloween episode.

Brendon thanks the "Buffy" fans in his statement.

"Over the past eight years I've discovered that Buffy fans are the most caring and supportive fans in the world," he says. "Knowing that they will be behind me, rooting for me as I go through this process, makes everything that much easier. I'm looking forward to leading a happy, sober life."

Indeed, messages of support are slowly beginning to appear on his site's message boards.

In addition to his work on "Buffy," which ended its run last May, Brendon has appeared in the features "Psycho Beach Party" and "Demon Island," as well as the ABC Family movie "Celeste in the City."

Last spring, Brendon co-starred in the FOX comedy pilot "The Pool at Maddy Breakers," though the series failed to find a place in the network's schedule.