Anthony Head, Ted Lasso and Buffy the Vampire Slayer star, dead at 72

Some truly sad news has hit the acting community this Friday. Anthony Head, a fantastic actor whose work spanned several decades, has died at the age of 72.

In a statement, Head’s daughters Emily and Daisy told BBC News that he died of complications of pneumonia, before going on to add the following:

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our extraordinary father … 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.

“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.”

“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. We kindly ask that our privacy is respected at this difficult time.”

For many out there, Head’s claim to fame may be his role as Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where he appeared in over a hundred episodes. However, he did expensive work past that including on Little Britain or, more recently, playing Rebecca’s ruthless ex Rupert across multiple seasons of Ted Lasso. It remains to be seen whether or not he will appear posthumously in season 4, as filming for the Apple TV comedy has been over for some time now. It will premiere this August. We do believe that the series is likely to honor him in some for via title card; despite him playing such a cruel and unlikable character at times, many of his co-stars have spoken warmly of him and his presence on set. Often, some of the best performers are able to take on roles that are dramatically different from themselves.

Our thoughts go out to Anthony’s family and all who loved him during this difficult time.