It is with extremely heavy hearts that we report that actor Anthony Stewart Head has passed away. An extremely talented presence on the screen and the stage, Head was a wonderful vocalist just as he was an actor.
Buffy and Beyond
Most people know of him thanks to his tenure on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He played Buffy’s “Watcher,” and school librarian Rupert Giles. He made his mark on the fandom by being the kind of reliable father figure that Buffy never had in her life. This wisdom and gentleness was also matched by elements of sarcastic humor and surprising ruthlessness to defend those he loved and cared about.
Outside of Buffy, Head had also appeared in other shows including Little Britain, Merlin, and more recently, Ted Lasso. He rose to prominence, oddly enough, through a series of commercials. In the UK they were for Nescafe, in the US, for Taster’s Choice. The coffee companies prepared a romantic storyline that would see Head’s character pursuing another character played by Sharon Maughan. Naturally, it was the coffee bringing them closer together. It was a hit for the brands and especially for Head.
A Singer and Performer
Alongside his acting, Head was known for his singing. His older brother, Murray Head is a famous singer and Anthony was no slouch in that regard either. In the 1980’s he was in the short lived pop band, Two Way. His talents were put to more acclaim with his performances in The Rocky Horror Show and of course, on Buffy. He was given a few chances to show off his vocal abilities, including on the musical episode.
Regarding his passing, Head’s daughters released the following statement, “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.” This news is particularly devastating for Buffy fans. It comes only a few months after the news that Nicholas Brendan had passed away. Brendan played Xander Harris on the show. Two devastating deaths in such a short time.
Our hearts go out to the family of Anthony and all of those who were touched by his work. His roles and voice may live on, but he will forever be missed.
