Anthony Head, known for his role in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” recently experienced a tragic loss with the passing of his longtime partner, Sarah Fisher, who died at 72 due to complications from pneumonia.
The couple’s daughters, Emily and Daisy, announced Fisher’s sudden death on January 1, when she was just 61. In their Facebook post, they expressed deep sadness over losing their “extraordinary, kind and talented mother.” They noted that her passing was “very traumatic” and came “with almost no warning.”
They continued, “No words can express all that she encompassed, nor can they describe the crater her absence has left.”
Fisher and Head had been together since 1982, living in Bath, England, where Fisher operated Tilly Farm, a sanctuary for rescued animals. Interestingly, despite their long relationship, Head revealed in 2018 that Fisher had no desire to get married. He shared humorously, “She said, ‘No more,’ and ran off to vent.” Yet, he regards their bond as “married” in spirit, stating, “I can’t imagine life without Sarah. And I never want to.”
The couple originally met backstage at the National Theater while Head was performing in a play called “The Death of Danton.” He recounted how he found himself arriving earlier to see her, eventually striking up a conversation before his stage scene where he had to behead her character.
Head became well-known in the U.S. for portraying Rupert Giles in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” In a past interview, he mentioned how much of his success he owed to Fisher’s encouragement. At a time when he felt discouraged and considered quitting acting, she urged him to attend acting classes instead.
As “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” gained popularity, Head made the choice to leave the show after its sixth season in order to return to the UK and prioritize his family. He recalled that the decision was family-focused, stating that his daughters encouraged him to stay on the show, as they enjoyed it and appreciated his role.
Eventually, he transitioned to a recurring role, which was a difficult adjustment for him, especially as he was no longer featured in the opening credits. Meanwhile, he has also taken on various roles, including a Prime Minister in “Little Britain” and Uther Pendragon in “Merlin.”
Their daughters have followed in their parents’ footsteps, appearing in various roles themselves. Daisy worked with Head in “Guilt,” and Emily played Head’s daughter in the BBC series “The Invisibles.”
