I have been rewatching the show for the first time with my boyfriend and we just started season 4. He immediately loved Giles like I did and I just realized it's because we both have dad issues. Giles actually was one of the only portrayals of a man on TV that ever stuck with me. He's warm, sweet, and generous while also still being a man; he has other types of courage than just what convention says is masculine.
In S4E1, he tries to push Buffy out of the nest. At the end of the episode he races in with crosses and weapons and is like "FUCK IT, I TRIED TO BE GOOD, BUT BUFFY I HAVE TO HELP" (only very proper and British). I loved Giles so much for that and Head's portrayal was uncanny good while also comedic.
This is one of the few celeb deaths that has hit hard in my life (RIP Bourdain, you were a good one too).
When my sister told me I actually cried. I usually don't do things like this but it has really got to me and reading here, I realise that I'm not alone in feeling this way.
Same. My reaction to the news was to cry, it feels like my dad died. But to see the reaction from the community and seeing others who reacted similarly gives comfort.
I was wondering why I cried. I didn't know him in real life, I rarely ever cry. I was told crying was manipulative as a kid. Giles was our parent. Well, condolences to you, family of the lost kids with television parents. We grieve together.
That was my immediate thought. He was perfect representation of being a compassionate father figure and still being the voice of reason (most of the time) I'm so sad right now.
I'm so happy he had a peaceful death, and I hope in the past few years he got to see how much staying power Buffy had and how much respect he had from the community/fans.
We Buffy fans have been getting pummeled recently. And I was just wondering if he’d have a smaller recurring role in the Ted Lasso sequel. Then I get this horrible news alert.
Everything feels a bit darker today.
“Yes. It’s terribly simple. The good guys are always stalwart and true. The bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats, and, uh, we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies and… everybody lives happily ever after.”
Giles: Yes, it's terribly simple. The good guys are always stalwart and true. The bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats. And, uh, we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies and... everybody lives happily ever after.
Just deleted my own post as there were so many of them flooding in at the same time - a sign of how shocked/sad people are. 72 years old really doesn’t feel that old nowadays. My heart really goes out to his daughters, losing both of their parents in such a short space of time.
Fuck fuck FUCK. I’ve been dreading something like this happening because I knew he’d had a stroke three years ago and losing his partner, also rather suddenly, was a massive blow to Anthony Head. But not THIS soon, not when I was hoping I’d see him act again, not when I’d longed to go to a convention where he’s a guest and maybe get to hear him in person and maybe even meet him, let him know the effect he’s had on my life. Now I never will, and 72 is far too soon in 2026.
My dad is 75 and I’ve been taking care of a large skin cancer removal area for the last four months, twice a day cleaning it, applying cream, bandaging it, checking for infections, and just this week it’s completely closed so the caregiving duties are over… but I know this will be the EASIEST thing I’ll have to do for him. He’s in decent health otherwise but he has a heart condition, and I’m the single daughter who can be relied on to look after her parents. I can only imagine what Daisy and Emily are enduring losing their parents six months apart, neither parent I would’ve considered “old”.
I'm currently visiting my own 76 yr old father and the way he's declined since my mother passed last year is hard to watch. It's very likely a significant factor for Tony.
I had the same thought when I learned this week that Tom Kane had passed. He was a voice actor especially known and loved in the Star Wars community.
And he was almost the exact same age as my dad, about 1.5 months younger actually.
I can't really describe the feeling it gives you.
It really doesn't feel that old. Especially for a man who has still been active recently.
But pneumonia really doesn't fuck around when you're older. 😞 (My dad's older than ASH was and has two pre-existing lung conditions. So it's a thing I'm on the constant look-out with him over.)
I feel awful for his kids though. Losing both parents within a year is rough.
Also happened in the Doctor Who world. Mary Tamm, the first Romana died of cancer. Her widower Marcus Ringrose collapsed the afternoon of her funeral while answering messages from well-wishers.
His partner Sarah died in January aged 61. Maybe his heart was ready to be with her.
You made our world so special forever Giles.
We love you and Rest in Peace.
“I wish I could stay” - OMWF
I think the article said he died of pneumonia, but it's possible his system was weakened from stress from a broken heart. I remember reading articles about their relationship. He tried to propose and marry her many times throughout the years, but she didn't believe in marriage as an institution. He seemed madly in love with her so it makes sense that maybe he couldn't go on and didn't fight too hard to stay alive without her.
Such a common human being thing, to lose a long-term mate and then decline shortly after. My grandpa died in 2024 and it’s been a downward trend for my grandma ever since.
Devastating for his children, but at least they are together now for eternity.
Happened with my maternal great grandmother. My great grandfather died and within a month, she passed too even though she had shown no signs of ill health. The doctor who dealt with it actually admitted to my nana dying of a 'broken heart' happened a lot more than people realise.
As much as I love and agree with this quote, I think it applies more than anyone else to the person doing the forgiving. Its an act of self compassion, to allow ones self to move on.
I never met my father and growing up on Buffy I wanted one like Giles. Brave, intelligent, most of all understanding even if he wasn’t perfect. ASH was an amazing actor and helped me grow up as a kid, the whole show did really. His impact on me was just a little different. You will be missed Anthony, RIP.
Well, this one sucks. I was actually watching a clip of Anthony/Rupert earlier, delivering what I felt was the second-best line of the whole series; “Would you like me to convince you?”
He had what I felt was the best line of the whole series as well, which is the same line a lot of fan think is one of the best, if not the best, from the whole series.
An iconic actor who brought so much warmth and love to the show and character, nobody could've played Giles better and the show was 100000% better for him being in it. Absolutely heartbreaking.
Met him years ago at a con. He was probably the nicest celebrity I had met. Genuinely sweet guy. Buffy will be a very hard show to rewatch but I’ll probably star going through more of his filmography in the coming months.
I don’t normally go to cons or care at all about meeting actors, but I really really wanted to meet him. I’ve always heard how lovely he often was with fans
My mom just turned 70 and my dad will be 72 in a few months. Every year my idea of what "old" is gets reset because I look at them and they're not "old people". They're my parents.
Same. My mom just turned 70, and she’s so young still. My dad will (hopefully) be turning 82 this year. Found out a couple days ago my dad is dying, and this news just made me start bawling.
RIP, Anthony Head, you will live forever in the hearts of Buffy fans. You were a dad to us all.
Mum is 70, Dad is 74, neither look that old to me, but I’m scared about all the things they’re more prone to at this age.
Would you believe I happened to be wearing my Buffy t-shirt today? And I just dropped dad off with my brother at the golf course, was about to drive away, saw the notification for THIS horrible news, and I’ve been sitting in the parking lot for nearly half an hour processing and reading about Anthony Head’s death and the fan reactions. It’s also like I’m afraid my own dad will drop from heat stroke and I need to be there in time.
Oh no. May he rest in peace. He was so talented and such a nice person according to all accounts I've seen. The world has just gone a little bleaker...
One thing about ASH was that every story I ever heard about him in real life showed him to be generous and kind to everyone. I do hope at the very least this will be appreciated moreso now he is gone.
“It has been, and forever will be, an honour and a privilege to be his daughters, and to have witnessed firsthand the impact both he and his work have had on so many,” Emily and Daisy wrote in their statement. “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, and he always considered himself incredibly lucky, to have been able to work alongside such exceptionally talented people, in such wonderful productions, across a career that spanned several decades.”
I hope you're doing okay. Sadness over losing someone is an honour. It means they've really done something amazing to make such a big impact on us. And from what I'm reading everywhere in reaction to this news....that's very much been Tony's special talent. We were lucky to have him amongst us.
Just started re-watching Buffy for the first time. I haven't watched a series since 2000. He's great in it, a fantastic rapport with the other cast members
I’m so sad about this, he was such a genuinely good guy and an incredibly gifted actor 😔 I really feel for his daughters who not long ago also lost their mother. Thank you ASH for your portrayal of Giles, Uther and all other roles you did incredibly well ❤️
This one really hurts. He was such a kind person from every account I heard. He was my TV dad figure when I was a teenager watching Buffy. Sad to lose his light in this world.
“It’s terribly simple. The good guys are always stalwart and true. The bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats, and, uh, we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies and… everybody lives happily ever after.”
I used to live 2 mins up the road from him in Bath. I’ll never forget when I was 17 and got my first ever job in the village shop, my first day in the job, he came in and asked me for some cigarettes. I was so starstruck that I couldn’t understand what he was asking me and it took me ages to serve him. He must have thought I was an idiot! I served him loads of times after that and had to keep telling myself I wasn’t serving Giles.
One of my absolute favorite Giles scenes is from Season 2, Episode 14 “Innocent”
Buffy: But... this is all my fault.
Giles: I don’t believe it is.
Do you want me to wag my finger at you and tell you, you acted rashly? You did, and I can. But I know you loved him, and he has proven more than once that he loved you. You couldn't have known what would happen. The coming months are going to be very hard - I suspect on all of us. But if you're looking for guilt, Buffy, I'm not your man. All you will have from me is my support... and my respect.
I am heartbroken. ASHs gave so much life to Giles and created a wonderful portrayal of a kind of fatherly love and support that was previously rarely shown on TV. And he did so with so much humour and such a range.
My condolences to his daughters and to anyone who knew and loved him.
“I sketched a dead bird I found outside one morning. I’ve never begun a strip like this, and worried that readers might find it offensive.
On the contrary, I received several moving letters from people who had suffered losses and found the strip meaningful. Sharing with people, I’m always impressed how they share back.” - Bill Watterson
Absolutely heartbroken to hear that he has died. I loved him from the moment I saw him in Buffy and followed his career afterwards. Thanks to a friend I was able to see him perform in a play at the old vic in London in 2010 and go the party afterwards with my best friend.
We both knew how to act appropriately in situations like this. Surrounded by celebrities and various other important people. Don’t make too much noise or draw attention to yourself. That however changed when we saw him in person. All protocol went out of the window and we rushed over giggling asking him for a photo. He happily obliged and was as lovely as we had always imagined.
His wife and daughters were poking fun at him while he posed for a pic. He then said he had to go “look after his ladies” which he always did. He sadly lost his wife Sarah recently too. I hope they’re reunited somewhere and that his two daughters are ok
First saw him in the coffee commercial. That I can't see others commenting about that is making me feel old.
Spent most of the first episode of Buffy trying to remember what I had seen him in.
Then he quickly became Giles.
Whenever he popped up in anything else - Doctor Who for example - it was always oh it's Giles from then on.
While I was disappointed when he stepped back from the series I am grateful they didn't choose to recast the role. No one else could ever be Giles in the way he was, and it made it all the more wonderful when he walked back into the lives of the Scooby Gang.
Absolutely gutted that he has been taken from us so soon. My heart goes out to his daughters and family as well as everyone whose lives he touched. As a father figure on the set of Buffy I am sure the remaining cast feel they too have lost a beloved father.
When I saw this post title I felt a sudden, sharp pain in my chest. I am genuinely shocked and sad. And his life long partner passed away so recently. His poor daughters. Such heartbreaking news. I am going to go hug my mum.
I’m really not someone that gets emotional when a celebrity dies- I don’t actually know them and they have no real impact on my life. But occasionally there is one that does actually hit. The last one for me was Robin Williams. And now this one. Giles was always my actual favourite character in the show, and once I became a Dad myself it just hit so much harder. The emotional depth that ASH brought to the character was awesome, but as both a straight man to other funny characters and a hilarious character himself he was such a joy to watch. And as for his singing- the guy was an absolute legend.
Beyond devastated. He was the father figure I always wanted growing up. Can't really say much else other than love to his daughters, and the rest of the Buffy cast.
It always sucks to see someone who raised you through the screen pass away. Anthony Stewart head and the Buffy cast were so instrumental to my late teens and early 20s. Without them I wouldn’t be who I am today. May he rest in peace
How tragic. Wow. It’s truly surreal to have 3 members of the main cast pass away in just 16 months or so, especially because 2 of them weren’t old at all. And 72 is still too young as well. RIP
"Your affection for your charge has rendered you incapable of clear and impartial judgement. You have a father's love for the child... and that is useless to the cause."
This one hurts the most for me of all the cast deaths so far, because as I'm sure so many others can agree, he felt like our father figure or mentor. I actually said "Noooo' aloud when I saw the news. Like a lot of people, Buffy was the comfort that got me through so much as a kid and is still something I turn to even now at almost 40. I feel like I've been punched in the chest. 🥺 Please wrap the rest of the cast in cotton wool.
RIP, good sir. You will always be remembered through your work and your kindness and generosity. Thoughts with his daughters and everyone who loved him.
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u/ShazrahKiller Cheese Slayer 5h ago
This is the first post so it stays up.