Anthony Stewart Head appears in the recurring role of Rupert Giles, the former Sunnydale High librarian whose sole purpose was to train and guide Buffy in the Slayer ways. Giles has since returned to England, but he can be counted on to return to Sunnydale -- when necessary -- to share his vast knowledge of the wicked ways of the demons of the netherworld. Head has enjoyed a successful acting career in his native England for many years, but before BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, it was a popular series of coffee commercials that brought him his greatest recognition in the United States. Head starred as the intriguing romantic lead in a dozen Taster's Choice commercials.
He was a regular cast member on the sci-fi television series "VR.5." He also guest starred on the series "Highlander" and "NYPD Blue." Additional credits include the Showtime movie "Royce" with Jim Belushi and the feature films "A Prayer for the Dying," "Devil's Hill" and "Lady Chatterley's Lover."
Head also starred in "Best Actress," E! Entertainment Television's first original movie, as well as the BBC original movie "Silent Witness."
Head has appeared in many BBC Productions, most recently in "Manchild," described as a British version of "Sex and the City," albeit from the male perspective, and in the critically acclaimed "Spooks," with Matthew MacFadyen, Peter Firth and Jenny Agutter, about the British spy organization, MI5.
Born in Camdentown, England, Head grew up in a "show business family" in Hampton, England. His mother is an actress and is best known for her role as Madame Maigret in the BBC series "Maigret." His father was a documentary producer who created the British production company known as Verity Films. Head attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts and got his first show business break playing Jesus in "Godspell." He went on to star in a number of West End theater productions, including "The Rocky Horror Show," "Julius Caesar," "The Heiress," "Chess," "Rope" and Peter Shaffer's "Yonadab" at the Royal National Theater.
Profile courtesy of UPN
