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Ted Lasso Honors Anthony Head in Emotional Episode 9
Confirmed
In Short: Apple TV+'s Ted Lasso honored the late Anthony Head in Episode 9 of its fourth season, 'Mae Rides the Bus,' which aired recently. The episode, filled with both joy and sorrow, included a touching tribute to Head, who played the recurring character Rupert Mannion.
Apple TV+'s Ted Lasso honored the late Anthony Head in Episode 9 of its fourth season, 'Mae Rides the Bus,' which aired recently. The episode, filled with both joy and sorrow, included a touching tribute to Head, who played the recurring character Rupert Mannion.
Sources confirm that no changes were made to the Season 4 storylines following Head's passing. Rupert's character appeared in Episodes 8 and 9, making the tribute feel most appropriate at the end of his arc. The show had wrapped production in January, months before Head's death on June 5, 2026.
The tribute came at the end of Episode 9, which also featured the death of beloved character Mae Green, played by Annette Badland. The episode balanced emotional moments with humor and plot developments, including the Lady Greyhounds' victory and Roy's baby announcement.
Head's last acting credits were in Season 3 of Ted Lasso and the 2024 Prime Video movie 'Upgraded.' His cause of death was listed as complications due to pneumonia, with his health issues kept private.
Viewers praised Episode 9 for its emotional depth and balance of humor and tragedy. User @riskasupremacy on X described it as 'peak Ted Lasso,' while @MaMoosie noted that even after guessing the outcome, the episode still managed to evoke strong emotions.
Ted Lasso's writers found a fitting place to honor Head, ensuring that the tribute felt natural within the show's narrative. The episode solidified Zelda Southport as the new antagonist, marking a transition that felt appropriate given Head's contributions to the series.
In a touching moment, the episode's closing screen honored Head, reflecting the show's commitment to acknowledging the loss of a beloved cast member while continuing to entertain and engage its audience.
What this adds
The tribute to Anthony Head in Episode 9 of Ted Lasso was widely praised for its emotional depth and fitting place within the show's narrative.
Background
Ted Lasso is an American comedy television series created by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly. It premiered on Apple TV+ on August 14, 2020.
What's confirmed
- Apple TV+'s Ted Lasso honored the late Anthony Head in Episode 9 of its fourth season, 'Mae Rides the Bus,' which aired recently. The episode, filled with both joy and sorrow, included a touching tribute to Head, who played the recurring character Rupert Mannion.
- Sources confirm that no changes were made to the Season 4 storylines following Head's passing. Rupert's character appeared in Episodes 8 and 9, making the tribute feel most appropriate at the end of his arc. The show had wrapped production in January, months before Head's death on June 5, 2026.
- The tribute came at the end of Episode 9, which also featured the death of beloved character Mae Green, played by Annette Badland. The episode balanced emotional moments with humor and plot developments, including the Lady Greyhounds' victory and Roy's baby announcement.
- Head's last acting credits were in Season 3 of Ted Lasso and the 2024 Prime Video movie 'Upgraded.' His cause of death was listed as complications due to pneumonia, with his health issues kept private.
- Viewers praised Episode 9 for its emotional depth and balance of humor and tragedy. User @riskasupremacy on X described it as 'peak Ted Lasso,' while @MaMoosie noted that even after guessing the outcome, the episode still managed to evoke strong emotions.
- Ted Lasso's writers found a fitting place to honor Head, ensuring that the tribute felt natural within the show's narrative. The episode solidified Zelda Southport as the new antagonist, marking a transition that felt appropriate given Head's contributions to the series.
- In a touching moment, the episode's closing screen honored Head, reflecting the show's commitment to acknowledging the loss of a beloved cast member while continuing to entertain and engage its audience.
What's still developing
- According to sources, no Season 4 storylines were changed following Head’s passing, there had been no formal plans for Head to be in Season 4 and no official approach to him about appearing.
- SPOILER ALERT: The story includes details about Episodes 408 and 409 of Apple TV’s Ted Lasso.
- Barely referenced in the first seven episodes, Head’s Rupert, ex-owner of AFC Richmond and ex-husband of the club’s current owner Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), came back into the forefront in Episode 8, when Higgins (Jeremy Swift), with the help of Mae and her “Follow the anger” advice, deducted that Rupert had been secretly buying shares to regain control of Richmond.
- The move raised questions whether Ted Lasso had pivoted from Rupert to Zelda as the culprit — and away from a potential Rebecca vs.
- Rupert battle for control of Richmond — in light of Head’s death (or leading into it).
- They wrote, “S4 e9 was the best episode of ted lasso so far like it had the perfect amount of happiness and sorrow”, further adding, “Like genuinely so PEAKKK”.
- S4 e9 was the best episode of ted lasso so far like it had the perfect amount of happiness and sorrow, roykeeley having a baby, the ladies winning, my queen Mae dying, us finding out who is trying to steal Richmond from Rebecca.
- Ted Lasso Season 4 Reviews on X: ‘The Laughs, Heart and Love Are Still There’, Say Fans as Lady Greyhounds Make a Promising Start Andrew Garfield’s Men With Bigger Battles: From Supervillains to Systems This site uses Akismet to reduce spam.
- Ted Lasso Season 4 Episode 9 Review on X: Episode 9 has somehow managed to pack joy, grief, romance, victory, revelations and one particularly devastating ending into the same hour.
- For the viewers, that seems to have meant everything; Ted Lasso apparently decided that one emotional crisis per episode was simply not enough, and X immediately took that up.
- Ted Lasso couldn’t have picked a better episode of Season 4 to dedicate to the late Anthony Head, the renowned British actor who passed away on June 5, 2026.
- This isn’t the first time that an episode of Ted Lasso has ended with a fitting tribute, but unlike the homage to Joel Stevens, viewers will be very familiar with Anthony Head thanks to his long career in film and TV, including several truly iconic roles, most notably Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.