Heartbroken actress Sarah Michelle Gellar has shared a touching tribute to English actor Anthony Head, following the sad news of his passing at the age of 72.
Gellar, 49, starred as the eponymous Buffy Summers in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” — the series that many people are most familiar with Head from.
Head played Rupert Giles in the show. Giles was the “Watcher” of Buffy Summers. A Watcher is a guardian, mentor, and researcher assigned to train and guide a Vampire Slayer. It was a relationship the two characters maintained (more or less) for all seven seasons and 144 episodes of the show between 1997 and 2003.
While Gellar, as the show’s star, appeared in all 144 episodes (per IMDb), Head wasn’t too far behind, having appeared in 121 (also per IMDb).
Gellar took to social media to share her tribute to Head.
Sarah Michelle Gellar Says ‘I’m Not Ok’ Following Anthony Head’s Passing
Sarah Michelle Gellar shared her tribute to Anthony Head with her five million followers on her Instagram account.
The post comprises four pictures. The first picture is of Gellar and Seth Green with Head and his two daughters. The second is of Gellar and her husband, Freddie Prinze Jr., with Head. The third is of Gellar and her daughter, Charlotte Grace Prinze, with Head. The fourth is a still from a “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” scene in which Head’s Giles humorously lies to Gellar’s Buffy about how easy life is.
Gellar captioned her post, “”Tell Giles I figured it out and I’m ok””” 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.”
The “Tell Giles I figured it out and I’m ok” line is from season five of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” when Buffy leaves a message for her Watcher after deciding to sacrifice herself to save the world. It was a poignant call-back to Gellar’s time working with Head.
Gellar’s followers flocked en masse to the comments section of her post to pay their own respects to Head and offer comfort to the actress.
Gellar’s Followers Are ‘So Sorry’ for the Loss of Head
GettyThe comments on Sarah Michelle Gellar’s tribute to Anthony Head were all lovely.
One of the followers commented, “If there’s one thing for certain, it’s that the Buffy family will be there to comfort one another through this heart ache the way we always know how ❤️🫂.”
Another one said, “I’m so sorry for your loss Sarah. You and Anthony shared such a beautiful special Father Daughter relationship on-screen. I will always remember his iconic moments like “Cooper’s got a gun” and the love and warmth he brought to the Buffyverse 💝.”
Someone else wrote, “Im so sorry for your loss 🤍 He helped all of us grow up.”
Finally, one Instagram user noted, “I am so sorry, Sarah. You have lost so many people over the last couple of years. Much love to you at this time.”
The last user was, of course, referring to the fact that two other “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” stars have passed since the start of 2025. Michelle Trachtenberg, who played Buffy’s sister Dawn, and Nicholas Brendon, who played Buffy’s friend Xander Harris, have both sadly departed this mortal coil recently.
We’d like to send our heartfelt condolences to all of Anthony Head’s friends and loved ones. May he rest in eternal peace.
