Anthony Head

About Anthony Head

The younger brother of actor Murray Head, Anthony Stewart Head enjoyed a successful acting career in his native England before coming to the attention of American audiences as the intriguing romantic lead in a series of Taster's Choice coffee commercials, each tracing the budding romance between two neighbors who share a love for the same brew. The handsome actor got his first show business break playing Jesus in a West End production of "Godspell" and went on to play in a number of theater productions, including "The Rocky Horror Show" and Peter Shaffer's "Yonadab" at the Royal National Theatre. Among his many British TV productions, Head starred in the series "Love in a Cold Climate", which aired in the USA on PBS in 1982. He was a regular cast member on Fox's short-lived sci-fi series "VR.5" (1995) and also acted in an episode of ABC's critically-acclaimed "NYPD Blue" and the Showtime movie "Royce" (1994), starring James Belushi. He upped his American profile considerably by landing the regular role of Rupert Giles, the school librarian who doubles as mentor to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (The WB, 1997- ).

Partners

Companion

Sarah Fisher. born c. 1964; met and moved in together c. 1982; mother of Head's two children

Education

London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art

Career Milestones

Cast in Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd," as a ballad soloist and one of Todd's murder victims (lensed 2007)

Got first show business break playing Jesus in West End production of "Godspell"

Grew up in Hamptons, England

Popular series of Taster's Choice coffee commercials brought him to the attention of American audiences; Head and Sharon Maughan had been featured in the British TV campaign for the product (known in the UK as Gold Blend)

1960

First stage appearance as a child performer in "The Emperor's New Clothes"

1978

Had featured role in the BBC series "Lillie", about Lillie Langtrey (aired on PBS in the USA)

1978

TV debut in London Weekend Television production "Enemy at the Door"

1981

Feature acting debut, billed as Anthony Head, in "Lady Chatterly's Lover"

1982

Starred in British TV series "Love in a Cold Climate", which aired in the USA on PBS

1993

Guest starred on "Highlander: The Series"

1994

Acted in Showtime movie "Royce", starring James Belushi

1995

Regular cast member of short-lived Fox series "VR.5"; Sci-Fi Channel telecast three previously unaired episodes in 1997

1997

Portrayed Rupert Giles on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"; reduced participation from regular to recurring status in the 2001-2002 season

2002

Had featured role in the BBC comedy-drama "Manchild", playing an man coping with sexual impotency

2003

Featured as the Prime Minister in popular BBC comedy sketch show "Little Britain"

2004

Guest starred in several episodes of BBC series "Monarch of the Glen"

2005

Narrated the two-part documentary "Regeneration," for BBC Radio 2

2006

Co-starred in the romantic comedy "Imagine Me & You"