Acclaimed Actor Timothy West Dies at Age 90

The family of Timothy West has announced that the acclaimed British actor, celebrated for his distinguished and versatile career, has passed away at 90 years old. His extensive work spanned both stage and screen, featuring in television sitcoms like Not Going Out and Bedtime, dramas such as Bleak House and Gentleman Jack, and the soap operas Coronation Street and EastEnders. In a statement issued by his children, it was conveyed that the actor passed away “peacefully in his sleep” and was “with his friends and family at the end.” He is survived by his wife, Prunella Scales, known for her role in Fawlty Towers, with whom he shared a marriage of 61 years. Over recent years, the couple featured in 10 series of Channel 4’s Great Canal Journeys. Ms. Scales has been living with vascular dementia for over two decades. Dame Joanna Lumley commented, stating: “Timothy really will be a huge loss, obviously, to Pru, but I think a huge loss to everybody who came to love and respect them, not just the general public, but particularly those who live with dementia.” She further remarked on Times Radio: “I think between them, Timothy and Pru did an amazing job of convincing people that dementia was not something that you should be always afraid of, but something that you could embrace and live with and live with well.” Broadcaster Piers Morgan recounted an interview with West for his Life Stories series, during which the actor’s wife, Scales, was present in the audience. Morgan stated: “[She was] the love of his life… his devotion to her after she developed Alzheimer’s was profoundly touching.” Dame Harriet Walter, who portrayed West’s on-screen wife in the 2002 film Villa des Roses, offered her tribute, telling BBC News: “We had a lot of giggles, but he was also a very serious, wonderful man.” Tracy-Ann Oberman, a former actress from EastEnders, characterized West as “the most wonderful actor and human being.” Juliet, Samuel, and Joseph West, in their statement, characterized their father’s life as a “long and extraordinary life on and off the stage.” The family noted that West is survived by “a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren,” adding: “All of us will miss him terribly.” They also expressed gratitude: “We would like to thank the incredible NHS staff at St George’s Hospital, Tooting and at Avery Wandsworth for their loving care during his last days.” Born in Bradford in 1934, West was the son of actors Lockwood West and Olive Carleton-Crowe. He was educated at Bristol Grammar School, where Julian Glover and Dave Prowse, who later famously portrayed Darth Vader in Star Wars, were among his classmates. West commenced his career in the entertainment industry as an assistant stage manager at the Wimbledon Theatre. He established his reputation on both stage and screen during the 1960s. In the 1970s, BBC adaptations of Richard II and Edward II featured him in roles he had previously performed with critical success in theatrical productions. His big-screen credits include playing a member of the French intelligence service in the 1973 film adaptation of Frederick Forsyth’s The Day of the Jackal. Among his prominent television roles was the 1980s comedy-drama Brass, where he depicted the ruthless self-made businessman Bradley Hardacre. He also starred in Lynda La Plante’s 1992 crime drama Framed and appeared as film-maker Frank Sheringham in the 1994 children’s TV series Smokescreen. In the British sitcom Not Going Out, created by Lee Mack and airing since 2006, West took on the role of Geoffrey, the father of Lucy Adams (portrayed by Sally Bretton). Additionally, West featured in seven episodes of Coronation Street in 2013 as Eric Babbage. In EastEnders, he portrayed Stan, the patriarch of the Carter family, during 2014 and 2015. Throughout his career, West embodied former British prime minister Winston Churchill on three occasions: in From Churchill and the Generals (1979), The Last Bastion (1984), and Hiroshima (1995). His diverse roles included Cardinal Wolsey in the 1979 BBC adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry VIII, Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1987 Cold War drama Breakthrough at Reykjavik, and a racist South African policeman in Richard Attenborough’s Cry Freedom in the same year. In 1980, he assumed the role of artistic director at London’s Old Vic theatre. However, his brief period in this position was notable for a controversy surrounding a production of Macbeth featuring Peter O’Toole, which West publicly distanced himself from following harsh critical reviews. West himself was a frequent and highly regarded interpreter of Shakespearean roles, playing King Lear in 2002 and again in 2016. In 2019, the actor portrayed Private Godfrey in Dad’s Army: The Lost Episodes, which recreated three previously missing episodes of the BBC comedy Dad’s Army. His last screen appearance is scheduled for Wednesday’s episode of BBC One’s Doctors. The show stated on social media: “Today’s Doctors episode is a moving reminder of his incredible talent, and it was an honour to have him join us.” They added: “We send heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC holds no responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is provided.