Anthony Head as Giles in Buffy, The Vampire Slayer / Warner Bros.
Anthony Head, known for his roles in Buffy, The Vampire Slayer and Ted Lasso, has died at the age of 72.
The English actor shot to fame in the ’90s in his role as Rupert Giles in the fantasy drama, following it up with memorable parts as ‘Mr Prime Minister’ in Little Britain, the villainous Uther Pendragon in Merlin and Rupert Mannion in Ted Lasso.
The news comes just six months after the death of his partner of 43 years, the animal rights activist Sarah Fisher, at the age of 61.
A statement from his actress daughters Emily and Daisy Head read: “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our extraordinary father, 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 first-hand 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.
“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.”
News of Head’s death comes just two months after the death of Buffy co-star Nicholas Brendan, who died at the age of 54 due to heart issues, and one year after the loss of Michelle Trachtenberg, who died age 39 due to complications of diabetes.
