Apple TV’s Emmy-winning comedy Ted Lasso finally featured a touching tribute to the late Anthony Head in Season 4, Episode 9, “Mae Rides the Bus.”
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Mae → win → Bus
While we won’t spoil the show-altering events in Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 9, we will share that Mae (Annette Badland) joins the Lady Greyhounds on the road for a big game.
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Mae → spoil → game
Keeley (Juno Temple) shares big news.
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Keeley → share → news
Before the end credits rolled, Kingfishr’s “Oh Love” began to play, and the words “In memory of Anthony Head” flashed on-screen.
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words → roll → screen
While longtime Ted Lasso fans might not have to ask “Who is Anthony Head?” or what was his relationship to Ted Lasso was, they may still be curious about the show’s immense loss.
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they → have → loss
Who Is Anthony Head On Ted Lasso? Season 4, Episode 9’s Tribute Card Explained
Anthony Head was the beloved, immensely talented actor who played Rebecca’s ex-husband and former AFC Richmond club owner, Rupert Manion, in 18 episodes over Ted Lasso‘s first three seasons.
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who → explain → seasons
He had the humor — that wry humor — and was a very beautiful man,” Badland told DECIDER during an interview ahead of Episode 409’s premiere.
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Badland → have → premiere
In addition to Ted Lasso, the actor, singer, and theater star had 140 film and television credits on IMDb.
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actor → have → IMDb
Though he’s likely best known for his long-running role as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, he also starred in Merlin, Little Britain, Cabin Pressure, Free Agents, Dominion, and more.
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he → know → Merlin
And who could forget his role as Tony “The Gold-Blend man” opposite Sharon Maughan’s Sharon in 80s and 90s Nescafé Gold Blend instant coffee TV ads?
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who → forget → ads
How Did Anthony Head Die?
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Head → die → ?
BBC News reported that Head died at age 72 in June 2026.
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Head → report → June
Per a statement from his daughters Emily and Daisy, “He passed away peacefully of complications due to pneumonia, surrounded by his family.”
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He → pass → family
“It has been, and forever will be, an honour and a privilege to be his daughters, and to have witnessed firsthand the impact both he and his work have had on so many,” the statement continued.
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statement → witness → many
And following news of Head’s death, tributes poured online from fans and peers, with Ted Lasso stars like Brett Goldstein, Jeremy Swift, and more paying respects.
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stars → follow → respects
“Anthony Head was a brilliant actor who played the worst person in the world, which was an incredible skill because he was the best person.
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he → play → world
He will be sorely missed.
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He → miss → ?
Love to his family,” Goldstein wrote in an Instagram Story.
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Goldstein → write → Story
“Goodbye Tony, we adored you, Rest in Peace my friend,” Swift wrote.
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Swift → adore → Peace
In an interview with Marie Claire, Waddingham said, “There is no Rebecca without Rupert.
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Waddingham → say → Rupert
He undoubtedly made my Rebecca what she was.
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she → make → ?
He was one of the finest gentlemen I’ve ever met.
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I → meet → gentlemen
He loved the craft, loved his fellow actors entirely, knew everybody on the crew’s name, and was always there for everyone else.”
How Did Ted Lasso Write Rupert Off The Show?
As Higgins investigated a number of AFC Richmond shares mysteriously being bought in Ted Lasso Episode 408, Mae advised him to “follow the anger.”
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Mae → love → anger
Before the episode concluded, he burst into Rebecca’s office and interrupted her conversation with Zelda to say, “I think I know who’s buying the shares.
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who → conclude → shares
Who do you think would make a play to steal a team in secret from you?”
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you → think → you
Rebecca took a moment to think before answering, “Rupert,” and viewers were meant to believe that the case is cracked!
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case → take → moment
Since Ted Lasso Season 4 was filmed before Head’s death, some fans hoped he’d filmed Season 4 scenes and would make a posthumous appearance in the series — largely because Ted Lasso hadn’t honored him a tribute card to him yet.
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Lasso → film → him
While we would have loved to have seen Head on the show one final time, he didn’t appear in Season 4, Episode 9.
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he → love → Season
Instead, offscreen discussions were had through Rupert’s lawyers.
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discussions → have → lawyers
While Rupert unfortunately won’t get one of Ted Lasso‘s famous on-screen redemption journeys, as Goldstein said, the fact that the character was so detested was a testament to Head’s incredible acting abilities.
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character → get → abilities
His legacy will live on through the many lives he touched, characters he embodied, projects he enhanced, and of course, through Ted Lasso‘s thoughtful tribute.
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he → live → tribute
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