The Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Ted Lasso star passed away on June 5 from complications due to pneumonia, surrounded by his family. Anthony Head, one of Britain’s most warmly regarded screen and stage actors, has died at the age of 72. His daughters, Emily and Daisy Head, confirmed that their father passed away peacefully on Friday following complications from pneumonia. Born to be in the spotlight Head was destined for fame, growing up with a documentary filmmaker for a father and his mother an
actress. After training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), he first got Britain talking in the late 1980s when he starred in the famously romantic, multi-part Nescafe Gold Blend television commercials, a simple coffee advert was a topic of conversation. However, it was his move to Hollywood that really pushed him into the spotlight, as Rupert Giles the quietly formidable, tweed-wearing Watcher and father figure in the hugely successful Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Head became a household name on both sides
of the Atlantic. Even though he had achieved international success, he remained a staple of British television. UK audiences loved his versatility, whether he was playing the delightfully slick Prime Minister in Little Britain or the stern King Uther Pendragon in the BBC’s fantasy hit Merlin. More recently Head played the villainous billionaire Rupert Mannion in the global Apple TV+ hit Ted Lasso. Hitting the boards, West End to Radio 4 Before bursting onto our television screens, Head took on the stage. His early theatrical
career saw him star in Godspell in the late 1970s, before landing major West End roles in Chess and The Rocky Horror Show. His voice that made him a success on stage also then made him a favourite on the airwaves. Radio 4 listeners knew him best as the charming, smooth-talking pilot Herc Shipwright in John Finnemore’s beloved sitcom Cabin Pressure. Tributes pour in In a statement, his daughters, who both followed their father’s footsteps into the acting profession, spoke of the privilege of witnessing
first-hand the impact of his life and work “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 said. Heartfelt tributes have continued to pour in from former co-stars and fans worldwide. Buffy lead Sarah Michelle Gellar shared an emotional message, quoting her character: “Tell Giles I figured it out and I’m ok,” before adding, “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.” His Little Britain colleague Matt Lucas also paid tribute, calling him “unfailingly brilliant, and always so kind and warm.” The tragic loss comes just months after the passing of his long-term partner, animal welfare activist Sarah Fisher, who died in December 2025. Anthony Head is survived by their daughters, Emily and Daisy.
Anthony Head, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ted Lasso, pneumonia, June 5, Emily Head, Daisy Head, Rupert Giles, Sarah Fisher