British actor Anthony Head died peacefully at home on June 5 at age 72, surrounded by his family, from complications due to pneumonia, his daughters Emily and Daisy Head announced today [1, 2, 3]. The actor was best known for playing librarian Rupert Giles in the US supernatural cult TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which ran from 1997 to 2003 [1, 2, 3]. He appeared in 121 episodes of the show, a defining role of his career [4].

Head also portrayed Rupert Mannion, the former AFC Richmond owner and Rebecca Welton’s ex-husband, in the comedy series Ted Lasso from 2020 to 2023, appearing in 18 episodes [1, 4, 5]. His daughters paid tribute saying it was an honor to witness the impact of both their father and his work on so many [1]. Sarah Michelle Gellar, who starred alongside him in Buffy, said she felt lucky to have known him and thanked his daughters for sharing him with the world [1].

Born in 1954 in Camden Town, London, Head’s screen career began in 1978 with guest roles on British television [6, 7, 5]. He rose to early fame in the UK from 1987 to 1993 through a popular coffee commercial campaign with actress Sharon Maughan [2, 3, 7].

Aside from Buffy and Ted Lasso, Head acted in Merlin, Little Britain, Motherland, and Doctor Who. He also voiced characters in video games including Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Destroy All Humans! 2 [1, 6, 4]. His career spanned over 40 years with more than 140 screen credits [5, 8]. Colleagues described him as kind, generous, and a steady presence on set [1]. Matt Lucas recalled casting him for Little Britain, calling him "unfailingly brilliant" and "always so kind and warm" [1].

He was also a singer with a distinctive baritone voice and appeared in musical theatre productions including The Rocky Horror Show and Godspell [4, 9].

Head’s long-term partner Sarah Fisher died in December 2025 at age 61 [2, 5]. His daughters said his legacy will live on through the shows he loved and the audiences that admired him [5, 10].

His death marks the loss of a respected actor whose work resonated with fans around the world. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.