British actor Anthony Head, known for his roles in television series including ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, ‘Ted Lasso’, ‘Merlin’ and ‘Little Britain’, has died at the age of 72 due to complications arising from pneumonia.
His daughters Emily and Daisy confirmed that he “passed away peacefully” surrounded by his family. They described him as an “extraordinary father” and said it had been “an honour and a privilege” to be his daughters.
Head first gained international recognition for his role as Rupert Giles in the hit supernatural series ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ in the late 1990s.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played Buffy, led tributes, writing: “Thank you to Daisy and Emily who not only shared their dad with me, but with the world.”
She added: “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.”
Fellow cast members also paid tribute. David Boreanaz described him as “so kind and generous of a soul,” while James Marsters said he was “an unflaggingly kind and steady presence on the set of Buffy.”
Matt Lucas, who worked with Head on ‘Little Britain’, described him as “unfailingly brilliant, and always so kind and warm.”
Head’s career included roles in ‘The Iron Lady’, ‘Doctor Who’, ‘The Inbetweeners’, ‘Manchild’, ‘Persuasion’ and ‘Merlin’, where he played King Uther Pendragon.
He later appeared in ‘Ted Lasso’ as Rupert Mannion, the former Richmond FC owner and ex-husband of Hannah Waddingham’s character Rebecca Welton. Co-star Brett Goldstein said Head was “a brilliant actor who played the worst person in the world,” adding it was “an incredible skill because he was the best person.”
He first became widely known in the UK in the 1980s through the Nescafe Gold Blend television adverts, alongside Sharon Maughan, which ran from 1987 to 1993.
Maughan said she was “broken-hearted” by his death, adding: “Tony and I were just two actors who got this job, and we had a really lovely friendship. I loved working with him. I thought he was a lovely man.”
Tributes also came from author Harlan Coben, who said Head was “charming and erudite and funny and open and friendly and so damn talented,” adding that “everyone… adored Tony.”
Born in Camden, London in 1954, Head was the son of actress Helen Shingler and documentary maker Seafield Head. He trained at LAMDA and had a long career in stage, television and radio, including roles in ‘The Archers and Bridgerton’.
His family said his “legacy will live on,” adding they felt lucky to have watched him do what he loved throughout his career.
