Anthony Head, the actor known for Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Ted Lasso and Little Britain, has died aged 72.
The news was confirmed earlier today (June 5) by his daughters, the actors Emily and Daisy Head, who wrote: “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our extraordinary father. 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 firsthand the impact both he and his work have had on so many,” they added.
Head found his signature role as Rupert Giles in the smash hit late-’90s supernatural show Buffy. His popular character was the mentor and surrogate father figure to Sarah Michelle Gellar’s title figure, and it brought Head to international attention.
He later became familiar to UK audiences for playing Prime Minister Michael Stevens in Little Britain, a character heavily inspired by Tony Blair. Head appeared in sketches alongside David Walliams’ Sebastian Love, a character who barely concealed his sexual attraction to Stevens.
I am very sad indeed to learn of the passing of Tony Head. When we were casting Little Britain, we were looking for a 'Tony Head-type', because we never imagined for a moment that the man himself would be interested, but he was. Lucky us. He was unfailingly brilliant, and always…
— Matt Lucas HQ (@RealMattLucas) June 5, 2026
More recently, Head also found success with Ted Lasso, playing Rupert Mannion, the vindictive ex-husband of Hannah Waddingham’s Rebecca Welton who formerly owned AFC Richmond and eventually became the owner of West Ham United.
His first brush with fame came in the 1980s when he became the face of a fondly remembered Nescafe Gold Blend series of adverts, with his ongoing romance with a character played by Sharon Maughan capturing public attention between 1987 and 1993.
Head went on to play King Uther Pendragon in Merlin, while he also appeared in a range of other major television series, including Doctor Who, Bridgerton, Motherland, My Family, New Tricks, Jonathan Creek and Spooks.
His film career also saw him appear in The Inbetweeners Movie, alongside his daughter Emily, and Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters, while he also portrayed Conservative politician Geoffrey Howe in The Iron Lady.
Little Britain co-creator Matt Lucas paid tribute on social media, writing: “When we were casting Little Britain, we were looking for a ‘Tony Head-type’, because we never imagined for a moment that the man himself would be interested, but he was. Lucky us. He was unfailingly brilliant, and always so kind and warm. My heart goes out to Daisy and Emily.”
Harlan Coben, the celebrated writer of the novel The Stranger, the Netflix adaptation of which Head appeared in, described him as “charming and erudite and funny and open and friendly and so damn talented”, saying he “brought joy and warmth and sparkle and wonder to every room he entered”.
Head lost his long-term partner Sarah Fisher, an animal welfare campaigner, last December at the age of 61.