Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans sadly have another cast member to mourn following the recent death of Nicholas Brendon. Anthony Stewart Head, who played the steadfast Giles—”Watcher” for Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and a mentor to her and the rest of the Scoobies—has died at age 72. Head starred on the cult-beloved series across all seven seasons and became a fan favorite, to the point that a spin-off series featuring the character was considered, though conflicts over rights issues meant it ultimately never made it to air. Along with his Buffy fame, Head also appeared on the sketch comedy series Little Britain (as the Prime Minister), the BBC’s Merlin (as Arthur’s father, Uther Pendragon), and most recently on Apple TV sports comedy-drama Ted Lasso (as the recurring character Rupert Mannion).
He got his start in musical theater (Buffy fans got to enjoy his talents in that regard thanks to the legendary episode “Once More, With Feeling”) and, among his many other credits, also appeared in multiple Doctor Who-adjacent projects, including a guest-star turn in the 2006 Tenth Doctor episode “School Reunion.”
The BBC reported Head’s cause of death as complications from pneumonia. In a statement to the outlet, his daughters Emily and Daisy said they knew “how dearly he will be missed by friends, colleagues, and fans of the show he was in.” They also said he “loved his job very much” and “always considered himself incredibly lucky.” Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
