Fawlty Towers actress Prunella Scales, greatest identified for her position as Sybil in Fawlty Towers, has died aged 93, her household has stated.
Prunella Scales was watching the sitcom the day earlier than she died, her sons Samuel and Joseph West stated.
Her seven-decade performing profession noticed her in a number of roles from the Fifties, together with in Nineteen Sixties sitcom Marriage Strains, earlier than that includes because the spouse of John Cleese’s character Basil Fawlty, in two collection of Fawlty Towers in 1975 and 1979.
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Prunella Scales, pictured in 2017, has died on the age of 93. File pic: PA
The household assertion added: “She was 93. Though dementia compelled her retirement from a outstanding performing profession of practically 70 years, she continued to stay at dwelling. She was watching Fawlty Towers the day earlier than she died.
“Pru was married to Timothy West for 61 years. He died in November 2024.
“She is survived by two sons and one stepdaughter, seven grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
“We would like to thank all those who gave Pru such wonderful care at the end of her life: her last days were comfortable, contented and surrounded by love.”
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Prunella Scales was married to fellow actor Timothy West for 61 years earlier than his dying in November 2024. Pic: Geoff Pugh/Shutterstock
Prunella Scales was one of the profitable and fashionable comedy actresses of her era – attaining worldwide fame and recognition as Sybil, the long-suffering spouse of Basil Fawlty within the sitcom Fawlty Towers.
Her performances, alongside John Cleese, are sometimes thought to be arguably a few of TV’s funniest comedy moments ever.
The sitcom, set in a resort within the seaside resort of Torquay, continues to be broadcast. It was developed right into a theatre manufacturing that moved to London’s West Finish in 2024.
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Prunella Scales (left), pictured right here in 1979 as Sybil, alongside John Cleese (again centre) who performed Basil Fawlty. Pic: Eugene Adebari/Shutterstock
However though she was recurrently solid in comedian roles, alongside comedy giants like Richard Briers and Ronnie Barker, her talents ranged way more broadly than that.
‘Nationwide treasure’ and ‘British icon’
Jon Petrie, director of comedy on the BBC which broadcast Fawlty Towers, described her as a “national treasure whose brilliance as Sybil Fawlty lit up screens and still makes us laugh today”.
In the meantime, Corinne Mills, for Alzheimer’s Society, referred to as her a “a true British icon” and praised her for “shining an important light on the UK’s biggest killer”.
Seven-decade performing profession
Prunella Margaret Rumney Illingworth, who was born on 22 June 1932, had a seven-decade performing profession.
Her profession break got here with the early Nineteen Sixties sitcom Marriage Strains, starring reverse Richard Briers. Scales additionally performed Queen Elizabeth II within the British movie A Query Of Attribution, and in 1973, Scales teamed up with Ronnie Barker within the collection referred to as Seven Of One.
In 2006, she appeared alongside Academy Award winners Vanessa Redgrave and Maximilian Schell within the mini-series The Shell Seekers.
Scales married West in 1963, and had two sons; the elder being the actor and director Samuel West, and a stepdaughter, Juliet.
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Prunella Scales, seen with husband Timothy West in 2024, was residing with dementia. Pic: PA
Dementia prompted her ‘gradual disappearance’
In January 2013, she revealed her short-term reminiscence was fading and a yr later her husband confirmed that Scales was residing with dementia.
West informed Piers Morgan’s Life Tales: “The sad thing is that you just watch the gradual disappearance of the person that you knew and loved and were very close to.
“Once we’ve been to a live performance, or a play, or a movie, there’s nothing very a lot we are able to say about it afterwards as a result of Pru can have a reasonably hazy reminiscence.”
The couple appeared collectively in 10 collection of the TV collection Nice Canal Journeys till Scales’ dementia reportedly progressed to the purpose the place they needed to cease in 2020.
The pair appeared in a number of extra specials, the place they seemed again at their travels.
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