An inquest into the death of EastEnders star Timothy West has confirmed the legendary actor died peacefully with his family around him, six months after he was found unresponsive at a care home
Timothy West died “peacefully with his family around him” at a care home where he was receiving palliative care after a three-month stay in hospital following a fall, an inquest has heard.
The EastEnders and Coronation Street actor died aged 90 on November 12 last year. At the time, his devastated children, Juliet, Samuel and Joseph West, said in a statement he died “peacefully in his sleep”.
An inquest was later launched to determine the cause of Timothy’s death after he was found by a care home nurse. He had been living at Wandsworth Common Care Home – Avery Collection, where a care home nurse found him.
Assistant Coroner Jean Harkin launched an inquest into his death at Westminster Coroner’s Court in the days after Timothy’s death. She said: “The deceased was identified as Timothy West, a British citizen, aged 90 years, born on October 20, 1934, in Bradford. He was an actor, husband of Prunella West.”
The inquest had initially been adjourned in November and was due to take place in February this year. In a statement issued by Timothy’s agent, his children said: “After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father Timothy West died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening. He was 90 years old.
“Tim was with friends and family at the end. He leaves his wife, Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly. 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.”
EastEnders also released an emotional statement, saying: “We are extremely saddened to hear that Timothy West has passed away. Timothy joined EastEnders as Stan and his presence as the patriarch of the Carter family was immediately felt. He will forever be in our hearts. We send all our love and thoughts to Timothy’s family and friends.”
Following Timothy’s death, his son, Samuel, said that Prunella was “not well enough” to comprehend that the actor had sadly died. told The Sunday Times: “All I am going to say is she’s not really well enough to take it all in.”
In the year before his death, Timothy gave a rare insight into his family life after caring for his wife, Prunella, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2015. Timothy, however, first spotted signs back in 2001 after going to see her in a theatre production.
Although the production went ahead with no issues, he said Prunella was “a bit strange” and “not totally with it.” In a rare interview with BBC Breakfast in 2023, he said it “isn’t going to get better.” “It hasn’t really been hard work, has it?” Prunella, now 92, said: “No, he is the person I love and I enjoy being with…” to which he responded: “That is about it I think! ” Discussing when he first noticed his wife’s deterioration, he said: “I came to see a play that Pru was doing in Greenwich.”
“I went to see the first night and it was good, much enjoyed by the audience and then I went to see it again and I thought ‘She’s not totally with it’. We went to see a specialist and he said I am sorry this is just something that happens to you when you get older. It is not going to get any easier, but we cope with it and we manage.”
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