Timothy West, a British star of stage, film and TV and the husband of Prunella Scales, has died at the age of 90, his family said on social media on Thursday.
His career ranged from Shakespeare plays and such films as The Day of the Jackal to famous soap operas EastEnders and Coronation 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. “He was 90 years old.”
The statement added: “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.” And 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 included The Day of the Jackal (1973), in which he played Commissioner Berthier, and Cry Freedom (1987).
In 2013, he had a small role on the soap Coronation Street before appearing on EastEnders a year later as Stan Carter. He then portrayed that character for more than a year. His most recent TV show credits include Gentleman Jack.
On British TV, West also appeared in adaptations of Roald Dahl and Charles Dickens stories, including Oliver Twist. In Great Canal Journeys, he and wife Scales shared their love for traveling in narrowboats and also explored how the couple navigated Scales’ dementia.
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