Actor Anthony Head dies at the age of 72

Career Highlight: Sunnydale and Rupert Giles

Head was born in 1954 and was one of the most prominent British television faces of his generation. He gained international fame in the late 1990s for his role as librarian Rupert Giles in the cult US series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," which ran from 1997 to 2003 and starred Sarah Michelle Gellar in the title role.

In "Buffy," Head portrayed the fatherly mentor to the vampire slayer, guiding the group of young female and male fighters through the eerie threats of the fictional small town of Sunnydale. According to PA, Head left the series during its sixth season and only appeared as a guest star thereafter.

Later Role: Rupert Mannion at AFC Richmond

His second major, globally recognized television appearance came with the Apple TV+ comedy series "Ted Lasso," which tells the story of the fictional English football club AFC Richmond. Head took on the role of Rupert Mannion, the club's former owner, who appeared in the episodes as an antagonist and eventually as part of the club family.

"Ted Lasso" became an international phenomenon and brought Head a new wave of popularity among a younger audience. In numerous tributes on social media, former colleagues remembered the deceased.

Tributes from the "Buffy" Cast

David Boreanaz, who played the vampire Angel in "Buffy" and its spin-off "Angel," posted a tribute on Instagram. He wrote: "Rest in peace. He had such a kind and generous soul."

Eliza Dushku, who played the vampire hunter Faith in "Buffy," also spoke out. She shared an older picture of Head as Giles via an Instagram story and wrote: "Tony H, thank you for every scene and the time we spent together. Rest in love and peace, kind sir."

James Marsters, who played the vampire Spike in "Buffy" and "Angel," posted an older photo of them together and stated: "There is a hole in the world. Anthony Head has left us." He described Head as always friendly on set, a reliable support, and the best actor in the cast.

Emma Caulfield, who played Anya in "Buffy," recalled a meeting in 2011. "This photo was taken in 2011 on the London Underground. I was visiting my friend Tony on the set of 'The Iron Lady.' We had lunch, stopped by a record store, went for dinner and drinks, and laughed until our sides hurt. It was a perfect day." Caulfield said she had the privilege of calling Head her friend for 27 years.

Tributes from the "Ted Lasso" Cast

From the "Ted Lasso" ensemble, Brett Goldstein, who plays Roy Kent in the series, was among those who spoke out. He wrote on Instagram about Head: "Anthony Head was a brilliant actor who played the worst man in the world – which was an incredible feat, because he himself was the best man. He was infinitely charming, kind, funny, and a joy."

Jeremy Swift, who plays Leslie Higgins in "Ted Lasso," posted a selfie of them together and wrote: "Farewell, Tony. We adored you. Rest in peace, my friend."

In Britain, Head had already become known in the 1980s through a series of television commercials for coffee before making the leap to international series roles. He is the brother of singer Murray Head.

Family's Farewell Words

In their statement, his daughters looked back on their father's life's work. "It has been, and forever will be, an honour and a privilege to be his daughters, and to have witnessed first-hand the impact both he and his work have had on so many." They added, addressing friends, colleagues, and fans: "We know how much he will be missed by friends, colleagues, and fans of the series he was a part of."

Finally, Emily and Daisy Head formulated a thought about the grief that the loss causes for all those left behind: The sorrow is "far greater than the void his death has left." With this image, they bid farewell to an actor whose characters became formative figures of popular culture for millions of viewers over decades.

One of Head's last major roles was that of Rupert Mannion in "Ted Lasso." With it, he connected two very different, yet each globally successful, series worlds – the supernatural dramedy of the late 1990s and the heartwarming sports comedy of the 2020s. Both productions owe a part of their distinctive tone to him.