Anthony Head, the British actor best known for his roles as the Prime Minister in the television series "Little Britain" and as the urbane mentor in "Ted Lasso", has died. He was 71.
Head’s career spanned five decades, from early appearances in commercials for Nescafe to his final performance in the Apple TV+ series. The actor, whose full name was Anthony Stewart Head, was born in Camden Town, London, in 1954. He trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before making his West End debut in 1977.
His breakthrough came in the 1980s with a series of television advertisements for Nescafe Gold Blend. The campaign, which ran from 1986 to 1990, featured Head as a sophisticated man involved in a romantic narrative with a neighbour, played by Sharon Maughan. The adverts became a cultural phenomenon, prompting a novelisation and a short-lived stage play.
Head later gained critical acclaim for his role as the vain and manipulative Rupert Giles in the supernatural drama "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997–2003). His portrayal of the librarian and Watcher provided a moral anchor for the series. He reprised the role in spin-off series "Angel".
In 2003, he joined the cast of "Little Britain", playing the Prime Minister in a series of sketches that lampooned British politics. The show’s success led to a sketch in which Head’s character, a buffoonish leader, interacted with a grotesque caricature of a disabled woman.
Head’s later career included the role of the headmaster in the BBC series "Merlin" (2008–2012) and a recurring part in "Ted Lasso" as the wise, troubled mentor to the title character. His performance in the latter earned him a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2022.
Tributes have been paid by colleagues. James Corden, who worked with Head on "Little Britain", described him as "a true gentleman and a consummate professional". "Ted Lasso" creator Bill Lawrence said Head "brought a quiet dignity to every role he played".
Head is survived by his partner, Sarah Fisher, and two children. A private funeral is planned.
