Emily Bashforth
Published June 5, 2026 4:40pm
Updated June 5, 2026 8:48pm
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Actor Anthony Head has died aged 72 (Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Actor Anthony Head, who is famous for appearing in Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Ted Lasso, has died, his daughters have confirmed.
The 72-year-old starred as librarian Rupert Giles in the cult US supernatural TV series, led by Sarah Michelle Gellar, which ran from 1997 to 2003.
In comedy-drama series Ted Lasso, Head played former Richmond FC owner Rupert Mannion, the ex-husband of Hannah Waddingham’s character Rebecca.
Announcing his death, Head’s daughters, actresses Emily and Daisy Head, shared in a statement: ‘It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our extraordinary father, Anthony Head.’
They confirmed that he ‘passed away peacefully of complications due to pneumonia, surrounded by his family’, just six months after their mother’s death.
‘It has been, and forever will be, an honour and a privilege to be his daughters and to have witnessed firsthand the impact both he and his work have had on so many.
Head played Rupert Giles throughout US TV show Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Picture: Online USA)
Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, the supernatural show ran from 1997 to 2003 (Picture: Getty Images)
‘We know how dearly he will be missed by friends, colleagues, and fans of the shows he was in – he loved his job very much, and he always considered himself incredibly lucky to have been able to work alongside such exceptionally talented people in such wonderful productions across a career that spanned several decades.’
They concluded: ‘Our grief is far greater than the hole he has left behind, but we know his legacy will live on in the shows he was a part of and in the audiences that love them. How lucky we are to know we are able to watch him doing what he loved, even when he is no longer with us.
‘We kindly ask that our privacy is respected at this difficult time.’
Born in Camden Town, London, Head had early roles in the 70s but rose to fame in the UK in the 1980s, appearing in the Nescafé Gold Blend television ads as one half of the Gold Blend couple alongside Sharon Maughan, with whom he began a slow-burning on-screen romance over a cup of coffee.
Head appeared in the ads from 1987 to 1993.
From there, he achieved stardom across the pond in Buffy. He was a regular until the show’s sixth season, before he began appearing only as a guest cast member until the show’s conclusion.
Head’s long-time partner, animal welfare campaigner Sarah Fisher, died in December 2025, aged 61 (Picture: Danny Martindale/WireImage)
His daughters, Emily and Daisy, are also actresses. Emily famously played Carli D’Amato in The Inbetweeners (Picture: Fred Duval/FilmMagic)
Head’s acting CV includes other roles in some of the most iconic programmes and movies, such as Little Britain, in which he played the Prime Minister, and The Inbetweeners as Will’s father.
He also had roles in Merlin, Motherland, Manchild, Silent Witness, Spooks, Doctor Who, and My Family and as a voice actor in the likes of the long-running BBC Radio 4 drama The Archers, which he joined in 2018 as Robin Fairbrother.
Film-wise, Head made his silver screen debut in Lady Chatterley’s Lover (1981), with his string of subsequent roles including Imagine Me & You (2005), Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008), The Iron Lady (2011), A Street Cat Named Bob (2016), and, most recently, the 2024 rom-com Upgraded.
A singer as well and known for his distinctive baritone voice, Head appeared in the West End and recorded music, including the album of the Buffy The Vampire Slayer musical episode, as well as solo endeavours.
As for his personal life, Head had been in a long-term relationship with partner Sarah Fisher since 1982.
The animal welfare campaigner, who was an ambassador for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and a patron of Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary, died in December 2025 at the age of 61.
Head began his career in the 70s and went on to appear in some of the most iconic TV shows and films (Picture: Angus Young/Freeform via Getty Images)
He had numerous stage credits, too, including as Sir John Fletcher in Terence Rattigan’s Love In Idleness in 2017 (Picture: Robbie Jack – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
The late star played the Prime Minister in controversial comedy series Little Britain, a role he reprised for the 2020 charity special (Picture: BBC/Comic Relief/Children in Need)
Head and Fisher’s daughters followed their parents’ footsteps into the entertainment industry. Emily is best known for playing Carli D’Amato in The Inbetweeners, while Daisy has appeared in Harlots, Shadow and Bone, and The Gray House.
Furthermore, Head’s brother, Murray Head, is also an actor, best known for his role in the Oscar-nominated 1971 film Sunday Bloody Sunday and for singing the 1984 single One Night In Bangkok from the musical Chess.
Tributes to the late actor have been shared online since news of his death broke, with Buffy icon Gellar captioning a post: ‘”Tell Giles I figured it out and I’m ok” Well I don’t have it figured out and I’m not ok. But I know I’m the lucky one because I knew you. Thank you to Daisy and Emily who not only shared their dad with me, but with the world.’
Ted Lasso co-star Brett Goldstein wrote on his Instagram: ‘Anthony Head was a brilliant actor who played the worst person in the world, which was an incredible skill because he was the best person.’
He described Head as ‘infinitely charming and kind and fun and a joy’, concluding: ‘He will be sorely missed. Love to his family.’
Screenwriter Russell T Davies also wrote that the news was ‘ridiculously sad’, declaring Head ‘a lovely man’ who could ‘twinkle’.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DZN1x5MEnVY/?img_index=1
Head died ‘peacefully’ surrounded by his family (Picture: Ian West/PA Wire)
‘I worked with him on Doctor Who, and on Merlin (I helped with early development on that, I suggested that magic should be illegal) and he was an absolute delight,’ he recalled, going on to share a heart-warming anecdote from set.
‘In Doctor Who, he had a face-off with K9 and had the immortal line, “Forget the shooty dog thing.” Now look, that’s a glorious line, but requires a deep breath for a grown man. I muttered to him quietly, “Do you mind the shooty dog line?” He said, “Mind?! I think it’s wonderful!” And so was he.
‘Also, he spoke always about his daughters with such love and joy, what a wonderful dad. Love and sympathy to Emily, Daisy, family and friends, he’ll be missed and remembered across the world. Good night, sir ♥️’
Little Britain co-creator Matt Lucas tweeted: ‘I am very sad indeed to learn of the passing of Tony Head. When we were casting Little Britain, we were looking for a “Tony Head-type”, because we never imagined for a moment that the man himself would be interested, but he was. Lucky us. He was unfailingly brilliant, and always so kind and warm. My heart goes out to Daisy and Emily.’
James Marsters, who played Spike in Buffy and its spin-off show, Angel, said there is now a ‘hole in the world’, calling Head an ‘unflaggingly kind and steady presence’ on set and ‘the best actor in the cast’.
Co-star Brett Goldstein paid tribute to the ‘infinitely charming’ actor (Picture: Instagram)
https://www.instagram.com/p/DZNgYxzttxJ/
I am very sad indeed to learn of the passing of Tony Head. When we were casting Little Britain, we were looking for a 'Tony Head-type', because we never imagined for a moment that the man himself would be interested, but he was. Lucky us. He was unfailingly brilliant, and always…
— Matt Lucas HQ (@RealMattLucas) June 5, 2026
‘He was the best of us. I was lucky to have known, and learned from him. He left the world a better place for his presence. Thank you Tony for all you gave.’
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Eliza Dushku, who played Faith on Buffy, said: ‘Tony H, for every scene and timed shared, give thanks. Rest in love and peace, kind sir. A dear one.’
Avid Buffy fans expressed their sorrow, too, as Head’s death follows those of Michelle Trachtenberg last February and Nicholas Brendon this March.
‘Anthony Head really was the heart of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I can’t imagine anyone else portraying Giles quite like him’, wrote @emopunkgrrrl on X.
‘It’s going to be hard rewatching Buffy the Vampire Slayer now knowing that Anthony Head, Nicholas Brendon, and Michelle Trachtenberg are all gone. Heartbreaking’, added @Thebritwhocares.
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