**Celebrated Actor Timothy West Remembered After Passing at 90**
Timothy West, a revered figure of British stage and screen, has died peacefully at a care home in London, it has been confirmed. The much-loved actor spent over sixty years in the public eye, noted not only for his performances but also for his enduring marriage to fellow star Prunella Scales.
The details of Mr West’s final days were set out this week at an inquest at Westminster Coroner’s Court. It was revealed the actor, aged 90, died on 12 November 2024 following complications after a significant fall in August that same year. After a lengthy hospitalisation of almost three months, he was transferred to Wandsworth Common Care Home to receive palliative care.
Assistant coroner Ellie Oakley, addressing Mr West’s family and friends, stated: “Timothy West suffered a severe traumatic brain injury after an unwitnessed fall near his home on 11 August 2024.” The precise circumstances of the fall remain unclear and no evidence suggests the involvement of any other person.
According to statements read during the inquest, West’s health declined steadily, making it impossible for him to return to his home as he had wished. The general manager of the care home, Thomas Holden, shared that Mr West’s final hours were spent surrounded by his loved ones, who stayed by his side until his passing at 19:20.
Emergency services had found West unconscious on a footpath in Wandsworth following the fall. He was swiftly taken to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, where he underwent treatment and neurological assessments. After efforts to rehabilitate him proved unsuccessful, the decision was made, with the support of his family, to prioritise his comfort and dignity in his last days.
The medical report detailed that the primary cause of death was a subdural haematoma and extra-axial haemorrhage—both indicative of a severe brain injury—while additional factors included aspiration pneumonia, hypertension, and non-convulsive status epilepticus.
Announcing his passing last year, his children—Juliet, Samuel and Joseph—spoke fondly of their father’s “long and extraordinary life on and off the stage”, adding that he died peacefully with family by his side. “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,” the statement concluded.
West’s career was marked by versatility and longevity. On television, he was best known for his leading role as Bradley Hardacre in the 1980s dramedy Brass, and entertained audiences in sitcom Not Going Out as Geoffrey. He also made notable appearances in beloved soap operas Coronation Street, as Eric Babbage, and EastEnders, portraying Stan Carter.
Cinema-goers will remember West for roles including Commissioner Berthier in ‘The Day Of The Jackal’ and King Francis in ‘Ever After: A Cinderella Story’. His portrayal of historical and fictional figures spoke to an exceptional range, evident too in his regular Shakespearean stage performances, including the challenging role of King Lear.
Beyond his professional achievements, Timothy West’s personal life with Prunella Scales captured the public’s affection. The couple’s appearances on Channel 4’s ‘Great Canal Journeys’ from 2014 to 2021 offered viewers glimpses of both their adventurous spirits and enduring partnership.
First marrying in 1963, West and Scales had two sons, Samuel and Joseph. He also had a daughter, Juliet, from a previous marriage to actor Jacqueline Boyer. In 1984, his contribution to drama was acknowledged with a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
An enduring presence in British arts and a steadfast family man, Timothy West’s legacy is one of remarkable talent and boundless warmth. Tributes continue to pour in as admirers remember a life dedicated to the stage, the screen, and his loved ones.