Buffy the Vampire Slayer stars are mourning the loss of Anthony Head, whose death was revealed Friday by his two daughters in a statement they gave to the Press Association in the U.K. The actor died from complications of pneumonia. He was 72.
The British actor was best known for his role as Rupert Giles, Buffy Summers’ (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar) mentor and surrogate father figure throughout all seven seasons of the series, making his debut in the pilot episode. Head was a main cast member for the first five seasons and later appeared in a recurring guest star capacity. Head has also appeared in Jack Ryan, Bridgerton and Ted Lasso.
Following the news of his death, Gellar took to Instagram to share a tribute. “‘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,” she wrote alongside a carousel of photos. “Thank you to Daisy and Emily who not only shared their dad with me, but with the world.”
James Marsters, who played Buffy’s love interest Spike, penned a message writing, “There’s a hole in the world. Anthony Head has passed on from us. 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. I was lucky to have known, and learned from him. He left the world a better place for his presence. Thank you Tony for all you gave.”
“RIP. He was so kind and generous of a soul,” David Boreanaz, who played Angel, another love interest of Buffy, who would also get his own spinoff series, wrote to his Instagram Story.
Later on Friday, Boreanaz shared a throwback photo of the two smiling, writing, “This is how I met Anthony, in laughter and smile always. And this is how I will remember him always. All kindness and a soul that was inspiring to me. Thank you brother. RIP.”
Emma Caulfield, who played former demon Anya Jenkins, shared a story to remember the actor on her Instagram, writing, “This was taken on the London Underground in 2011. 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. There were many of these moments with this amazing human who I was lucky enough to call my friend for 27 years. He was kind and wise and a guide in troubled times. You were so loved.”
And Charisma Carpenter, who plays Cordelia Chase in the Buffy series as well as Angel, shared a tribute to her social media. “Tony brought life to a character who, for so many, was the father figure they needed but didn’t have at home. Fans far and wide are surely grieving, and for that, I am deeply sorry,” Carpenter’s Instagram post reads in part. “I was not as close to Tony as some of the others from the cast were, and it pains me that I have to say ‘were.’ Even so, I am still feeling affected by this loss, and my heart is truly with my fellow classmates who remained close to him and his family to this day. I’m holding them all in my thoughts and sending love.”
See the tributes, below.