Anthony Head, the actor recognized for Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Ted Lasso and Little Britain, has died aged 72.
The information was confirmed earlier at present (June 5) by his daughters, the actors Emily and Daisy Head, who wrote: “It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the loss of life of our extraordinary father. He handed away peacefully of problems because of pneumonia, surrounded by his household.”
“It has been, and without end will probably be, an honour and a privilege to be his daughters, and to have witnessed firsthand the influence each he and his work have had on so many,” they added.
Head discovered his signature position as Rupert Giles within the smash hit late-’90s supernatural present Buffy. His in style character was the mentor and surrogate father determine to Sarah Michelle Gellar’s title determine, and it introduced Head to worldwide consideration.
He later grew to become acquainted to UK audiences for enjoying Prime Minister Michael Stevens in Little Britain, a personality closely impressed by Tony Blair. Head appeared in sketches alongside David Walliams’ Sebastian Love, a personality who barely hid his sexual attraction to Stevens.
I’m very unhappy certainly to be taught of the passing of Tony Head. Once we had been casting Little Britain, we had been on the lookout for a ‘Tony Head-type’, as a result of we by no means imagined for a second that the person himself would have an interest, however he was. Fortunate us. He was unfailingly sensible, and all the time…
— Matt Lucas HQ (@RealMattLucas) June 5, 2026
Extra just lately, Head additionally discovered success with Ted Lasso, taking part in Rupert Mannion, the vindictive ex-husband of Hannah Waddingham’s Rebecca Welton who previously owned AFC Richmond and ultimately grew to become the proprietor of West Ham United.
His first brush with fame got here within the Eighties when he grew to become the face of a fondly remembered Nescafe Gold Mix collection of adverts, together with his ongoing romance with a personality performed by Sharon Maughan capturing public consideration between 1987 and 1993.
Head went on to play King Uther Pendragon in Merlin, whereas he additionally appeared in a spread of different main tv collection, together with Physician Who, Bridgerton, Motherland, My Household, New Methods, Jonathan Creek and Spooks.
His movie profession additionally noticed him seem in The Inbetweeners Film, alongside his daughter Emily, and Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters, whereas he additionally portrayed Conservative politician Geoffrey Howe in The Iron Girl.
Little Britain co-creator Matt Lucas paid tribute on social media, writing: “Once we had been casting Little Britain, we had been on the lookout for a ‘Tony Head-type’, as a result of we by no means imagined for a second that the person himself would have an interest, however he was. Fortunate us. He was unfailingly sensible, and all the time so form and heat. My coronary heart goes out to Daisy and Emily.”
Harlan Coben, the celebrated author of the novel The Stranger, the Netflix adaptation of which Head appeared in, described him as “charming and erudite and humorous and open and pleasant and so rattling proficient”, saying he “introduced pleasure and heat and sparkle and surprise to each room he entered”.
Head misplaced his long-term companion Sarah Fisher, an animal welfare campaigner, final December on the age of 61.
