Legend of the stage and screen, actor Timothy West has died at the age of 90, his family has confirmed.
West, who has been married to Fawlty Towers star Prunella Scales for 61 years, died in his sleep on Tuesday.
The actor enjoyed a six-decade-long career, starring in a number of iconic stage and screen shows and films, with countless theatre performances and roles in Ever After, Beyond Borders and Endgame.
His children issued a joint statement on Wednesday confirming the tragic news.
Shared on West’s son Samuel’s X account, the statement read: “After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our father Samuel West died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening. He was 90 years old.
“Tim was with friends and family at the end. He leaves his wife Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly.
— Samuel West 💙💛 (@exitthelemming) November 13, 2024
“We would like to thank the incredible NHS staff at St George’s Hospital, Tooting and at the Avery Wandsworth for their loving care during his last days. Juliet, Samuel and Joseph West.”
West enjoyed a prestigious career in which he starred in several iconic roles, including in BBC soap EastEnders, in which he played Danny Dyer’s character Mick Carter’s father Stan from 2013 to 2015.
In ITV’s Coronation Street, West briefly featured as Eric Babbage in early 2013.
Fans and co-stars soon paid their heartfelt tributes on social media as the news broke on Wednesday, with several reflecting on the iconic roles they’ll remember him best for.
On X, one penned: “The wonderful actor Timothy West has died. He’d been married to Prunella Scales for 60 years & had been bravely honest about looking after his wife, who has dementia. RIP, loved watching you.”
“Marvellous actor. A constant in many of our lives. He shall be much missed. My thoughts with his family. RIP Timothy West,” a second shared.
“I’m so sad to hear of the passing of Timothy West!” Another added, with a fourth writing: “Aww so sad about this,thinking of Prunella and all of your family, R.I.P Timothy West.”
“RIP Timothy West – He’ll always be Bradley Hardacre from Brass in my memory,” one fan commented.
“So, farewell Timothy West, star of the best episode of Tales Of The Unexpected (Royal Jelly) with an ending that was burnt into my childhood nightmares,” another recalled. (sic)
Fellow legendary actress and wife Scales, 92, is best known for her role as Sybil Fawlty on the iconic BBC sitcom.
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Despite being diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2014, Scales continues to work, recording new voiceovers for a production at the Tabard Studio Theatre in West London.
The veteran actress, who has played Queen Victoria over 500 times, admitted only weeks ago that she still worries about being liked in new roles.
Speaking to The Times, she said: “You go to a different place and you think, ‘Oh God, these people won’t like me.’ You have to cope with that every time.”
The 92-year-old and her husband, actor Timothy West, 89, remain active in their careers, with Scales explaining that not working would leave them “very depressed”.