‘Fawlty Towers’ star Prunella Scales dead at 93

Posted On October 28, 2025October 28, 2025

Prunella Scales, the actor best known for playing the character of Sybil Fawlty in the iconic British sitcom Fawlty Towers, has died aged 93. 

The news was confirmed in a statement released by her sons, Samuel and Joseph, on October 28th. The children said that Scales passed away “peacefully at home in London yesterday”.

They added: “Although dementia forced her retirement from a remarkable acting career of nearly 70 years, she continued to live at home. She was watching Fawlty Towers the day before she died. Pru was married to Timothy West for 61 years. He died in November 2024.”

Reflecting on her family and end of life, her sons concluded their statement by saying: “She is survived by two sons and one stepdaughter, seven grandchildren and four 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.”

The actor was best known for her role as the controlling hotel manager in Fawlty Towers, who was married to the character of Basil in the series. After the iconic 1970s sitcom ended, she then went on to be awarded a Bafta in 1991 for her performance as Queen Elizabeth II in A Question of Attrition, the televised play by Alan Bennett.

Most recently, Scales was seen on screen alongside her late husband West, prior to his passing, when they presented the Channel 4 show Great Canal Journeys, where they went on journeys via narrowboat across the UK, Europe, and further across the world.

In one of their later appearances on the programme, which ran between 2014 and 2019, Scales discussed how the couple’s health had been declining, after she was diagnosed with dementia in 2013.