Anthony Stewart Head, who played Buffy Summers’ Watcher, Rupert Giles, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has passed away at the age of 72 from complications due to pneumonia. The news comes from a report via the BBC. Apart from his iconic role on Buffy, Anthony Head also recently appeared in Ted Lasso, the musical Repo! The Genetic Opera, and the BBC’s Merlin. He also played Dr. Frank N. Furter in several different productions of The Rocky Horror Show over the years, and his version of “Sweet Transvestite” came out as a single in 1991. And he lent his speaking voice to many radio plays and voiceover projects. But for an entire generation, he’ll always be the wise, yet befuddled, Sunnydale High School Librarian.
Anthony Stewart Head’s daughters, Daisy and Emily, released this statement on their father, saying, “It will forever 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. 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.” Anthony Head’s wife, Sarah Fisher, passed away at age 61 in December, 2025.
Head came from a performing family. His older brother, Murray Head, originated the role of Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, and had a huge pop hit in 1984 with “One Night in Bangkok.” Anthony actually first became famous in America in a soapy ongoing series of Nescafé commercials. All right before booking Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He was a series regular for the first five seasons, before moving back to the UK. However, he appeared in multiple episodes across seasons six and seven. Joss Whedon announced plans for a spin-off for his character Giles called Ripper for the BBC. But sadly, it never came to be. He’s now the third Buffy cast member to die prematurely within a year, after Michelle Trachtenberg and Nicholas Brendon. Our condolences go out to his family, friends, and many fans.