Anthony Head, the beloved British actor known to millions as Rupert Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Rupert Mannion on Ted Lasso, has died. He was 72.

His daughters, actresses Emily and Daisy Head, confirmed the devastating news Friday, saying their father died “peacefully of complications due to pneumonia.”

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our extraordinary father, Anthony Head,” the sisters said in a statement.

Emily and Daisy called it “an honor and a privilege” to be Anthony’s daughters, while paying tribute to the long career that made him a familiar face to fans across generations.

“We know how dearly he will be missed by friends, colleagues, and fans of the shows he was in — he loved his job very much,” they said.

The sisters added that their father always considered himself “incredibly lucky” to work with so many talented people over a career that stretched across several decades.

They said that while their grief is overwhelming, Head’s legacy will live on through the hit shows and roles fans continue to cherish.

“How lucky we are to know we are able to watch him doing what he loved, even when he is no longer with us,” they added.

The family asked for privacy during the difficult time.

Head’s death comes less than six months after another crushing loss for the family. His longtime partner, Sarah Fisher, died in December 2025 at age 61.

Emily and Daisy announced Fisher’s death at the time, saying it came “with very little warning” and was “immensely shocking to us all.”

Head and Fisher had been together since 1982, though they never married. In a 2018 interview with the Daily Telegraph, Head said Fisher simply was not interested in marriage.

“She just isn’t interested,” he said at the time, joking that she would tell him to “f–k off” before running away at the very thought.

Still, Head made it clear how deeply he loved her.

“I just can’t imagine my life without Sarah,” he said. “And I definitely wouldn’t want to.”

Head was last seen on a major red carpet in March 2023, when he attended the U.K. premiere of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

For many fans, he will always be remembered as Rupert Giles, the wise and protective Watcher who helped train Buffy Summers, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Head appeared in all seven seasons of the supernatural hit, which aired from 1997 to 2003. His character became one of the show’s emotional anchors, forming a father-daughter bond with Buffy that helped give the series its heart.

His death is another painful blow for Buffy fans.

Michelle Trachtenberg, who played Buffy’s younger sister Dawn Summers, died in February 2025 at age 39 from complications of diabetes mellitus. Nicholas Brendon, who played Xander Harris, died in March at age 54. His cause of death was later revealed as atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

In 2020, Head said he was still stunned by the lasting love for Buffy.

“It does span the generations,” he told The Post at the time, adding that he still did not understand how the series never walked away with major Emmy recognition.

He said fans often told him how much Giles meant to them, especially those who saw the character as the father figure they were missing in real life.

“I think that’s part of its longevity,” Head said. “It hit home. It’s quite remarkable.”

Head later found a new generation of fans through Apple TV’s Ted Lasso, where he played Rupert Mannion, the cold and scheming ex-husband of Rebecca Welton, played by Hannah Waddingham.

The character was a far cry from the warm and steady Giles. Rupert Mannion was manipulative, arrogant and deeply unlikable — and Head leaned into every wicked moment.

In 2023, he described the character as a “narcissist” and admitted he loved playing the show’s villain.

He also praised Waddingham, saying working with her was “an absolute dream.”

“I’ve been very fortunate in my career to work with some wonderful actors, and she is extraordinary,” he said.

Born in Camden Town, England, Head studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before launching his career on stage and screen. One of his early roles came in the 1978 musical Godspell.

He first became widely known in the U.K. through the famous Nescafé Gold Blend commercials in the 1980s. That attention eventually helped open the door to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the role that would make him a cult TV icon.

Over the years, Head also appeared in Little Britain, Merlin, Bridgerton and the film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. He also voiced Herc Shipwright on BBC Radio 4’s beloved sitcom Cabin Pressure.

But for fans around the world, Anthony Head was more than just another familiar TV face.

He was the calm voice in chaos, the loyal mentor, the charming villain and the actor who made every role feel unforgettable.

He is survived by his daughters, Emily and Daisy.