‘Fawlty Towers’ Icon Dies at 93 After a Long Battle with Illness

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Prunella Scales, famous for playing Sybil Fawlty in the classic comedy Fawlty Towers, has passed away at the age of 93. She had been living with vascular dementia for almost ten years.

Her sons, Samuel and Joseph, confirmed that she passed away peacefully at her home in London.

Prunella Scales, beloved mother and celebrated actress, passed away peacefully at her London home yesterday at the age of 93, her sons announced. Despite being diagnosed with dementia, which led to her retirement after a brilliant acting career spanning almost 70 years, she remained at home and was reportedly watching her famous sitcom, Fawlty Towers, just a day before her death.

Prunella and actor Timothy West were married for 61 years until his passing in November 2024. She is remembered by her two sons, a stepdaughter, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Her family shared that she spent her final days peacefully and with the love of her family, and they were grateful for the care she received.

Prunella Scales had a successful and varied career, but she’s best known for playing Sybil Fawlty in the beloved 1970s sitcom Fawlty Towers. The show, which starred John Cleese, originally aired in 1975 and 1979 and is still considered one of the greatest British comedies. Cleese described Scales as “a truly brilliant comedic actress,” praising her as “absolutely perfect in scene after scene.”

Despite the challenges of dementia, Prunella Scales continued to be admired for her professionalism. Stage manager Julian Machin explained to The Telegraph that while her dementia significantly impacted her, she still clearly remembered details about her life and career. In a conversation with The Guardian, Machin described how engaging with her work seemed to bring her back to herself, calling it ‘quite astonishing’.

In 2024, Prunella clarified her approach to playing royal characters. She explained that she isn’t interested in simply playing queens, but rather in portraying the fascinating individuals behind the crown. She enjoys the complex lives and unique challenges of the characters themselves, not the fact that they are queens.

Even into her later years, she continued to work in television, appearing with her husband on the travel show Great Canal Journeys until 2019. In a 2023 interview with the BBC, Timothy West shared, “Somehow, we’ve managed, and Pru doesn’t dwell on it.”

Prunella Scales will be fondly remembered as a talented and dedicated actress with a career spanning many years. She was known for her brilliant comedic skills, her ability to play a wide range of roles, and her strength and courage, even while facing health challenges.

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2025-10-28 21:44