A mentor can make or break an ensemble series. They have to be serious enough to ground the action and provide necessary exposition, but they can’t bring down the tone of the rest of the show. It’s a careful balancing act, and one that requires an experienced actor who knows how to bring that nuance and take things just seriously enough.
Back in 1997, a movie adaptation called Buffy the Vampire Slayer found the perfect actor to play Rupert Giles, Buffy’s librarian and Watcher, her mentor and guide through her time as the protector of Sunnydale. Anthony Head, who recently passed away at the age of 72, brought a sophistication to the series but also showed moments of warmth, heart, and occasionally, silliness.
