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- How the news emerged and the family’s statement
- Where they lived and Fisher’s animal rescue work
- More than four decades together: their relationship story
- Career highlights and the role that changed everything
- Their children and the family in public life
- Support, struggles and the role of partnership in a life on stage
Anthony Head, beloved for his role as Rupert Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died at 72 from complications of pneumonia. His passing arrives only months after the sudden death of his longtime partner, Sarah Fisher, a loss that their family says remains deeply felt.
How the news emerged and the family’s statement
The couple’s daughters spoke publicly about Sarah Fisher’s death earlier this year. They said she passed away suddenly on Jan. 1 at age 61, and described the loss as completely unexpected.
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Relatives shared that Fisher was “extraordinary, kind and talented,” and that her death left a profound void for the family. Those comments were posted on social media by their children.
Where they lived and Fisher’s animal rescue work
Head and Fisher made their home in Bath, England. There, Fisher devoted herself to animals at Tilley Farm, a sanctuary she ran for rescued horses, ponies and donkeys.
- Tilley Farm served as a refuge for abused or abandoned equines.
- Fisher was known locally as an animal-rights advocate.
- The farm became part of the couple’s public identity and daily life.
More than four decades together: their relationship story
The pair met in the early 1980s backstage at London’s National Theatre. Head was acting in a production when he noticed Fisher. He later told interviewers how a simple curtain-side encounter turned into a lifelong partnership.
They remained partners from about 1982 until Fisher’s death. Head once joked that his partner had no interest in a formal marriage. Still, he often spoke of their bond as a marriage of sorts.
Career highlights and the role that changed everything
Anthony Head became a household name thanks to his portrayal of Rupert Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That role, in the late 1990s, introduced him to a global audience.
Other notable roles
- Rupert Giles — Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Prime Minister — Little Britain
- Uther Pendragon — Merlin
Head later reduced his screen commitments, leaving the show’s main cast after its sixth season to return to the UK. He framed that choice around family priorities.
Their children and the family in public life
Head and Fisher raised two daughters, Emily and Daisy, who grew up appearing with their parents at events. Both daughters pursued acting.
- Daisy appeared with her father in the Freeform series Guilt.
- Emily played his daughter in the BBC miniseries The Invisibles.
The family often described career choices as collective decisions. Head recalled discussing how long he would work abroad and how the children reacted when his status on a show changed.
Support, struggles and the role of partnership in a life on stage
Head has credited much of his professional resilience to Fisher’s encouragement. During lean periods early in his career, she urged him to keep taking acting classes and to persevere.
That private support helped shape a career that moved between theatre and popular television, and that touched audiences across generations.
