Life moves pretty fast. One minute you are watching a fantastic Joss Whedon tale about a crack team of vampire hunters, and the next minute you're watching the Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast's 20-year reunion. The ensemble of that classic show recently reunited for an emotional event to honor the legacy of the series, but one notable member of the cast was missing from the occasion: Anthony Stewart Head, who portrayed the fan-favorite character, Rupert Giles. Head's absence was noticed by fans almost immediately, and the actor recently issued a statement via social media explaining that other work ultimately interfered,
So sad I couldn't join the reunion - wasn't for lack of trying - literally coincided with the tech rehearsal of Love In Idleness. Bummer x
If Anthony Stewart Head's absence from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reunion did not ultimately drive a stake through your heart, then nothing will. The actor was not present at the recent 20-year reunion of the paranormal series sponsored by EW, but it was thankfully not because he did not want to be there. As his recent tweets stated, he is merely in the process of working on another project in London. There's no bad blood between these actors (pun intended); it was simply just bad timing.
It obviously goes without saying, but having Rupert Giles present at a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reunion would've been nothing less than a treat for fans. The character became incredibly popular during the run of the show as a quasi-surrogate father to Buffy, as well as his badass portrayal by Anthony Stewart Head. In that regard, I think I speak for everyone when I say that his absence at this reunion is nothing less than heartbreaking.
That said, Anthony Stewart Head was at the 20-year reunion of the beloved series in spirit (if not his physical body) , as well as through his words. He elaborated in another tweet:
EW have worked hard to have my presence felt - in a portrait on set and an interview. Here's to 20 years and a wonderful group of people x
Anthony Stewart Head has become something of a cult icon in the realm of television. In addition to his highly regarded portrayal of Rupert Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (which almost garnered a Ripper spin-off centering solely on his character) the actor has also appeared in a number of other TV sci-fi/fantasy projects, including Warehouse 13, Doctor Who, and Galavant. He's a master of genre work, and his performances on Buffy have forever cemented his small screen legacy.
While Anthony Stewart Head could not make it to the 20-year anniversary of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, our hope remains high that he will show up for the next major reunion, perhaps when the show is finally old enough to buy alcohol. We will bring you more of the latest and greatest TV news as new details become available to us. For now, if you are on the lookout for more information concerning this summer's most highly anticipated television debuts, make sure to take a look at our comprehensive midseason premiere guide and our summer TV schedule.
