Sarah Michelle Gellar pens emotional tribute to Anthony Head after his demise aged 72: ‘I’m not okay’

Sarah Michelle Gellar has shared a heartfelt tribute to her Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star Anthony Head, who has died aged 72.

The British actor, who was known for playing the socially awkward British librarian Rupert Giles and watcher to Gellar’s Buffy in the series, died due to complications related to pneumonia, his daughters said in a statement.

In the series, Head’s character was assigned by the ancient British council to oversee the actions of the Slayer, but as the series developed, he became more of a surrogate father and mentor to Buffy.

Sharing a picture of herself alongside Head and his two daughters, Daisy and Emily, Gellar began with a quote from the season five finale: “‘Tell Giles I figured it out and I’m ok’… Well I don’t have it figured out and I’m not ok.

“But I know I’m the lucky one because I knew you. Thank you to Daisy and Emily who not only shared their dad with me, but with the world,” Gellar wrote.

In her post, Gellar also shared quotes from a famous scene from season two, episode seven, where Buffy asks Giles about life’s hardships.

“Does it ever get easy….life?” her character asks. “Lie to me.”

“Yes, it’s terribly simple,” Head’s character replies. “The good guys are always stalwart and true. The bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats. And we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies and… everybody lives happily ever after.”

Announcing his death, Head’s daughters said Friday: “It has been, and forever will 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.”

Head’s other Buffy co-stars have been sharing tributes online. James Marsters, who played the villain vampire Spike in the series, wrote in an Instagram post Friday: “There’s a hole in the World.”

“He was an unflaggingly kind and steady presence on the set of Buffy, and the best actor in the cast. He was the best of us,” he continued. “He left the world a better place for his presence,” the 63-year-old said, sharing a photograph of the pair on the show. “Thank you Tony for all you gave.”

Emma Caulfield, who portrayed the demon Anya Jenkins, shared her own post. “This was taken on the London Underground in 2011,” the actor said alongside a selfie of the co-stars. “I went to visit my friend Tony on the set of The Iron Lady. We had lunch, hit up a record store, had dinner and drinks and laughed until our sides hurt. It was a perfect day.”

She said she was lucky to call Head her “friend for 27 years…. He was kind and wise and a guide in troubled times.”

While Buffy marked his breakthrough role in America, Head went on to star in shows including Little Britain, Silent Witness, My Family, The Inbetweeners, Monarch of the Glen and as King Uther Pendragon in the BBC’s popular Merlin series, also appearing in films such as The Iron Lady opposite Meryl Streep. More recently, he is known for his recurring role in the Emmy-winning comedy drama Ted Lasso as former football club owner Rupert Mannion, joining as a series regular for season three.

Head’s Ted Lasso stars also shared memories of working with the star.

Brett Goldstein, who plays Roy Kent in the series, shared, “Anthony Head was a brilliant actor who played the worst person in the world, which was an incredible skill because he was the best person,” referencing Head’s villain character in the series.

Jeremy Swift, who portrays Leslie Higgins, said on Instagram: “Goodbye Tony, we adored you, Rest in Peace, my friend.”

Head is survived by his two daughters. His wife, Sarah Fisher, died aged 61 in December last year.