'I'm not OK': Sarah Michelle Gellar leads tributes to Buffy co-star Anthony Head
Sarah Michelle Gellar, 49, shared a photo of herself with Anthony Head, his daughters, and their Buffy co-star Seth Green on Instagram as she paid tribute. Picture: Instagram
Sarah Michelle Gellar has led tributes to her co-star Anthony Head after the death of the English actor, aged 72.
Head was best known as librarian Rupert Giles in the cult US supernatural TV series, starring Gellar in the title role, which ran from 1997 to 2003.
A statement from his daughters, actresses Emily and Daisy Head, on Friday revealed their father had “passed away peacefully of complications due to pneumonia”.
Gellar, 49, shared a photo of herself with Head, his daughters, and their co-star Seth Green on Instagram as she paid tribute.
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She also included images of her and Head throughout the years, including a memorable scene during which Buffy asks Giles whether life gets any easier.
Gellar wrote: “‘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.”
Among the cast remembering Head, David Boreanaz, who played Angel, described his co-star as a “kind and generous soul”, while James Marsters — the punk-rock vampire Spike — said the death left a “hole in the world”.
Emma Caulfield, who played reformed demon Anya in , reflected on their 27 years of friendship as she hailed Head as “kind, wise and a guide in troubled times”.
Charisma Carpenter, who starred as queen bee Cordelia Chase, recounted meeting Head in the production office for the first time and being “completely thrown off” by how different he was to his stuffy librarian character.
The American actress said: “He had an earring, Converse high-tops and a pair of loose-fitting, boldly striped pants. There wasn’t a trace of Giles to be found, which was a testament to his gifts.”
Head also starred in football comedy from 2020 as former Richmond FC owner Rupert Mannion, the ex-husband of Hannah Waddingham’s character Rebecca Welton.
Brett Goldstein, their co-star and a writer on the show, remembered him as “infinitely charming and kind and fun and a joy”, adding: “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.
“He will be sorely missed. Love to his family.”
Other notable roles included the prime minister in alongside actor Matt Lucas, who wrote on X that Head was “unfailingly brilliant, and always so kind and warm”.
He played King Uther Pendragon in , the father of Prince Arthur, where he worked alongside award-winning screenwriter and producer Russell T Davies.
Davies remembered Head as an “absolute delight”, writing: “He spoke always about his daughters with such love and joy, what a wonderful dad.
“Love and sympathy to Emily, Daisy, family and friends, he’ll be missed and remembered across the world. Good night, sir.”
