Camden Toy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Actor, Dies at 68: ‘A Beautiful Soul, a Beautiful Friend'

Camden Toy, known for his work playing monsters on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and other characters with prosthetics, died on Monday. He was 68.

The character actor died after a two-year journey with pancreatic cancer, his representatives confirmed in a press release.

Days before his death, his longtime partner, Bethany Henderson, opened up about his diagnosis on Facebook.

"He was diagnosed in February last year after months of mysterious pain. For many reasons we were very hopeful for, at least, a longer and more fruitful time on planet Earth. Even the more recent challenges felt more like a hiccup in progress. Unfortunately, it looks like we've reached the end of the road with the doctor's treatments," a Dec. 8 post from Henderson read.

Henderson added that Toy did not go public with his diagnosis "for many reasons," adding that his condition had "declined a lot in the last 2 months and tremendously in the last several days."

He went back to school and got his MFA in screenwriting after learning he had cancer. Before his death, he had written two television shows, a feature film and a graphic novel that he hoped would be his legacy.

On Buffy the Vampire Slayer, he appeared playing characters such as a pale-faced Gentleman, a Turok-Han vampire and a demon Gnarl. He also played a role in a 2004 episode of the Buffy spinoff, Angel.

Juliet Landau, who appeared as Drusilla on Buffy, remembered him as a "beautiful soul, a beautiful friend, and a beautiful talent."

"From the first moment we met, I knew he was special. Under the visage of the monster he was made-up to be, shined the kindest of spirits. He's been a gift in our lives. We will miss him greatly," her statement read.

Toy's other credits include roles in Good Nite Burbank and The Bay. He also has multiple film credits in movies such as Bedeviled and Average Joe.

His best friend, Doug Jones, said in a statement that "to know Camden Toy was to Love Camden Toy."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"We may have met on the set of Buffy as two hideous looking 'Gentlemen,' but that only sparked a dear friendship that would continue for twenty-four years. It's rare to find a man so joyful, smiley, smart, giggly, huggie, good at listening with his heart, and accessible always to anyone he knew, including his many fans. May he rest in God's peace," his statement added.