Anthony Head was born in London in 1954 to a documentary filmmaker father and an actress mother, Helen Shingler. His brother, Murray Head, is known for his role as Judas in the original production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” and for his role in “Chess” where he sang “One Night in Bangkok.”
Anthony Head succeeded his brother in the same role for a couple of years in the late 1980s. Over the decades, he starred in several other musicals, including playing Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Show.” He also became known in the UK for his roles in commercials for Nescafe instant coffee.
In 1997, he landed the role he would become most associated with: the main character's mentor, Rupert Giles, in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," the cult series starring Sarah Michelle Gellar that ran until 2001.
He also played the British prime minister in "Little Britain" and a whiner to a football club owner in "Ted Lasso".
According to his family, Anthony Head died in the aftermath of pneumonia. He was 72.
