What To Know
- Anthony Stewart Head, beloved for his roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Ted Lasso, passed away at age 72 from complications of pneumonia, surrounded by family.
- Buffy co-stars including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Emma Caulfield, and Clare Kramer paid heartfelt tributes on social media, celebrating Head’s kindness, wisdom, and lasting impact.
- Head is survived by his daughters Daisy and Emily, both actors, and was predeceased by his longtime partner Sarah Fisher and is also remembered as the brother of Murray Head.
On Friday, June 5, TV fans were devastated to learn that Anthony Stewart Head, the actor known for his roles in Ted Lasso and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, died at the age of 72. His daughters, Emily and Daisy, shared the news of his death with BBC News, saying that he “passed away peacefully from complications of pneumonia, surrounded by his family.”
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our extraordinary father,” they shared. “It has been, and forever will be, an honour and a privilege to be his daughters, and to have witnessed firsthand the impact both he and his work have had on so many.”
Though he was recently known for playing Rupert, the sinister ex-husband of Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) on Ted Lasso, and Lord Sheffield opposite Jonathan Bailey in Bridgerton, for many, he will always be Rupert Giles: the kind-hearted, infinitely patient, and occasionally snarky Watcher to Buffy Summers on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
His former co-star and Slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar, joined several of their Buffy the Vampire Slayer castmates in paying tribute to Head through a series of heartfelt social media posts.
“‘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,” posted Geller on Instagram, along with a series of images and memes of her with Head, both in and out of character.
Emma Caulfield, who played vengeance demon Anya on Buffy, wrote this about Head: “This was taken on the London Underground in 2011. I went to visit my friend Tony on the set of The Iron Lady. We had lunch, hit up a record store, had dinner and drinks, and laughed until our sides hurt. It was a perfect day. There were many of these moments with this amazing human, whom I was lucky enough to call my friend for 27 years. He was kind and wise and a guide in troubled times. You were so loved. Impossible to caption. You are so missed. Rest in peace with your beautiful Sarah – Emma.”
Clare Kramer, who played Glory, the “Big Bad” of Season 5, wrote: “Rest in Peace, Anthony. To know you was a pleasure. To work with you [was] an honor. Through Giles, you gave us bravery without fearlessness, and compassion without weakness – an exemplary performance (and one of many). My condolences to your girls, family, and all who had the pleasure of loving you. Rest easy, Watcher.”