Anthony Stewart Head, also known as Anthony Head, has died at the age of 72, the BBC reports. The British actor had a long career across stage and screen, but might best be remembered for his role as Rupert Giles, the faithful Watcher who guided the titular Buffy the Vampire Slayer. According to his family, he passed away peacefully after complications from pneumonia.
Beginning his career in the 1970s, Head worked frequently in Britain, first making an impression on international audiences thanks to a series of Taster’s Choice commercials that ran from 1990-1997. He also headlined a 1990-1991 revival of The Rocky Horror Show as Dr. Frank-n-Furter (a fact which would later delight fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
On Buffy, Head served as the mentor figure to Sarah Michelle Gellar’s slayer, who over the course of the show’s run evolved from a seemingly shy and bookish librarian type to a man with a far darker past than anyone realized. Head also got to show off his musical chops at multiple points, performing songs in Season 6’s musical episode “Once More With Feeling” and also covering The Who’s “Behind Blue Eyes” for a Season 4 episode.
Head stepped away from Buffy full-time during Season 6 and became a recurring cast member for the remainder of the show’s run. Following its conclusion, he appeared in films including Repo! The Genetic Opera, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, The Iron Lady, and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters.
On TV, he got to play a baddie in the then-recent revival of Doctor Who, was a series regular on Merlin and Dominion, and made guest appearances on series including Bridgerton, Jack Ryan, Drunk History, and Galavant. His final major TV role was as another Rupert — Rupert Mannion on Ted Lasso, former owner of the AFC Richmond football team, which Hannah Waddingham’s Rebecca won in the divorce. Head was a regular thorn in Rebecca’s side during the show’s original three-season run. There is no confirmation at this time if he will appear in the upcoming fourth season.
