Prunella Scales, who starred in the popular British sitcom “Fawlty Towers,” has passed away, about a year after the death of her husband Timothy West. She was 93 years old.
Scales, who had recently battled dementia, died “peacefully at home in London” on Monday, her sons Samuel and Joseph West said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.
“She was 93 years old. Dementia forced her to retire from a remarkable acting career of nearly 70 years, but she continued to live at home,” the statement continued.
“She was watching ‘Fawlty Towers’ the day before she died,” they said.
Samuel and Joseph said their mother was married to their father, Timothy, for 61 years until his death in November 2024.
“She is survived by two sons and a stepdaughter, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren,” they added.
“We would like to thank everyone who provided such wonderful care to Ms. Puru at the end of her life. Her last days were comfortable, content and surrounded by love.”
Scales married Timothy in 1963.
They hosted the Channel 4 travel documentary Great Canal Journeys from 2014 to 2019.
Scales was best known for her role as Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers, which aired for two seasons on BBC2 in 1975 and 1979.
In 2000, the British Film Institute named the comedy the number one British TV show of all time.
Scales retired from acting in 2020 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014.
In a 2021 interview with the Mirror, Samuel said his mother was “still aware” of his family and “I know[he]has two kids, so that’s really good.”
“When you have dementia, you never know what kind of personality you’re left with, but overall she’s very cheerful,” he told the outlet.
Westminster Coroner’s Court said Timothy suffered a “severe traumatic brain injury” following a fall in August last year.
Assistant coroner Ellie Oakley said the Brass actor was treated in hospital for around three months before being transferred to Wandsworth Common Care Home for further treatment. Timothy passed away on November 12, 2024 at the age of 90.
