Timothy West, who was married to fellow actor Prunella Scales for 61 years, has died aged 90, his family said.
His children Juliet, Samuel and Joseph West said in a statement issued by his agent: “After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father Timothy 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 greatgrandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly. 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."
Timothy, who played Danny Dyer's character Mick's dad/grandad on EastEnders, was remembered by those working on the BBC soap following his family's heartbreaking announcement. A statement from the official EastEnders account on social media reads: "We are extremely saddened to hear that Timothy West has passed away. Timothy joined EastEnders as Stan and his presence as the patriarch of the Carter family was immediately felt. He will forever be in our hearts. We send all our love and thoughts to Timothy’s family and friends."
Just last year, Timothy opened up about his long romance with his beloved wife as the couple battled a new challenge in their relationship, Prunella's dementia diagnosis. The late actor spent his final years caring for his beloved wife as she adapted to living alongside the cruel disease.
Prunella was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2014, but her husband Timothy noticed the signs back in 2001 after going to see her in a theatre production. Despite the show going ahead without any hitches, the former EastEnders actor admitted he thought Prunella was "a bit strange" and "not totally with it".
After being together for six decades, the Not Going Out actor, aged 89, opened up about their future and Prunella's condition in a rare interview in November 2023, where he confessed it "isn't going to get better." "It hasn't really been hard work has it? ," he told BBC Breakfast, before his wife, aged 91, chimed in: "No, he is the person I love and I enjoy being with..." to which he responded: "That is about it I think! " Discussing when he first noticed his wife's deterioration, he said: "I came to see a play that Pru was doing in Greenwich."
"I went to see the first night and it was good, much enjoyed by the audience and then I went to see it again and I thought 'She's not totally with it'. We went to see a specialist and he said I am sorry this is just something that happens to you when you get older. It is not going to get any easier but we cope with it and we manage."
The broadcaster and Alzheimer's campaigner, Angela Rippon, said Timothy's passing will be a "huge loss to everybody...but particularly those who live with dementia" moments on from his death being announced. Speaking to Jane Garvey and Fi Glover on Times Radio, the Strictly Come Dancing star said: "I'm so saddened by that news because I think to everyone who knew them, it's unexpected. And I think what the wonderful thing was about their relationship was that Tim was Pru's carer and he grew into the world of dementia with her.
"He progressed in his knowledge of dementia as she progressed in the condition. And that's why I think the programmes that they did together, the ones particularly on their barges, were wonderful. Because what Timothy knew you had to do with someone with dementia is not treat them differently…I actually had a journalist once say to me, wasn't I embarrassed to be talking about the fact my mum had dementia? Tim was never embarrassed and nor was Pru about the fact that they were living with dementia. They just went on in ensuring that Pru was able to live well with her condition."
She continued: "The wonderful thing about the programmes was that dementia wasn't really an issue or a problem with them. They were wonderful in themselves as programmes, as documentaries, as trips down the canals with them but more than that, for people who lived with dementia, it was a perfect example of how someone living with dementia could live well with it, could still enjoy the moment, could enjoy the scenery, the experiences, could still have a proper conversation with her husband.
"They could live well together. They lived well together with dementia. And in that respect, I think between them, Timothy and Pru did an amazing, 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. 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."
As the news of Timothy's death broke, many rushed to pay tribute to the late star on social media. In the replies to Timothy's son Sam's announcement on Twitter (X), Strictly Come Dancing star Richard Coles told the grieving actor: "Dearest Sam, my condolences to you and yours xxx."
"The incomparable Timothy West has passed away. What a loss but what a life," one mourning fan penned as another shared: "I only had the privilege to meet Timothy West once, about twenty years ago at a literary festival event and he was very kind to a small boy who wanted to act. Charm personified, he truly was an incredible actor and human being who will be sorely missed."
Timothy starred in television shows such as comedy drama Brass, sitcom Not Going Out and soaps Coronation Street and EastEnders. The late actor and his wife Prunella, 92, who played Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers, appeared in the documentary series Great Canal Journeys between 2014 and 2021, which saw them travelling on narrowboats together.
The couple married in 1963, and have two sons, actor Samuel West, and Joseph West. Timothy was also married to actor Jacqueline Boyer from 1956 to 1961, and they had a daughter, Juliet West.
In Brass he played ruthless self-made businessman Bradley Hardacre from 1982 to 1984 before returning for a third series in 1990, while in Not Going Out he played Geoffrey, the father of Lucy Adams, played by Sally Bretton. In Coronation Street he appeared in seven episodes in 2013 as Eric Babbage, while in EastEnders he played Stan Carter from 2014 to 2015.
He also appeared in Doctors, with the BBC soap paying tribute to him following the announcement of his death. Captioning a picture of Timothy appearing on the show, they wrote: "The Doctors family are deeply saddened to hear of Timothy West’s passing. His final on-screen appearance in today’s Doctors episode is a moving reminder of his incredible talent, and it was an honour to have him join us. We send heartfelt condolences to his family and friends."
During his career West also played former British prime minister Winston Churchill three times, in From Churchill and the Generals (1979), The Last Bastion (1984), and Hiroshima (1995). In 2019, the Bradford-born actor played Private Godfrey in Dad’s Army: The Lost Episodes, a recreation of three missing episodes of the BBC comedy Dad’s Army. He was also a regular performer of Shakespeare, playing Lear in 2016 and 2002.
He performed at the Piccadilly Theatre, with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, and the West End, portraying many classic roles, including Shylock, Falstaff, and Macbeth. Paying tribute to Timothy on Twitter, the Royal Shakespeare Company wrote: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Timothy West We would like to extend our heartfelt sympathies to Timothy’s family and friends – in particular to his wife Prunella and children, including Samuel, who is an Associate Artist and will play Malvolio in Twelfth Night."
In 1984, Timothy was appointed CBE for his services to drama in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Prior to acting, Timothy had attended the John Lyon School and Bristol Grammar School, and worked as an office furniture salesman and a recording technician before becoming an assistant stage manager at Wimbledon Theatre in 1956.
In 2023, Timothy released Pru & Me: A Love Story - a heartwarming first-hand account of one of the most celebrated marriages in the history of British entertainment. Simon Hogg, who helped Timothy pen the moving book, shared some memories of working on the memoir as he mourned the actor on Twitter.
Sharing a snap of himself and Timothy looking over some papers on a couch, James began telling his Twitter followers: "1/5 In Timothy West we have lost not only a brilliant actor but a gorgeous human being. To have been involved in his final major project (his book, Pru & Me) was obviously a privilege, but to have been his friend was something very special indeed."
He continued: "We spent a year working together, a wonderful year, and Tim’s two primary concerns throughout were whether or not I was happy with what we were producing and whether I was comfortable in my room at his and Pru’s home, which I always was. Every evening after supper I’d go onto YouTube, find a TV play or episode of something that either Tim or Pru had appeared in but had never seen televised, wire my laptop up to their TV and then watch them watch it."
"What a thrill that was! Then, once that was over, I’d ask Tim if we could watch an episode of Brass which is my favourite Tim show. He’d protest sometimes only for a second, before saying, usually, ‘Why not. It isn’t bad, is it. I’ll tell you what, shall have another glass?’ We usually did. Then, in the morning, he’d spend ten minutes interrogating me about how comfortable I was in my room and then we’d start work in his study."
James concluded his moving tribute by telling his followers: "My only regret is that we didn’t sign up for a trilogy, but even when we’d finished the book I continued visiting at least once a month. Back to my room on the top floor and back to my friend, Tim. I really will miss him x."
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