Sarah Michelle Gellar pays tribute to 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' co-star Anthony Head

Take it from Buffy The Vampire Slayer: ‘Be a true fighter’
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June 5, 2026, 5:43 PM
June 5, 2026, 5:43 PM

Sarah Michelle Gellar is mourning the death of her "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" co-star Anthony Head.

The actor, who played Rupert Giles, Buffy's mentor and surrogate father figure, on the show, died at 72, his family told the Associated Press on Friday.

"'Tell Giles I figured it out and I'm ok,'" Gellar wrote in the caption of her post, which featured a photos of her with Head and the rest of the "Buffy" cast and more.

The cast of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer."
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She continued, "Well I don't have it figured out and I’m not ok. But I know I’m the lucky one because I knew you."

"Thank you to Daisy and Emily who not only shared their dad with me, but with the world," Gellar added.

According to the AP, Head's daughters said that he died due to complications from pneumonia.

In addition to Gellar, other "Buffy" co-stars who paid tribute to Head included Emma Caulfield, David Boreanaz and James Marsters.

In her post, Caulfield, who played Anya on the show, shared a photo of her and Head and recalled how they saw a show together in 2011.

Anthony Head attends the UK Premiere of "A Street Cat Named Bob" in aid of Action On Addiction on November 3, 2016 in London, United Kingdom.
Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

"It was a perfect day," she said. "There were many of these moments with this amazing human who I was lucky enough to call my friend for 27 years."

Caulfield added, "He was kind and wise and a guide in troubled times. You were so loved. Impossible to caption. You are so missed."

Boreanz reacted to the news of Head's death on his Instagram story and wrote, "RIP... he was so kind and generous of a soul."

Marsters, who played Buffy's love interest on the show, called the actor an "unflaggingly kind and steady presence on the set of Buffy, and the best actor in the cast."

"He was the best of us," he added. "I was lucky to have known, and learned from him. He left the world a better place for his presence. Thank you Tony for all you gave.

Not only did Head star in "Buffy," but he also starred in "Ted Lasso," "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance," "Imagine Me & You" and more.

ABC News has reached out to representatives of Head for comment.

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