British actress Prunella Scales, fondly remembered for her iconic role as Sybil Fawlty in the classic sitcom Fawlty Towers, has passed away at the age of 93.
Her family confirmed that she died peacefully at home in London on Monday. In their statement, her sons Samuel and Joseph shared that she had been “comfortable, content, and surrounded by love” in her final days. “She was even watching Fawlty Towers the day before she died,” they added.
Scales was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013 but continued to appear on screen alongside her husband, veteran actor Timothy West. The couple, who shared over six decades of marriage, became beloved for their travel series Great Canal Journeys. West passed away in November 2024 at the age of 90.
Prunella’s portrayal of Sybil — the witty, sharp-tongued counterpart to John Cleese’s Basil Fawlty — became a defining moment in British comedy. The BAFTA-winning Fawlty Towers, created by Cleese and Connie Booth, aired only 12 episodes between 1975 and 1979 but remains one of the most quoted and adored sitcoms in television history.
Paying tribute, John Cleese described Scales as “a truly wonderful comic actress,” adding, “Scene after scene, she was absolutely perfect.”
Downing Street also honored her memory, calling her “a shining part of Britain’s golden era of comedy, whose talent brought laughter to millions.”
Beyond Fawlty Towers, Scales built a remarkable career that spanned nearly seven decades. She portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in A Question of Attribution and captivated audiences with her one-woman performance in An Evening With Queen Victoria.
In 2019, Fawlty Towers was named the greatest British sitcom of all time by Radio Times critics — a testament to its enduring legacy and the brilliance Scales brought to the screen.
She is survived by her two sons, a stepdaughter, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
