The world has bid farewell to one of British television’s most beloved comedic talents. Prunella Scales, the indomitable actress who made millions laugh as the razor-tongued Sybil Fawlty, has died at the age of 93.
Her passing was confirmed by her family, who shared that she died peacefully at home in London. In a fittingly poetic twist, Scales had spent part of her final day revisiting the very show that cemented her legacy: Fawlty Towers. Her sons described her final moments as “comfortable, contented and surrounded by love.”
Despite a diagnosis of vascular dementia in 2013, Scales remained active in her later years, most notably through her enduring partnership with her husband, actor Timothy West. The couple, married for more than six decades, became beloved fixtures on British television again with Great Canal Journeys, a gentle travelogue that revealed their deep bond and wit long after their prime stage years. West passed in November 2024, just months before his wife.
Scales’s portrayal of Sybil — shrill, sharp, and magnificently composed amid the chaos of her husband Basil’s misadventures — became an institution in itself. The character stood in contrast to John Cleese’s frenzied hotel owner, anchoring the pandemonium with sarcasm and steel. Though Fawlty Towers spanned only 12 episodes, it has long been considered one of the greatest sitcoms ever created.
In addition to her legendary television role, Scales’s career spanned nearly seven decades across stage and screen. Her portrayals of royalty — as Queen Elizabeth II in A Question of Attribution and Queen Victoria in a one-woman show — showcased her range and command beyond the sitcom format.
Prunella Scales exits the stage leaving behind a deep cultural imprint, a family who adored her, and an audience that never quite stopped laughing. She is survived by two sons, a stepdaughter, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
