Anthony Head, Star of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and ‘Ted Lasso,' Dead at 72

Anthony Head, best known for playing Sarah Michelle Gellar's watcher, librarian Rupert Giles, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died. He was 72.

"He passed away peacefully of complications due to pneumonia, surrounded by his family," his daughters Emily and Daisy said in a statement to BBC. His death comes just months after his longtime partner-and mother to their two daughters-Sarah Fisher died in December 2025.

"It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our extraordinary father," they wrote. "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."

"We know how dearly he will be missed by friends, colleagues, and fans of the shows he was in," they continued. "He loved his job very much, and he always considered himself incredibly lucky, to have been able to work alongside such exceptionally talented people, in such wonderful productions, across a career that spanned several decades."

"Our grief is far greater than the hole he has left behind, but we know his legacy will live on, in the shows he was a part of, and in the audiences that love them," the pair concluded. "How lucky we are to know we are able to watch him doing what he loved, even when he is no longer with us. We kindly ask that our privacy is respected at this difficult time."

Anthony Head's Career

Before his major break on Buffy, Head got his start in theater, appearing in productions of Godspell and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, in which he starred as Frank N. Furter. He also earned recognition in the UK for appearing in several Nescafé Gold Blend commercials in the late ‘80s.

For those in the U.S., however, it was Buffy that really made him a household name. Playing a member of the Watcher's Council assigned to mentor the titular vampire slayer, Head appeared on all seven seasons of the show, though he left as a series regular in Season Six.

He would later reprise his role as Giles in a 2023 Audible audio series, Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, alongside several returning stars.

After Buffy wrapped in 2003, Head went on to star on the BBC Two series Manchild, the sketch comedy series Little Britain, and the SyFy show Dominion. He also appeared on several episodes of shows, including Jack Ryan, Girlfriends, Motherland, and The Stranger, before landing the role of Rupert Mannion, Rebecca's ex-husband and former AFC Richmond owner, on Ted Lasso.

His last television appearance was a 2022 episode of Bridgerton, before his final film role in 2024's Upgraded.

Other Recent ‘Buffy' Deaths

Head is now the third main cast member from Buffy to die in the past two years.

Michelle Trachtenberg, who starred as Buffy's sister Dawn, passed away at the age of 39 in 2025. Her death came following a liver transplant in 2024, with her cause of death being listed as complications of diabetes after a series of health problems.

Earlier this year, Nicholas Brendon also died. The actor, who played Scooby Gang member Xander Harris, passed away at the age of 54 in March. At the time of his death, his family said Brendon had "passed in his sleep of natural causes."

The family's statement, shared with The Hollywood Reporter, also said the actor-who struggled with addiction-was on the right path before his death. "While it's no secret that Nicholas had struggles in the past, he was on medications and treatment to manage his diagnosis," they said. "He was optimistic about the future at the time of his passing."

His primary cause of death was due to "atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease," according to the coroner. "Acute pneumonia and previous myocardial infarction" were also listed as contributing factors, after the actor had a heart attack in 2022.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 12:00 PM.