‘Ted Lasso’ and ‘Buffy’ star dead at 72: ‘We know how dearly he will be missed’

Anthony Head, the acclaimed actor celebrated for his iconic roles in Ted Lasso and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has passed away at the age of 72.

A Legacy Remembered

The news was confirmed by his daughters, Emily and Daisy Head, in a poignant statement shared with the BBC. They noted that their father “passed away peacefully of complications due to pneumonia, surrounded by his family.”

Reflecting on his life and career, his daughters shared: “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.”

They added, “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.”

From Giles to Mannion

Head built an enduring connection with audiences through a variety of memorable characters. He is widely remembered as Rupert Giles, the wise mentor and father figure to Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Buffy Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and more recently as the cunning Rupert Mannion in Ted Lasso.

According to reports, Head’s extensive filmography includes notable appearances in The Iron Lady, Doctor Who, Persuasion, The Inbetweeners, and Manchild. Before establishing himself as a fixture in beloved television dramas, Head first rose to prominence in the 1980s as the recognizable face of Nescafe coffee commercials.

205focus.com continues to honor the life and profound impact of this talented performer.