Veteran British actor and Gentleman Jack star Timothy West has died, his household confirmed on social media on Wednesday, November 13. The 90-year-old was married to Fawlty Towers actress Prunella Scales.
“After an extended and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father, Timothy West, died peacefully in his sleep yesterday night,” his youngsters Juliet, Samuel, and Joseph West wrote in a joint assertion shared on X.
The assertion continued, “Tim was with family and friends on the finish. He leaves his spouse, Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly.”
“We want to thank the unbelievable NHS workers at St George’s hospital, Tooting, and at Avery Wandsworth for his or her loving care throughout his final days,” the assertion concluded.
— Samuel West (@exitthelemming) November 13, 2024
Born on October 20, 1934, in Bradford, England, West started his performing profession on the stage, making his London debut on the Piccadilly Theatre in 1959 within the farce Caught Napping. He would go on to be a member of the Royal Shakespeare Firm for 3 seasons, showing within the likes of The Comedy of Errors, Timon of Athens, The Jew of Malta, and Love’s Labour’s Misplaced. He performed Macbeth twice and King Lear 4 occasions.
His on-screen debut got here within the British mini-series Persuasion in 1960, although his massive break didn’t come till 1975 when he starred within the titular function of the key tv collection Edward the Seventh. On the large display, he appeared in Fred Zinnemann’s 1973 political thriller The Day of the Jackal and Michael Apted’s 1979 British thriller Agatha.
West was an everyday on British tv productions over the previous 5 many years, together with memorable roles within the long-running cleaning soap operas Coronation Avenue and EastEnders and the BBC sitcom Not Going Out. Extra not too long ago, he portrayed Jeremy Lister within the joint BBC and HBO manufacturing Gents Jack from 2019 to 2022.
His ultimate on-screen function got here within the BritBox cozy thriller drama Sister Boniface Mysteries, the place he performed Charles Usher within the episode “The Star of the Orient.”
Take a look at among the tributes to West beneath.
A cheerful image of Timothy West taken earlier this yr when he got here to Lamb Home in Rye with HM Queen Camilla & members of @fotilling to have a good time E F Benson. With nice type he learn to us from “Mapp & Lucia” through which after all his good spouse had starred on TV. pic.twitter.com/25IduwLMZW
— Gyles Brandreth (@GylesB1) November 13, 2024
Adieu, Timothy West. pic.twitter.com/5Un7TAcR6b
— Catherine Curzon (@MadameGilflurt) November 13, 2024
For years, each time Timothy West popped up in one thing I used to be watching, I’d at all times recognise him, however not know the place from.
Though I by no means discovered why I initially recognised him, his extremely lengthy profession means, now, I do know him for an abundance of various roles. RIP. pic.twitter.com/qQ6aMk8kn6
— Stuart Beck (@StuartBeckMP) November 13, 2024
We’re extraordinarily saddened to listen to that Timothy West has handed away. Timothy joined EastEnders as Stan and his presence because the patriarch of the Carter household was instantly felt. He’ll perpetually be in our hearts. We ship all our love and ideas to Timothy’s household and pals. pic.twitter.com/3rOUpzu1AH
— BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) November 13, 2024
Marvellous actor. A continuing in a lot of our lives. He shall be a lot missed. My ideas together with his household.
RIP Timothy West. https://t.co/F53FnCSzUw
— James Dreyfus (@DreyfusJames) November 13, 2024
Very sorry to listen to of the passing of Timothy West. I solely had the privilege to fulfill him briefly as a platoon member within the remaking of ‘Dad’s Military: The Misplaced Episodes’ however he was at all times well mannered, skilled and really humorous. An actual gentleman. https://t.co/5nWuXVlaeT pic.twitter.com/LzH8H5Cgk5
— Mark Forsdike (@Mark_Forsdike) November 13, 2024
Very unhappy information in regards to the passing of Timothy West, one of many ones you wish to reside perpetually. pic.twitter.com/gfV0L0WcR7
— jojubs (@jojubs) November 13, 2024