# Anthony Head
**Anthony Stewart Head** (20 February 1954 – 5 June 2026) was an English actor and singer who found fame in Britain as the romantic lead of the Nescafé Gold Blend coffee commercials and internationally as [Rupert Giles](https://www.edgepedia.org/rupert-giles), the Watcher and mentor in *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* (1997–2003)[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no98109555) • [2](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p0rz4n0mo). His later television work included the Prime Minister in *Little Britain*, King Uther Pendragon in the BBC's *Merlin*, and Rupert Mannion in *Ted Lasso*, and he played Robin Fairbrother in [BBC Radio 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-radio-4)'s *The Archers*[2](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p0rz4n0mo).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 1954, Camden, London; 5 June 2026, aged 72[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no98109555) |
| Family | Son of actress Helen Shingler and documentary maker Seafield Head; older brother of actor and singer Murray Head[3](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/anthony-head-dies-buffy-ted-lasso-actor-age-72-1236614624/) |
| Training | London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA)[2](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p0rz4n0mo) |
| UK breakthrough | Nescafé Gold Blend commercials with Sharon Maughan, a 12-part romance serial popular between 1987 and 1993[2](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p0rz4n0mo) • [4](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/anthony-head-it-s-a-wonderful-job-but-it-s-also-insane-1.1891324) |
| Defining role | Rupert Giles, Buffy's Watcher and mentor, in *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* (1997–2003)[5](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jun/07/anthony-head-obituary) • [6](https://apnews.com/article/anthony-head-obit-buffy-vampire-lasso-a1c56edf560de048e730a2cf337e4223) |
| Later television | *Little Britain*, *Merlin*, *The Archers* (radio, 2018), *Ted Lasso* (from 2020), one episode of *Bridgerton* series two (2022)[2](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p0rz4n0mo) |
| Stage and music | *Godspell*, *Chess* (taking over from his brother Murray Head), the 1990–1991 West End revival of *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*, backing vocals for Red Box[4](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/anthony-head-it-s-a-wonderful-job-but-it-s-also-insane-1.1891324) |
## Early life, family and training
Head was born in Camden, London, in 1954, the youngest son of the actress Helen Shingler, best known for the BBC television series *Maigret*, and the documentary maker Seafield Head[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no98109555) • [2](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p0rz4n0mo) • [3](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/anthony-head-dies-buffy-ted-lasso-actor-age-72-1236614624/). He grew up in Hampton, near Richmond upon Thames in London[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0372117/). Acting ran in the family: his older brother [Murray Head](https://www.edgepedia.org/murray-head) is an actor and singer[3](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/anthony-head-dies-buffy-ted-lasso-actor-age-72-1236614624/).
He trained at the [London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art](https://www.edgepedia.org/london-academy-of-music-and-dramatic-art)[2](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p0rz4n0mo). His first job, he later recalled, was in a touring production of *Godspell*, where he was the understudy playing five different characters[4](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/anthony-head-it-s-a-wonderful-job-but-it-s-also-insane-1.1891324). He went straight from LAMDA into [London Weekend Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/london-weekend-television)'s *Enemy at the Door*, and his early screen work included the film *Lady Chatterley's Lover* and guest appearances in British television series[4](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/anthony-head-it-s-a-wonderful-job-but-it-s-also-insane-1.1891324) • [3](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/anthony-head-dies-buffy-ted-lasso-actor-age-72-1236614624/). For the BBC he appeared in *Bergerac*, *Howard's Way*, *Secret Army*, *Accident*, *The Grudge Fight*, and *Pulaski*[8](https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/reallife/ahead.shtml).
## The Gold Blend commercials
An early breakthrough came in advertising. In the late 1980s he became the man in the Nescafé Gold Blend commercials, a 12-part sequence opposite [Sharon Maughan](https://www.edgepedia.org/sharon-maughan) in which the two played a man and woman who began a slow-burn, will-they-won't-they romance over a series of coffee dates[4](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/anthony-head-it-s-a-wonderful-job-but-it-s-also-insane-1.1891324) • [3](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/anthony-head-dies-buffy-ted-lasso-actor-age-72-1236614624/). The coffee-themed romance ads were popular between 1987 and 1993[2](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p0rz4n0mo). Versions of the ads were re-shot for an American audience under the Taster's Choice brand, so that before *Buffy* he was known on both sides of the Atlantic chiefly for a coffee commercial[6](https://apnews.com/article/anthony-head-obit-buffy-vampire-lasso-a1c56edf560de048e730a2cf337e4223) • [8](https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/reallife/ahead.shtml).
The Guardian's obituary credits the commercials with paving the way to his later American television success[5](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jun/07/anthony-head-obituary).
## Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Rupert Giles
Head achieved wider fame as Rupert Giles, the librarian and Watcher assigned by the secret Watchers' Council of Britain to [Buffy Summers](https://www.edgepedia.org/buffy-summers) ([Sarah Michelle Gellar](https://www.edgepedia.org/sarah-michelle-gellar)), a cheerleader at Sunnydale high school whom the Council oversees as she uses her superhuman skills against evil forces[5](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jun/07/anthony-head-obituary). The cult-favorite supernatural series ran from 1997 to 2003[6](https://apnews.com/article/anthony-head-obit-buffy-vampire-lasso-a1c56edf560de048e730a2cf337e4223). As the bookish but steely Giles, he guided Buffy as she came to terms with being the Slayer[3](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/anthony-head-dies-buffy-ted-lasso-actor-age-72-1236614624/).
The role grew beyond mentor. Giles increasingly became a father figure to Buffy and her friends Willow ([Alyson Hannigan](https://www.edgepedia.org/alyson-hannigan)) and Xander ([Nicholas Brendon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nicholas-brendon)), and together they formed the core of the group known as the Scooby Gang[5](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jun/07/anthony-head-obituary). The show's standing has endured: in *Empire* magazine's poll of the 50 greatest television shows of all time, *Buffy* finished second only to *The Simpsons*[4](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/anthony-head-it-s-a-wonderful-job-but-it-s-also-insane-1.1891324).
## Little Britain, Merlin and later television
Head's comic turn came as the Prime Minister in the BBC sketch show *Little Britain*; its creator and star [Matt Lucas](https://www.edgepedia.org/matt-lucas) described him as "unfailingly brilliant, and always so kind and warm"[2](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p0rz4n0mo). In the BBC's fantasy series *Merlin* he played King Uther Pendragon[2](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p0rz4n0mo).
His later credits spanned radio, streaming comedy, and period drama. He joined the cast of BBC Radio 4's long-running drama *The Archers* in 2018, playing Robin Fairbrother[2](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p0rz4n0mo). From 2020 he appeared in *Ted Lasso* as Rupert Mannion, the villainous former owner of Richmond FC and ex-husband of [Hannah Waddingham](https://www.edgepedia.org/hannah-waddingham)'s character Rebecca Welton[2](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p0rz4n0mo) • [6](https://apnews.com/article/anthony-head-obit-buffy-vampire-lasso-a1c56edf560de048e730a2cf337e4223). His credits included one episode of *Bridgerton* series two in 2022[2](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p0rz4n0mo).
Earlier American work included a regular role on the science-fiction series *VR.5*, and guest appearances on *Highlander* and *NYPD Blue*[8](https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/reallife/ahead.shtml). His other television credits include *Monarch of the Glen*, and his film roles include *Scoop* with [Scarlett Johansson](https://www.edgepedia.org/scarlett-johansson) and *Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance* with [Nicolas Cage](https://www.edgepedia.org/nicolas-cage)[4](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/anthony-head-it-s-a-wonderful-job-but-it-s-also-insane-1.1891324) • [8](https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/reallife/ahead.shtml).
## Stage and music work
Head maintained a parallel career in musical theater and music. He appeared in *Godspell*, took over at the West End production of *Chess* from his brother Murray Head, supplied backing vocals for the band Red Box, and starred in the 1990–1991 West End revival of *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*[4](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/anthony-head-it-s-a-wonderful-job-but-it-s-also-insane-1.1891324).
His screen work also drew on his singing. His musical film credits include [Tim Burton](https://www.edgepedia.org/tim-burton)'s *Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street* and Darren Lynn Bousman's *Repo! The Genetic Opera*[4](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/anthony-head-it-s-a-wonderful-job-but-it-s-also-insane-1.1891324).
## Reception and legacy
Tributes after his death centered on both his craft and his manner on set. His *Buffy* co-star James Marsters called him "an unflaggingly kind and steady presence on the set of Buffy, and the best actor in the cast... I was lucky to have known, and learned from him"[2](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p0rz4n0mo).
By his own account, in later years he was more often recognized for *Little Britain* and his brief appearances in *Doctor Who* than for the coffee adverts that first made him famous[4](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/anthony-head-it-s-a-wonderful-job-but-it-s-also-insane-1.1891324).
IMDb's biographical page attributes the role of Judas on the original album of *Jesus Christ Superstar* to Head, but the attribution is disputed[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0372117/).
## References
1. [Head, Anthony, 1954-2026, LC Linked Data Service, Library of Congress](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no98109555)
2. [Anthony Head: Tributes to Buffy and Ted Lasso star Anthony Head after death aged 72, BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p0rz4n0mo)
3. [Anthony Head Dead: 'Buffy,' 'Ted Lasso' Actor Was 72, The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/anthony-head-dies-buffy-ted-lasso-actor-age-72-1236614624/)
4. [Anthony Head: 'It's a wonderful job but it's also insane', The Irish Times](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/anthony-head-it-s-a-wonderful-job-but-it-s-also-insane-1.1891324)
5. [Anthony Head obituary, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jun/07/anthony-head-obituary)
6. [Actor Anthony Head, known for 'Ted Lasso' role, has died at 72, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/anthony-head-obit-buffy-vampire-lasso-a1c56edf560de048e730a2cf337e4223)
7. [Anthony Head, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0372117/)
8. [Anthony Stewart Head plays Rupert Giles, BBC Cult TV](https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/reallife/ahead.shtml)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames H to K*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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