Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Anthony Head has died at the age of 72, his daughters have confirmed.
The British actor, best known as librarian Rupert Giles in the cult TV series starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, which ran from 1997 to 2003, passed away "peacefully" surrounded by his family.
"It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our extraordinary father, Anthony Head," his daughters, actresses Emily and Daisy Head, said in a statement to the Press Association on Friday, June 5.
"He passed away peacefully of complications due to pneumonia, surrounded by his family. It has been, and forever will be, an honor and a privilege to be his daughters, and to have witnessed firsthand the impact both he and his work have had on so many."
The statement continued: "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.
© Alamy Stock Photo"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."
They concluded: "We kindly ask that our privacy is respected at this difficult time."
© Getty ImagesAnthony's most recent role was as former Richmond FC owner Rupert Mannion, the ex-husband of Hannah Waddingham's character Rebecca, in football comedy Ted Lasso.
His other notable roles were the Prime Minister in Little Britain and Uther Pendragon in Merlin, the father of Prince Arthur.
© Alamy Stock PhotoAnthony's death comes just six months after his partner of 37 years, renowned animal-welfare advocate Sarah Fisher, died in December 2025.
Emily and Daisy also confirmed the loss of their "extraordinary, kind and talented mother" in a statement on Facebook in January.
The Inbetweeners star Emily and Shadow and Bone actress Daisy announced that Sarah had died at the age of 61. They noted that her passing was "immensely shocking to us all, and came with very little warning."
© Getty ImagesA devoted mother, campaigner, philanthropist and the custodian of Tilley Farm – an animal sanctuary set up at her home in Bath – Sarah first met Anthony in the early '80s. "There's no secret to a long-lasting relationship, although Sarah has said it's that we spend an enormous amount of time apart," Anthony joked to The Guardian in 2010.
"A sense of humour is of huge importance. It's about tolerance and liking the person you're with. I adore Sarah." Echoing this sentiment, Anthony remarked in 2009: "We laugh a lot together; she's my best friend as well as my partner."
