The son of late actor Timothy West has has revealed the star's final words and the "beautiful" meaning of his time of death.
Acclaimed actor Timothy, who was a star of stage and screen and also appeared in Great Canal Journeys with his Fawlty Towers star wife Prunella Scales, died last month at the impressive age of 90. He had been married to 92-year-old Prunella since 1963 and he was a proud father-of-three - including All Creatures Great and Small actor son Samuel West, 58.
Now Samuel has shared details of the last moments of Timothy's life after the acting legend died at Wandsworth Common Care Home on 12 November. It has been revealed that the EastEnders actor passed away at 6:55pm - which is a time of significance among those who act in the theatre.
Samuel also shared the final words that his father spoke to him before his sad passing. His comments come after a report about Timothy's cause of death revealed the actor died in a care home and his body was identified by a nurse in the facility - and Assistant Coroner Jean Harkin launched an inquest into his death at Westminster Coroner's Court last week.
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Getty Images)Speaking to The Sunday Times, Samuel noted that his father died at 6:55pm - which is a time widely regarded as a "half-hour call" for stage actors. He told the publication: "I thought that was rather beautiful." And sharing details of the final conversation he had with his dad, it is revealed the pair talked about theatre to the end.
Samuel, who is currently playing Malvolio in a RSC production of Twelfth Night, revealed his father asked him: "Where are you going to rehearsals?" And in a touching tribute to his father, Samuel said: "No more visitors backstage. He took a deep breath in the wings and went on."
Timothy's death was announced in a statement written by Samuel and his siblings Juliet and Joseph, which 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 greatgrandchildren. 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."
Timothy is survived by his three children as well as Fawlty Towers legend Prunella - who is battling dementia. The couple appeared on BBC Breakfast last year to discuss the difficulties the disease had caused on their lives, with Prunella staying to her now late husband: "Thanks for sticking with me for so long."
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