British actor Anthony Stewart Head, known for his roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Ted Lasso, died at age 72. His death was caused by complications from pneumonia, according to a statement from his daughters, actors Emily and Daisy Head. He died peacefully, surrounded by family.
Cause of Death
Head died of complications related to pneumonia. His daughters Emily and Daisy Head confirmed the news in a statement to the Press Association and the BBC.
Career
Early Work
Born on February 20, 1954, in Camden Town, London, to documentary filmmaker Seafield Head and actor Helen Shingler, Head trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He began his professional career on stage in the 1978 West End revival of Godspell. He later performed in productions including Chess, Peter Pan, The Rocky Horror Show (portraying Frank-N-Furter), and Rocky Horror Show Live.
Head gained recognition in the UK during the late 1980s and early 1990s for a series of television advertisements for Nescafé Gold Blend instant coffee (1987–1993), which were later adapted for US audiences under the Taster's Choice brand.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Head achieved international recognition for his role as Rupert Giles, the Watcher and mentor to the title character, in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003). He was a main cast member for the first five seasons and appeared as a recurring character in seasons six and seven. He moved to Los Angeles for five years while filming the series, with his family remaining in England.
Later Work
Following Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Head had a recurring role as the Prime Minister in the BBC sketch show Little Britain (2003–2006). He portrayed King Uther Pendragon in the BBC drama Merlin (2008–2011). His film roles included Geoffrey Howe in The Iron Lady (2011) and a role in Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008). He also appeared in The Inbetweeners Movie, Motherland, Manchild, and Silent Witness.
Head later played Rupert Mannion in the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso (2020–2023), becoming a series regular in its third season. He received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series as part of the Ted Lasso cast in 2024. He also won Best Supporting Actor at the 2016 Prague International Film Festival for the film Despite the Falling Snow.
Personal Life
Head had two daughters, Emily and Daisy Head, with his long-term partner, animal welfare activist Sarah Fisher. Fisher died suddenly in December 2025 at age 61. Head is survived by his daughters and his brother, singer and actor Murray Head.
Reactions from Colleagues
Several former co-stars of Head provided statements following his death.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played Buffy Summers, posted on Instagram: "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."
David Boreanaz, who played Angel, wrote: "RIP. He was so kind and generous of a soul."
James Marsters, who played Spike, wrote: "He was an unflaggingly kind and steady presence on the set of Buffy, and the best actor in the cast. He was the best of us. "
Eliza Dushku, who played Faith, wrote: "Tony H, for every scene and time shared, give thanks. Rest in love and peace, kind sir."
Charisma Carpenter, who played Cordelia Chase, said: "Tony brought life to a character who, for so many, was the father figure they needed but didn't have at home. "
Emma Caulfield, who played Anya Jenkins, said: "He was kind and wise and a guide in troubled times. You were so loved."
Matt Lucas, co-creator of Little Britain, said: "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."
Brett Goldstein, who worked with Head on Ted Lasso, wrote: "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."
Alexa PenaVega, his co-star in Repo! The Genetic Opera, called him "a dream to work with."
Context
Head's death follows the deaths of two other Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast members in 2025: Nicholas Brendon, who played Xander Harris, died in March 2025; and Michelle Trachtenberg, who played Dawn Summers, died in February 2025.