Actor Timothy West dies aged 90

Timothy West, the acclaimed British actor renowned for his versatility on stage and screen, has passed away at the age of 90, his family confirmed. Known for a career spanning decades, West’s roles included performances in TV sitcoms like Not Going Out and Bedtime, dramas such as Bleak House and Gentleman Jack, and appearances in iconic soaps Coronation Street and EastEnders. His family released a statement saying that he died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by loved ones.

West is survived by his wife, actress Prunella Scales, who starred in Fawlty Towers and with whom he shared 61 years of marriage. Scales, who has battled vascular dementia for over 20 years, was a constant companion to West, with the couple appearing together in the Channel 4 series Great Canal Journeys, which followed their travels on the waterways of the UK.

Tributes poured in following his death, with many praising both his talent and his personal warmth. Dame Joanna Lumley, a close friend, called his passing “a huge loss”, not only to his family but to all who admired his work. She especially highlighted the couple’s work in raising awareness of dementia. “Timothy and Pru did an amazing job of convincing people that dementia was something to embrace, not fear,” Lumley said on Times Radio.

Broadcaster Piers Morgan also shared his admiration for West, recalling an interview he conducted with the actor for his Life Stories series, where West’s devotion to his wife during her struggles with Alzheimer’s was profoundly moving. “The love and care he showed Pru was incredibly touching,” Morgan commented.

West’s fellow actors also paid tribute to his legacy. Dame Harriet Walter, who worked with him on the 2002 film Villa des Roses, described him as a “wonderful man” who balanced humor with serious professionalism. Former EastEnders actress Tracy-Ann Oberman called him “the most wonderful actor and human being,” while his children, Juliet, Samuel, and Joseph West, spoke of their father’s “extraordinary life” both on and off the stage.

West was born in Bradford in 1934, the son of actors Lockwood West and Olive Carleton-Crowe. He attended Bristol Grammar School, where he was classmates with future Star Wars actor Dave Prowse and stage actor Julian Glover. West began his career in the theater as an assistant stage manager before making his mark as a performer in the 1960s. He was widely praised for his stage work, especially in Shakespearean roles.

In the 1970s, West gained further recognition for his television roles in BBC adaptations of Richard II and Edward II. He also appeared in the film The Day of the Jackal (1973), playing a French intelligence officer. Throughout his career, he played a wide range of roles, from a ruthless businessman in the 1980s drama Brass to a detective in Framed (1992), and a children’s TV series, Smokescreen (1994).

West’s most memorable TV roles in recent years included Geoffrey in the long-running sitcom Not Going Out, where he appeared from 2006 onwards, and as Eric Babbage in Coronation Street in 2013. His portrayal of Stan in EastEnders as the patriarch of the Carter family in 2014-15 was another standout role in his later career. He also portrayed Winston Churchill on several occasions, including in From Churchill and the Generals (1979) and The Last Bastion (1984).

In addition to his screen roles, West was a respected figure in the theater, famously taking on the role of King Lear in 2002 and 2016. He also had a brief and controversial tenure as the artistic director of London’s Old Vic Theatre in the early 1980s, which ended following a public dispute over a critically panned production of Macbeth starring Peter O’Toole.

West’s last screen appearance was in the 2024 episode of Doctors, where he portrayed a guest role. The show paid tribute to his “incredible talent” on social media, calling it “an honour” to have worked with him.

West leaves behind a rich legacy in British entertainment and is survived by his wife, children, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His family thanked the NHS staff at St George’s Hospital and Avery Wandsworth for their care during his final days. West’s passing marks the end of an era for British television and theater, where his wit, depth, and warmth will be sorely missed by all who knew him.