Actor Timothy West, one of Britain's most acclaimed and versatile actors, has died at the age of 90, his family have announced. He was known for roles in TV series like comedy-drama Brass, sitcom Not Going Out and soaps Coronation Street and EastEnders, and had a distinguished career on stage. A statement released by his children said the actor died "peacefully in his sleep" and was "with his friends and family at the end".
The actor is also survived by his wife, Fawlty Towers star Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years. In their statement, Juliet, Samuel and Joseph West described their father as having had a "long and extraordinary life on and off the stage". West leaves "a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren", the family said, adding: "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." The actor was born in 1934 in Bradford, the son of actor Lockwood West. He made his name on stage and screen in the 1960s, and BBC adaptations of Richard II and Edward II in the 1970s saw him reprise roles he had already played to critical acclaim in the theatre.
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