Timothy West, Legendary British Stage, TV and Film Actor, Dies at 90

Timothy West, a British star of stage, film and TV and the husband ofFawlty TowersstarPrunella Scales, has died, his family said Thursday on social media. He was 90.

His career ranged from Shakespeare plays and such films asThe Day of the Jackalto famoussoap operasEastEndersandCoronation Street.

“After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father, Timothy West, died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening,” his children, Juliet, Samuel and Joseph West said in a statement shared on X.

“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.” The family added: 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.”

West’s film roles includedThe Day of the Jackal(1973), in which he played Commissioner Berthier, andCry Freedom(1987).

In 2013, he had a small role on the soapCoronation Streetbefore appearing onEastEndersa year later as Stan Carter. He then portrayed that character for more than a year. His most recent TV show credits includeGentleman Jack.

On British TV, West also appeared in adaptations of Roald Dahl and Charles Dickens stories, includingOliver Twist. InGreat Canal Journeys, he and Scales shared their love for traveling in narrowboats and explored how the couple navigated Scales’ dementia.