British actress Prunella Scales, best known for playing the long-suffering hotel manager Sybil Fawlty in the classic sitcom Fawlty Towers, has died at the age of 93.
Her family announced her passing on Tuesday, stating that she had passed away peacefully at home in London just days after watching an episode of the show. The beloved actress was a staple of British comedy for over six decades, and her iconic portrayal of Sybil Fawlty remains one of the most memorable characters in TV history.
Throughout her career, Scales appeared in numerous other TV shows and films, including Marriage Lines, Consuming Passions, and The Lonely Passion Of Judith Hearne. Her work was marked by precision, wit, and generosity, earning her a reputation as an artist of great skill.
The news of her passing has been met with tributes from fans and fellow actors alike, who remember her as a true comedy legend and a national treasure. As the 50th anniversary of Fawlty Towers is celebrated this year, Scales' legacy will continue to be celebrated through re-runs of the show, as well as various other tributes.
Sir Keir Starmer's office has announced that West End theatres in London will dim their lights for two minutes at 7pm on Thursday in remembrance of Scales. The actress also made an indelible mark on the world of comedy with her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in Alan Bennett's play, A Question of Attribution.
Scales had been diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013 but continued to live at home with the support of her family. Her husband, fellow actor Timothy West, died last year, and it has now emerged that the couple's love story - which spanned 60 years - endured despite her condition.
Her passing comes as a sad reminder of the impact that dementia can have on individuals and their loved ones. However, Scales' legacy will live on through her remarkable body of work, which continues to bring joy and laughter to audiences around the world.
Her family announced her passing on Tuesday, stating that she had passed away peacefully at home in London just days after watching an episode of the show. The beloved actress was a staple of British comedy for over six decades, and her iconic portrayal of Sybil Fawlty remains one of the most memorable characters in TV history.
Throughout her career, Scales appeared in numerous other TV shows and films, including Marriage Lines, Consuming Passions, and The Lonely Passion Of Judith Hearne. Her work was marked by precision, wit, and generosity, earning her a reputation as an artist of great skill.
The news of her passing has been met with tributes from fans and fellow actors alike, who remember her as a true comedy legend and a national treasure. As the 50th anniversary of Fawlty Towers is celebrated this year, Scales' legacy will continue to be celebrated through re-runs of the show, as well as various other tributes.
Sir Keir Starmer's office has announced that West End theatres in London will dim their lights for two minutes at 7pm on Thursday in remembrance of Scales. The actress also made an indelible mark on the world of comedy with her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in Alan Bennett's play, A Question of Attribution.
Scales had been diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013 but continued to live at home with the support of her family. Her husband, fellow actor Timothy West, died last year, and it has now emerged that the couple's love story - which spanned 60 years - endured despite her condition.
Her passing comes as a sad reminder of the impact that dementia can have on individuals and their loved ones. However, Scales' legacy will live on through her remarkable body of work, which continues to bring joy and laughter to audiences around the world.
She was a comedy legend and an icon in British TV history. Her portrayal of Sybil Fawlty is still iconic to this day, and it's amazing how her legacy will keep on living through re-runs of Fawlty Towers and other tributes 
. I remember watching her in Alan Bennett's play A Question of Attribution and she was just so impressive as Queen Elizabeth II 
. Her life story with Timothy West is really inspiring too - 60 years together, that's just incredible 
. Anyway, it's nice to see the outpouring of love from fans and fellow actors alike 
.
, 93 is old but she left us with so much laugh 
, I mean what's not to love about Sybil Fawlty? Interesting how they're keeping her memory alive through that play where she played Queen Elizabeth II 
.
I'm so sorry to hear about Prunella Scales... she was an absolute legend in British comedy and I remember watching Fawlty Towers for the first time like it was yesterday 
. I loved how witty and precise her performances were, she always brought this amazing energy to everything she did. It's sad that we've lost her, especially at 93, but I'm glad her family supported her till the end 
. Her legacy will definitely live on through her incredible body of work, and I'll be watching all those old shows again 
. But on the bright side, her legacy lives on through all those iconic roles she played - who else could make us laugh with just one glance? 
. Anyway, we've lost a comedy legend, but her work will keep on making us laugh for ages!
my heart is literally breaking 
she was so underrated 
and I loved her so much 
in Fawlty Towers she was literally the queen 
I remember watching an episode with my grandma last year 
93 is old for an actress to pass away, I mean, I know she had vascular dementia and all, but still... was there any controversy or drama surrounding her death? Like, was it a peaceful home passing or did anyone suspect anything? Also, what's the deal with the West End theatres dimming their lights for 2 minutes? Is that just some fancy PR move to make people feel bad for Scales without really digging into the details of her final days?
she was an ICON in british comedy and her legacy will live on forever 
it's so amazing that the lights at west end theatres are being dimmed in her memory 
. But what's even more impressive is how she kept going despite being diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013 