Samuel West reveals the final words his theatre legend father Timothy said to him before he passed away aged 90 – and the ‘beautiful’ meaning of his time of death
As a dedicated admirer and student of the arts, I find myself deeply moved by the poignant tale of Samuel West‘s beloved father, Timothy West. The thespian’s life was a grand stage production, filled with captivating roles, profound relationships, and a final act that left me breathless with admiration.
Samuel West disclosed the last words spoken by his esteemed theater father, Timothy, prior to his passing – along with the profound significance of the moment of his demise.
The well-known stage actor, known for roles in EastEnders and Great Canal Journeys alongside his Fawlty Towers co-star wife Prunella Scales, passed away on November 12 at Wandsworth Common Care Home.
Through an interview with The Sunday Times, Samuel (age 58), another actor like his father, shared the importance he attributes to his father’s passing moment.
Timothy passed away at 6:55 PM, a moment often referred to as the “actors’ half hour” with great appreciation, remarked Samuel. He found it quite poetic.
Samuel, who is presently portraying Malvolio in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Twelfth Night production, disclosed that his father’s last words to him also had a theatrical flair, as he inquired, “Where are you off to for your rehearsals?
In a heartfelt homage, Samuel expressed that Timothy’s passing was serene. He further noted, “No more behind-the-scenes visits now,” followed by, “He took a deep breath backstage, then stepped forward.
Timothy passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends last month.
They collectively conveyed the sorrowful news via social media that their father, peacefully passed away in his sleep, surrounded by his beloved friends and kin.
In 1963, Timothy wedded Prunella, who later starred as John Cleese’s screen wife, Sybil Fawlty, in a famous British sitcom. However, it was in 2014 when she was diagnosed with vascular dementia.
In a 2023 interview with The Daily Mail, Timothy expressed the deep sorrow he felt as he watched his longtime spouse, whom he had lovingly cared for throughout their sixty-year union, lose her struggle with illness.
Previously, Prunella and Timothy appeared together on Channel 4’s TV series, Great Canal Journeys, from 2014 to 2021. Unfortunately, they had to retire from the show because of Prunella’s declining health.
The duo raised two boys, Joseph and the renowned actor Samuel (featured in All Creatures Great and Small), while they were together. In addition, Timothy was previously married to Jacqueline Boyer from 1956 to 1961, and they welcomed a child, Juliet, during their marriage.
Yesterday evening, at the ripe age of 90, our cherished father, Timothy West, passed away peacefully, concluding a lengthy and extraordinary life filled with both on-stage and off-stage adventures.
At the final moments, Tim was surrounded by loved ones – friends and family. He departs behind his wife Prunella Scales, who was his partner for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. We will all feel the profound absence of him deeply.
‘We would like to thank the incredible NHS staff at St George’s Hospital, Tooting and at Avery Wandsworth for their loving care during his last days.’
In 2014, Prunella received a formal diagnosis of vascular dementia, but the indications of her condition had been present for quite some time prior to that.
In his book, it was disclosed that during the 2003 performance of Oscar Wilde’s A Woman Of No Importance at London’s West End’s Theatre Royal Haymarket, the actress occasionally struggled with remembering her lines.
Last year in an interview with the BBC, West shared that they clearly remembered every word of the significant moment when a doctor finally diagnosed their condition: “We consulted a specialist who conveyed, ‘I’m sorry this is just something that occurs as you age, and it won’t become any easier. However, you have the ability to manage it. Don’t let it bring you down.’
Timothy appeared on various TV series including the comedy-drama Brass, the sitcom Not Going Out, and soap operas like Coronation Street and EastEnders.
From 1982 to 1984, and again in 1990, he portrayed the ruthless self-made businessman Bradley Hardacre on Brass. In another role, he starred as Geoffrey, Lucy Adams’ father (played by Sally Bretton) in Not Going Out.
He made an appearance in seven Coronation Street episodes back in 2013, portraying the character Eric Babbage, and starred as Stan Carter in EastEnders from 2014 to 2015 across multiple episodes.
Throughout his acting career, West portrayed Winston Churchill, the ex-British Prime Minister, on three separate occasions: in “From Churchill and the Generals” (1979), “The Last Bastion” (1984), and “Hiroshima” (1995).
2019 saw the actor, hailing from Bradford, portraying Private Godfrey in “Dad’s Army: The Recovered Episodes”, which was a reenactment of three lost episodes from the BBC’s popular sitcom “Dad’s Army”.
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2024-12-01 13:03