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Anthony Head revealed that his beloved partner of 37 years Sarah Fisher playfully refused to marry him for decades, before her tragic death this week aged 61.
The Buffy star, 71, and late animal rights activist’s actor daughters Emily, 37, and Daisy, 34, shared the sad news of their ‘extraordinary, kind and talented’ mum’s passing on New Years Day.
Anthony previously revealed that despite their years together Sarah had no interest in tying the knot and would tell him to ‘f*** off’ every time he proposed.
However despite this, he said that he still considered himself ‘married’ and could not imagine life without his partner, in a devastating admission years before her death.
Speaking in 2018 he said: ‘She just isn’t interested [in getting married]. She says f**k off and then runs off to throw up’.
‘I just can’t imagine my life without Sarah. And I definitely wouldn’t want to’.
Elsewhere in his interview with The Telegraph, Anthony praised his partner for caring for their daughters single-handily in the UK while he tried to make a name for himself in the US.
Anthony said being apart from his family was ‘really difficult’ and it was Sarah’s encouragement that finally helped him land the now iconic roles of Rupert Giles in Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
‘In the early days, I was unemployed and I would sit in my room, crying on the phone, saying: “I think I should come home.”. But Sarah told me to stick it out and go to acting classes. And that’s exactly what I did’.
Their daughter Emily, 37, rose to fame playing Carli in The Inbetweeners while Daisy, 34, has starred in Guilt, Harlots and The Syndicate.
They sisters said in their tribute: ‘It is immensely shocking to us all, and came with very little warning. No words could ever express all that she encompassed, or begin to describe the crater her absence has left.
‘We know how profoundly she has impacted the lives of so many, and we couldn’t be more proud of the legacy she is leaving behind. We only wish she’d had more time to share her knowledge and brilliance with us, and the world.
‘Our grief knows no bounds, nor did the reaches of her incredibly unique and irreplaceable spirit.’
They did not reveal any further details about her death.
Sarah had worked with the Battersea Cats and Dogs Home in London over the years – with them also paying tribute on Thursday.
They said in a statement: ‘We’re truly sorry to lose our beloved friend and Ambassador Sarah Fisher and send our deepest sympathies to Sarah’s partner Anthony, her daughters, and her family and friends.
‘Sarah, alongside her partner Anthony Head, gave so much to our charity, fostering dogs, using her canine behaviour expertise to train our staff and volunteers, and contributing in so many ways to make a real difference in animal welfare.
‘She will be dearly missed by all of us at Battersea.’
Anthony, who is primarily a performer in musical theatre, rose to fame in the UK in the 1980s following his role in the Gold Blend couple TV ads for Nescafé, which led to major roles in several television series.
He is best known for his roles as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003), the Prime Minister in Little Britain (2003–2006) and Uther Pendragon in Merlin (2008–2012).
More recently he played Rupert Mannion in Ted Lasso (2020–2023), as well as voicing Herc Shipwright in BBC Radio 4’s Cabin Pressure.
Sarah was also patron of Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary in Somerset for many years.
Their founder Pauline Leeson said in her statement after her death: ‘Sarah was an advocate for all animals and was always a voice for those dear souls who have no voice.
‘She will be a huge loss to the animal kingdom she worked so tirelessly for, helping so very many animals of all species to find their way to cope and be happy in this changing world.
‘We at Holly Hedge are so proud to have known Sarah. Her memory will live on in all the good work and positive change she has made to their lives.
‘Our hearts go out to Anthony, Emily, Daisy and family.’
