Anthony Stewart Head (20 February 1954 โ 1 June 2026) was an English actor and singer. Primarily a performer in musical theatre, he rose to fame in the UK in the 1980s following his role in the Gold Blend couple television advertisements for Nescafรฉ.
๐ฌ Early Life and Education
Anthony Stewart Head was born on 20 February 1954 in Camden Town, London. His father was a documentary filmmaker and his mother was an actress. His older brother is actor and singer Murray Head.
Head was educated at Sunbury Grammar School in Surrey. He furthered his education studying acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).
๐บ Television Career
Head was best known for his prominent role as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997โ2003). He also played the Prime Minister in Little Britain (2003โ2006), Uther Pendragon in Merlin (2008โ2012), and Rupert Mannion in Ted Lasso (2020โ2023).
In 1997 he was cast as Adam Klaus in Jonathan Creek, but only appeared in the pilot episode. He left to take on the role of Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
From 2020 to 2023, he played former Richmond F.C. owner Rupert Mannion in Ted Lasso. For his role in the third season, Head was nominated alongside the rest of the cast for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
๐ต Music and Theatre
One of his earlier roles was in the musical Godspell in 1978. Head played Frank N. Furter in the 1990โ91 West End revival of The Rocky Horror Show at London’s Piccadilly Theatre.
In 2002, he released the album Music for Elevators in collaboration with George Sarah. In 2014, he released the album Staring at the Sun.
๐๏ธ Radio and Voice Work
Head was known for his distinctive baritone voice in advertising and voice roles such as Herc Shipwright in BBC Radio 4’s Cabin Pressure (2011โ2014). He had a significant recurring role in the last two series of the Radio 4 sitcom Cabin Pressure.
In July 2018, Head was added to the cast of long-running BBC radio soap-opera The Archers. He played Robin Fairbrother, a member of a family with several past and current connections to the Archers themselves.
๐ฅ Film Career
On film, he was known for his roles in Persuasion (2007), Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011), The Iron Lady (2011), Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013) and Upgraded (2024). For his acting in the film Despite the Falling Snow he won the Best Supporting Actor award at the 2016 Prague Independent Film Festival.
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ง Personal Life and Death
Head met his partner, Sarah Fisher, in 1982. They had two daughters, Emily and Daisy, both of whom are actresses. Head died from complications of pneumonia on 1 June 2026, aged 72.
| Category | Detail | Category | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 20 February 1954 | Died | 1 June 2026 |
| Birthplace | Camden Town, London | Age at Death | 72 |
| Education | LAMDA | Partner | Sarah Fisher (1982โ2025) |
| Notable Role | Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Final Role | Julian Marx in Upgraded (2024) |