Anthony Head, 'Ted Lasso' and 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Star, Dies at 72

The entertainment world is mourning the loss of Anthony Head, the acclaimed British performer who became a fixture on two beloved television series spanning decades.

Head died on Friday, June 5, at the age of 72, his daughters Emily and Daisy confirmed to BBC News. The actor passed away peacefully from complications related to pneumonia, with family members at his side.

"It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our extraordinary father," Emily and Daisy said in a statement. "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."

Head's career spanned decades of television work, with his most recognizable roles coming from the supernatural drama Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where he portrayed Rupert Giles, the mentor and watcher guiding Sarah Michelle Gellar's titular character. Years later, he joined the cast of the Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso, playing Rupert Mannion, the ex-husband of Rebecca Welton, the character portrayed by Hannah Waddingham.

Head is survived by his two daughters, both of whom are actors themselves. His longtime partner Sarah Fisher passed away in 2025.