Anthony Head, the British actor known for his roles in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Ted Lasso,” has died. He was 72 years old.
His daughters Emily and Daisy Head announced their father’s death in a statement to the BBC, saying his father “passed peacefully away from complications due to pneumonia, surrounded by his family.”
Head played Rupert Giles, the watcher and father figure of assassin Buffy Summers, on all seven seasons of Buffy with Sarah Michelle Gellar. In Ted Lasso, he played Rupert Mannion, the difficult former owner of AFC Richmond who gives ownership of the club to his wife, played by Hannah Waddingham, during their divorce.
Head’s other credits include playing the Prime Minister in the sketch comedy series “Little Britain” and Uther Pendragon in the fantasy adventure program “Merlin.”
Though primarily known for her work in television, Head also began her career in theater in the late 1970s, appearing in the musical “Godspell.” He would go on to appear in productions of “Chess,” “Peter Pan,” and “The Rocky Horror Show Live.” Before appearing on screen, Head gained recognition in the UK as the star of a series of Nescafé commercials that aired from 1987 to 1993.
Emily and Daisy said in a statement: “It has been and will forever be an honor and privilege to be his daughters and witness firsthand the impact he and his work had on so many lives.” “We know how much he will be missed by his friends, colleagues, and fans of the shows he starred in. He loved his job so much and always considered himself incredibly lucky to have worked with such exceptionally talented people on such great work throughout his decades-long career.”
