R.I.P. Anthony Head (1954–2026)

Doctor Who TV is saddened to report on the passing of British actor Anthony Head, who has died at the age of 72.

To Doctor Who fans, Head will be warmly remembered for his memorable guest appearance in the 2006 episode School Reunion, where he played the sinister Mr Finch, the Krillitane headmaster of Deffry Vale High School.

He appeared opposite David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor, Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler and Elisabeth Sladen’s returning Sarah Jane Smith.

Head’s daughters, Emily and Daisy, announced that their father died peacefully following complications from pneumonia, surrounded by his family. In their tribute, they spoke of their pride in his career, the joy he took in his work and the lasting impact he had on audiences around the world.

Beyond Doctor Who, Anthony Head enjoyed a wide-ranging career across television, film, theatre and radio. He became internationally known as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a role that made him a beloved figure to fantasy and genre television fans across the world.

His other major screen credits included Ted Lasso, in which he played Rupert Mannion, Merlin, where he starred as Uther Pendragon, Little Britain, The Inbetweeners, The Iron Lady, Persuasion, Manchild, Motherland, Silent Witness and Bridgerton. He also joined BBC Radio 4’s The Archers as Robin Fairbrother.