Timothy West, British star of stage, screen and television, dies at the age of 90

Timothy West, British theater and screen actor, died today, his family announced. He was 90. 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, 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.”



Actor Timothy West will make a posthumous appearance in Doctors this afternoon, just hours after his death was announced, reported The Mirror.

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Timothy West career

Timothy West was known for many roles in television and the theatre, including popular soaps Coronation Street and EastEnders and Great Canal Journeys (with his wife, Prunella Scales). He also had many theater roles in productions such as Macbeth and King Lear.

He also renowned for portraying real-life characters on stage and screen, such as the designer William Morris and conductor Thomas Beecham, as well as political figures including Mikhail Gorbachev, Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. His greatest TV success came with Great Canal Journeys, a funny and moving series that was steered by his family’s passion for narrowboats, reported The Guardian.

A hugely popular and one the most beloved actors in the UK Timothy West, had a commanding stage presence but unassuming personal manner. Timothy West toured the UK’s regional theatres with the same adventurous spirit with which he travelled its waterways.

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“I feel more useful when I’m on the road, touring this country and others, playing in different theatres, exploring different places, meeting different people,” he wrote in his witty 2001 memoir A Moment Towards the End of the Play … “It’s no way to get rich, or famous, and it drives my agent mad, but I love it.”

Several industry figures responded to Sam West’s post, with Back writer Simon Blackwell writing, “What a talent and what a man. Love and condolences to you and your family,” and screenwriter Sarah Phelps, who was a writer on BBC soap EastEnders, writing: “Oh Sam, your beautiful Dad. What joy he gave us all. So much love to you, your dear mum and all your family. Vale, Tim. Go well across the shining river.”

BBC Radio 4 presenter David Aaronovitch wrote: “May his memory be a blessing. He was certainly a blessing in real life,” and former EastEnders actor Tracy-Ann Oberman wrote, “I’m so so sorry for your lose [sic] Sam. Much love to all the family. He was the most wonderful man.”