Anthony Head, a hugely recognisable British actor from shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died at the age of 72, his daughters have said in a statement.
He achieved widespread recognition for playing Rupert Giles in Sarah Michelle Gellar's teen sci-fi smash, and also appeared in hits such as Ted Lasso, Bridgerton, Merlin and Little Britain.
A statement from his children, actors Emily and Daisy Head, said (via Kent Online): “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our extraordinary father, Anthony Head.
Related: Sarah Michelle Gellar "not OK" as she leads tributes to Anthony Head
“He passed away peacefully of complications due to pneumonia, surrounded by his family. 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 – 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.
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“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. 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 had his mainstream breakthrough in the 1980s as the face of Nescafé Gold Blend, in a series of now-iconic TV adverts alongside actor Sharon Maughan.
From there, he went on to achieve success in film, television, radio and theatre, achieving a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for Ted Lasso in 2024.
In recent years, he delighted fans in shows such as Motherland, Jack Ryan, The Split, Girlfriends, The Canterville Ghost and Feel Good. He also had a role in radio soap The Archers in 2018, and was a real favourite on Drunk History.
On the big screen, he notably played Geoffrey Howe in the 2011 Margaret Thatcher biopic The Iron Lady, and also appeared in films such as The Inbetweeners Movie, A Street Cat Named Bob, Imagine Me & You and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters.
On Instagram, writer Russell T Davies - who worked with him on Doctor Who - called him "so wise, so kind, so classy", adding: "In Doctor Who, he had a face-off with K9 and had the immortal line, 'Forget the shooty dog thing.' Now look, that’s a glorious line, but requires a deep breath for a grown man.
"I muttered to him quietly, 'Do you mind the shooty dog line?' He said, 'Mind?! I think it’s wonderful!' And so was he. Also, he spoke always about his daughters with such love and joy, what a wonderful dad. Love and sympathy to Emily, Daisy, family and friends, he’ll be missed and remembered across the world."
Harlen Coben, who worked with the star on 2020's The Stranger, said: "You’ll be reading a lot of wonderful things about him in the coming days. Believe them. He was charming and erudite and funny and open and friendly and so damn talented.
"He brought joy and warmth and sparkle and wonder to every room he entered. Everyone in the cast and crew of The Stranger adored Tony. It was an honor to call you a friend. We are all heartbroken."
Buffy the Vampire Slayer was famously set for a return, but it was confirmed in March of this year that the plans had been scrapped.
Anthony's long-term partner Sarah Fisher, an animal welfare advocate, passed away in December 2025 at the age of 61. The couple's daughters, Emily and Daisy, are both actors.
Since his passing was announced, swathes of former co-stars have paid tribute. Read a selection of them here.
Shaun is an Evening News Editor at Digital Spy, with over a decade of experience reporting on all things pop culture. He has written for outlets including Metro, Attitude, Huffington Post, The Mirror, Yahoo!, Pink News and Express Online, specialising in TV, movies, soaps, music and LGBTQ+ issues. He is also a BAFTA Rocliffe-winning scriptwriter, having written episodes of the soap Hollyoaks, the official Steps musical Here & Now and multiple Offie Award-nominated plays. He studied English Literature and Drama at the University of East Anglia, and will happily talk at length about Desperate Housewives to anyone who'll listen.
