Celebrated actor Timothy West died in care home aged 90, inquest hears

Legendary actor Timothy West died in a care home at the age of 90, an inquest into his death heard.

West starred in shows Brass, Edward the Seventh, EastEnders and Great Canal Journeys with his Fawlty Towers star wife Prunella Scales in a glittering six-decade career on television and the stage.

He passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends at Signature at Wandsworth care home in Wandsworth Common, south London on November 12.

His children Juliet, Samuel and Joseph West announced the news with a shared statement on social media.

On Wednesday, Assistant Coroner Jean Harkin started an inquest into his death at Westminster Coroner's Court.

She said: 'The deceased was identified as Timothy West, a British citizen, aged 90 years, born on October 20, 1934 in Bradford.

'He was an actor, husband of Prunella West.'

The court heard West was formally identified 'by a care home nurse who knew the deceased since the time of admission to the care home'.

The inquest into West's death was adjourned for a review in February 2025.

West married his wife Prunella in 1963, before she played John Cleese's on-screen wife Sybil Fawlty in the iconic British comedy series. 

The actress was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2014. 

In an interview with The Daily Mail in 2023, Timothy revealed the heartache at seeing his wife, who he cared for during their six-decade marriage, slip away amid her health battle. 

Prunella and Timothy previously starred together in their own Channel 4 TV show, Great Canal Journeys, between 2014 and 2021, but were forced to quit due to her ailing health.

Together, the couple had two sons, Joseph and actor Samuel West, 58, who is currently starring in All Creatures Great and Small. West was also married to actor Jacqueline Boyer from 1956 to 1961, and they had a daughter, Juliet.

The statement announcing Mr West's death read: '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 great-grandchildren. 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.'