Anthony Head, the British television actor who had roles in “Ted Lasso,” “Merlin” and, most notably, as father figure Rupert Giles on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” has died, his family announced Friday.
Head's daughters, Emily and Daisy Head, confirmed his death to the Associated Press and said he died from complications of pneumonia. He was 72 years old.
“Our pain is much greater than the hole he has left behind, but we know that his legacy will live on, in the programs he was a part of and in the public that loves them,” Head's daughters said in a statement to the AP. “How fortunate we are to know that we can watch him do what he loved, even when he is no longer with us.”
Head, a veteran of several BBC series including “Doctor Who,” became more familiar to American audiences in the late 1990s, playing Rupert Giles, a high school librarian turned magic shop owner and mentor to Sarah Michelle Gellar's title character in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” He starred in the majority of episodes (121 installments, according to IMDb) during the series from 1997 to 2003. Head's death follows those of his “Buffy” co-stars, Michelle Trachtenberg in February 2025 and Nicholas Brendon in March.
In addition to being Buffy's advisor, Giles would become a surrogate father figure to the Slayer and her crew. In “Buffy” terms, Giles was a Watcher, a member of a council dedicated to tracking and studying supernatural entities to keep the forces of evil at bay. Despite his stuffy demeanor and penchant for tweed, Giles was compassionate and had a rebellious streak, especially in his youth. He would defy the rules his job set for him to save Buffy when he could.
Head's portrayal of Giles left enough of an impression on audiences and series creator Joss Whedon that in 2001 there was talk of a spin-off centered on Giles. The series was planned to air on the BBC and would focus on Giles and his investigative efforts outside of the main “Buffy” gang. In the years that followed, the potential miniseries evolved into a one-off film, but Head finally confirmed in 2008 that the spin-off would not go ahead. Whedon was “busy with another project, I'm busy too, so at the moment I'd just say it's still available,” Head told the BBC at the time.
After “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” aired its final episode in 2003, Head continued her television work on British series, including the sketch series “Little Britain,” “The Invisibles” and “Free Agents.” His next notable role would be in the fantasy series “Merlin” as Uther Pendragon, the king of Camelot and father of the future King Arthur and the sorceress Morgana Pendragon. The fantasy series premiered in 2008 and concluded in 2012.
In the following years he appeared in the series “You, Me & Them”, “Dominion” and “Guilt”, among others. Head appeared in recent years in the hit series “Bridgerton” and “Ted Lasso.” In the latter, co-created by Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt and Joe Kelly, Head played another Rupert, this time Rupert Mannion, a womanizing billionaire and ex-husband of football team owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham).
Head, born on February 20, 1954 in London, was the son of documentary filmmaker Seafield Head and actress Helen Shingler. His older brother, Murray, is also an actor and singer.
Before Head became known for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” the actor earned a reputation among British audiences in the 1980s when he starred in a series of romantic advertisements for Nescafé Gold Blend instant coffee. The ads were later reshot for an American audience for Taster's Choice.
Head began his acting career in musical theater and has guest starred on series such as “NYPD Blue” and “Highlander.” She appeared in several films, including the Oscar-winning “The Iron Lady,” starring Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher.
Head was preceded in death by his partner, animal welfare activist Sarah Fisher. He died in 2025 at age 61.
Times staff writer Tracy Brown and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
