British actor Anthony Head, best known for his roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Ted Lasso, has died at the age of 72. His family said he passed away peacefully from complications related to pneumonia, surrounded by loved ones.
Head became internationally recognized for playing Rupert Giles, the calm and intelligent mentor to Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Buffy Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The role made him a beloved figure among fans of the cult supernatural series, where his character served as both a guide and emotional anchor throughout much of the show.
His career, however, extended far beyond Buffy. Head appeared in the sketch comedy series Little Britain, played Uther Pendragon in the BBC fantasy drama Merlin, and took roles in films including The Iron Lady and The Inbetweeners Movie. In recent years, he reached a new generation of viewers as Rupert Mannion, the former owner of AFC Richmond, in Apple TV’s Ted Lasso.
A Career Across Stage, Television and Film
Anthony Head was born in Camden, London, into an artistic family. His father worked as a documentary filmmaker, while his mother was an actress. He began his professional stage career in London’s West End in 1978 with Godspell, before going on to perform in major theatre productions including Chess in 1988 and The Rocky Horror Show in 1990.
After winning the role of Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Head moved to Los Angeles for several years while filming the series. Even so, he remained strongly connected to British television and theatre throughout his career, moving between stage work, comedy, fantasy drama and major international productions.
Tributes From Co-Stars
Tributes quickly followed from colleagues and fans. Matt Lucas, co-creator of Little Britain, said he was deeply saddened by the news, recalling that the team originally imagined a character similar to Head and were fortunate when the actor himself agreed to join the show.
Brett Goldstein, Head’s Ted Lasso co-star, also paid tribute, describing him as a brilliant actor who played “the worst person in the world” while being, in real life, a deeply kind, charming and joyful person. Goldstein said Head would be missed enormously.
Head leaves behind a long and varied body of work across television, film and theatre. For many viewers, he will be remembered as the wise and steady Giles in Buffy, while others will know him as the sharp and manipulative Rupert Mannion in Ted Lasso. Across both roles, and many others, he built a career defined by range, warmth and lasting screen presence.