Well-known actress Prunella Scales, famous for her role as the sharp-tongued Sybil Fawlty in the beloved British sitcom “Fawlty Towers,” passed away at the age of 93 due to dementia, as confirmed by her children. Scales’s sons, Samuel and Joseph West, announced that she peacefully departed at her residence in London on Monday.
Despite her retirement from a remarkable 70-year acting career due to dementia, Scales continued to reside at home. Her sons shared that she was watching an episode of “Fawlty Towers” the day before her passing.
Scales’s acting journey began with early film appearances in the 1952 rendition of “Pride and Prejudice” and the 1954 comedy “Hobson’s Choice,” followed by a notable television role in the 1960s sitcom “Marriage Lines.”
In “Fawlty Towers,” she portrayed the frustrated yet commanding wife of the inept Basil Fawlty, played by John Cleese, known for his work on “Monty Python’s Flying Circus.” The show, co-created by Cleese and his then-wife Connie Booth, featured Andrew Sachs as the Spanish waiter Manuel.
While only 12 episodes of “Fawlty Towers” were produced between 1975 and 1979, it remains a timeless classic, often hailed as one of the funniest sitcoms and top British shows ever made. The series was later adapted for the stage, with a recent production in London’s renowned West End.
Cleese fondly remembered Scales as a brilliant comic actress and a kind-hearted individual, praising her impeccable performance in “Fawlty Towers.” The show, originally broadcast on BBC Two, received accolades for its enduring humor.
Scales’s diverse roles included portraying Queen Elizabeth II in “A Question of Attribution” and Queen Victoria in the solo stage production “An Evening with Queen Victoria.” She was married to actor Timothy West for 61 years until his passing in November 2024.
Scales, diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013, co-hosted the travel show “Great Canal Journeys” with West from 2014 to 2019, offering an honest portrayal of her journey with dementia. She is survived by her sons, stepdaughter Juliet West, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.