Prunella Scales, the British actress who brought the formidable Sybil Fawlty to life in the beloved BBC sitcom “Fawlty Towers,” died peacefully at her London home on Monday, October 27, 2025. She was 93.
Her sons, Samuel and Joseph West, confirmed their mother’s death on Tuesday, noting that she had been watching episodes of “Fawlty Towers” just the day before her passing. The actress had been diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013 but continued to live at home throughout her illness.
Scales became a household name portraying Sybil Fawlty, the sharp-tongued, domineering wife of John Cleese’s hapless hotelier Basil in the classic 1970s sitcom. The show aired only 12 episodes across two seasons in 1975 and 1979, yet the British Film Institute voted it the No. 1 British television program of all time in 2000.
Her portrayal of Sybil, with her distinctive bouffant hairdo, swooping voice and memorable bray of laughter, created what many consider one of television’s most iconic characters. The petite actress stood in stark physical contrast to the towering Cleese, yet her character wielded absolute authority over Basil, who referred to her behind her back as “the dragon” and “my little piranha fish.”
Cleese paid tribute to his co-star, stating: “Scene after scene she was absolutely perfect. She was a very sweet lady, who spent a lot of her life apologizing. I used to tease her about it. I was very, very fond of her.”
Connie Booth, who co-wrote “Fawlty Towers” with Cleese and played waitress Polly on the show, noted that Scales created Sybil’s look herself. Booth emphasized that despite her diminutive stature and requirement for high heels, Scales projected real power in the role.
Born June 22, 1932, in Surrey, England, Scales began her career as an assistant stage manager at the Bristol Old Vic in the early 1950s. Her mother was an actress, while her father worked as a cotton salesman and served in both World Wars. She played Lydia Bennet in a 1952 BBC miniseries adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” before landing her first major television breakthrough in the 1960s sitcom “Marriage Lines,” starring opposite Richard Briers.
When offered the role of Sybil, Scales initially questioned Cleese about why the characters would ever have married. An amused Cleese reportedly covered his face with a pillow and admitted he had feared she would ask that question. Scales modeled Sybil after a woman she encountered at age 7 at a seaside hotel where her father was staying on military leave, drawing inspiration from the proprietor’s obsequious manner with guests.
Beyond “Fawlty Towers,” Scales enjoyed a distinguished career spanning nearly 70 years. She starred with Geraldine McEwan as dueling snobs in “Mapp & Lucia,” based on E.F. Benson’s novels, and appeared in the ITV series “After Henry” as a widow sharing a home with her mother and daughter. Her film credits included “Hobson’s Choice,” “The Boys From Brazil,” “Howards End” and “Johnny English.”
She earned a BAFTA nomination for portraying Queen Elizabeth II in Alan Bennett’s 1991 televised play “A Question of Attribution” and appeared in the one-woman stage show “An Evening with Queen Victoria.” The British government appointed her a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1992.
From 2014 to 2019, Scales and her husband, actor Timothy West, hosted Channel 4’s “Great Canal Journeys,” exploring waterways in Britain and abroad. The travel series received praise for honestly depicting Scales’ dementia while maintaining its charm. West died in November 2024 at age 90.
Her sons stated that although dementia forced her retirement from acting, she remained at home, where her final days were comfortable and surrounded by love. They expressed gratitude to those who provided care at the end of her life.
Mia Austen, who currently plays Sybil in the stage adaptation “Fawlty Towers: The Play,” described feeling the weight and joy of honoring Scales’ legacy. Jon Petrie, director of comedy at the BBC, called her a national treasure whose brilliance as Sybil still brings laughter today.
Corinne Mills, interim chief executive officer for the Alzheimer’s Society, praised Scales for speaking openly about living with dementia and helping to raise awareness about the condition.
Scales is survived by her sons Samuel and Joseph, stepdaughter Juliet West, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her son Samuel, an actor who appeared in “Howards End,” “Notting Hill” and the series’ “All Creatures Great and Small” and “Mr Selfridge,” received a BAFTA nomination for his work.