Now, Head is achieving new succes in the United States for his pivotal role in the highly successful and critically acclaimed Warner Brothers series, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," which is in its second season. In the role of Rupert Giles, Head plays the "Watcher" to Buffy's "Slayer" on the action-packed series. Under the guise of the school's librarian, he is Buffy's mentor and guide to the unknown evils that lurk in the world of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," In fact, he is the resident expert on all things evil.
Head knew he wanted to be part of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" as soon as he read the pilot script for the first time. Sitting alone in a restaurant reading, the "Buffy" script was such a page turner and was laced with so much humor that to his embarrassment he found himself laughing aloud. It was also an opportunity to work with Academy Award-nominated Joss Whedon ("Toy Story"), who created the series and serves as executive producer. Whedon wrote the screenplay for the clut status feature film of the same name.
As for the television series, Head says, "I am absolutely thrilled with the success of 'Buffy.' What makes it even more exciting is the fact that it seems to be appealing to all age groups...not just teenagers." Head adds, "I'm not quite comfortable with this phenomenon yet. Did you know that to date there are over 150 internet websites specifically dedicated to the show and it's regulars."
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is not Head's first series in the U.S. Actually, he moved to California five years ago to be a regular cast member on the FOX sci-fi series "VR.5" starring Lori Singer and costarring Michael Easton. Although "VR.5" only lasted for one season on FOX, it has become a rerun staple on the Sci-Fi Channel and BBC 2 in England.
During the last five years, Head has also guest starred on the popular series "Highlander" and the Emmy winning, critically acclaimed police drama "NYPD Blue." He was in the Showtime movie "Royce" with Jim Belushi and the feature films "A Prayer for the Dying," "Devil's Hill" and "Lady Chatterley's Lover." He also did a pilot for a proposed Dreamworkds series entitled "She." It was a combination of "live" actors and animation which provided a unique challenge.
Anthony Stewart Head was born in Camdentown, England, to a proverbial "show business" family. His mother is an actress and is best known for her role of Madam Maigret in the BBC television series "Maigret." His father was a documentary producer who created the British production company known as Verity Films.
Growing up in Hamptons, England, Head made his acting debut at six-years-old. Some close friends of his mother organized a play in which he played the emperor in "The Emperor's New Clothes." It was then, when he heard the applause, that he figured out that was acting was what he was going to do. In Junior High School he participated in house drama competitions and won three years running. He also began writing his own plays, which were performed at the school.
After graduating from high school, Head worked for a year as an assisting editor for his father's documentary production company. He was then accepted at the famous London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, where he studied for the next several years. Some of his classmate include Amy Irving, David Norton and Ian McNiece. He left the Academy in 1976 to try his skills in the "real" world.
Head's first television television appearance was a starring role in London Weekend TV's presentation of "Enemy at the Door," a World War II drama based on the German occupation of the Channel Islands. This was followed by a starring role in the British television production of "Love in a Cold Climate." He has also performed in a number of BBC productions including "Secret Army," "Bergerac," "The Grudge Fight," "Howard's Way" and "Pulaski."
Head also particpated in the British television commercials. He was perparing a for cocktail drink commercial when Taster's Choice selected him as male lead in their successful series of story based commerials. They liked his knowing wry smile and the humorous twinkle in his eyes. For the commercial Head tested with some of England's most beautiful women, but there was an obvious on camera chemistry between him and Sharon Maugham, the female lead. The ad agency for Taster's Choice, a subsidiary for Nestle, originally planned to shoot a story line of six commercials. However, the ongoing love story became so unbelievably successful that the company kept adding commercials, creating an envolving complex soap opera of romantic intrigue, including the surprise visit of a here-to-unknown college-aged son and the awkward appearance of an ex-husband. Altogether twelve commercials were shot for British television and twelve were shot for American television.
In what free time he has from "Buffy," Head is working on a Gothic musical he has co-written entitled "D'Ark Secrets." Tired of huge orchestral scores in musicals, Head says this will be the next "Rocky Horror Show."
