Sarah Michelle Gellar is publicly mourning Anthony Head. The English actor, beloved globally for his role as Rupert Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, died at age 72 after dealing with complications from pneumonia. Gellar and a long list of Hollywood co-stars are now sharing their grief online.
Gellar posted photos of the two of them on Instagram. She anchored her caption with a crushing line from the show’s 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,” she wrote, according to her Instagram tribute. She also directed a message to his surviving daughters, actresses Daisy and Emily Head, thanking them for sharing their dad with the world.
The rest of the Buffy alumni quickly followed suit. James Marsters, who played Spike, told fans there is a “hole in the world.” Emma Caulfield looked back on a 27-year friendship. David Boreanaz called the renowned Buffy actor a kind and generous soul, and Charisma Carpenter remembered his behind-the-scenes punk-rock flair.
Head’s television footprint extended well past Sunnydale. He had major runs as King Uther Pendragon in the BBC’s Merlin and the villainous Rupert Mannion in Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso. His newer co-stars shared their own memories today. Brett Goldstein praised Head as a brilliant actor who managed to play the worst person despite being the best person in real life, The Guardian reported alongside statements from Head’s daughters.
Head’s passing comes just months after his family experienced another sudden loss. His long-time partner, animal welfare campaigner Sarah Fisher, died in December 2025 at the age of 61.