Prunella Scales, the celebrated British actress best known for her role as Sybil Fawlty in the iconic sitcom "Fawlty Towers," has died at the age of 93. Scales passed away peacefully at her home in London on Monday, October 27, 2025, according to a statement released by her sons, Samuel and Joseph West.

Born Prunella Margaret Rumney Illingworth in Surrey, England, on June 22, 1932, Scales began her career in the arts as an assistant stage manager at the Bristol Old Vic in 1951. She had always aspired to be an actress and trained at the Old Vic Theatre School and later with Uta Hagen in New York. Her early career included roles in a now-lost 1952 screen adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice," "Laxdale Hall" (1953), "Hobson's Choice" (1954) and "Room at the Top" (1959).

Scales' breakthrough came with the television sitcom "The Marriage Lines," which aired in the early 1960s, where she starred alongside Richard Briers. However, it was her portrayal of Sybil Fawlty in "Fawlty Towers," penned by John Cleese and Connie Booth, that cemented her place in television history. She appeared in two series of the sitcom between 1975 and 1979, playing the domineering wife of John Cleese's incompetent hotelier, Basil Fawlty.

Beyond "Fawlty Towers," Scales enjoyed a diverse and prolific career, including roles in BBC Radio 4 sitcoms, the TV series "Mapp and Lucia," and her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in Alan Bennett's "A Question of Attribution" in 1991, earning her a BAFTA nomination. She also charmed audiences in commercials for Tesco, playing the demanding shopper Dotty for 10 years starting in 1995. From 2014 to 2019, Scales and her late husband, Timothy West, presented Channel 4's "Great Canal Journeys," a series that followed the couple on canal and narrowboat journeys across the UK and Europe.

Scales was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2013. In the later series of "Great Canal Journeys", West noted that her condition had worsened, and she was also losing her hearing. Despite her diagnosis, Scales continued to live at home and, according to her sons, was watching "Fawlty Towers" the day before she died.

Her family's statement to the PA Media news agency read, "Our darling mother Prunella Scales died peacefully at home in London yesterday. She was 93... Although dementia forced her retirement from a remarkable acting career of nearly 70 years, she continued to live at home. She was watching 'Fawlty Towers' the day before she died".

Scales was married to Timothy West for 61 years until his death in November 2024. She is survived by her two sons, Samuel and Joseph, one stepdaughter, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. The family expressed their gratitude to those who provided "wonderful care" to Scales at the end of her life, ensuring her last days were "comfortable, contented and surrounded by love".

Prunella Scales's contribution to British television and theatre is immeasurable. She will be remembered for her comedic timing, her ability to bring depth to her characters, and her unforgettable portrayal of Sybil Fawlty.