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Fawlty Towers Star Prunella Scales Dies at 93

Prunella Scales, beloved for her iconic Sybil Fawlty role in 'Fawlty Towers,' passed away peacefully at 93 after battling vascular dementia.

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Overview

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

  • Prunella Scales, the acclaimed actress famous for portraying Sybil Fawlty in the classic sitcom "Fawlty Towers," passed away peacefully at her London home.
  • Scales was 93 years old and had been battling vascular dementia since her diagnosis in 2013, continuing to live at home until her passing.
  • Her nearly 70-year career, starting with an Old Vic scholarship in 1949, included a BAFTA nomination for playing Queen Elizabeth II.
  • She is survived by her sons, stepdaughter, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, having lost her husband Timothy West the previous year.
  • In a poignant moment, Prunella Scales reportedly watched an episode of "Fawlty Towers" the day before her peaceful passing.
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Analysis

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Center-leaning sources present a neutral and factual obituary for Prunella Scales. They focus on her extensive acting career, particularly her iconic role as Sybil Fawlty, and her later life, including her battle with dementia. The coverage maintains an objective tone, prioritizing biographical details and career milestones without editorializing or injecting subjective commentary.

"Her last days were comfortable, contented and surrounded by love."

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"Although dementia forced her retirement from a remarkable acting career of nearly 70 years, she continued to live at home."

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"Scales thought hard about how to play Sybil Fawlty, and decided that her social background had to be inferior to her husband Basil's."

BBC NewsBBC News
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"Although dementia forced her retirement from a remarkable acting career of nearly 70 years, she continued to live at home."

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FAQ

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Prunella Scales was best known for her iconic role as Sybil Fawlty in the BBC sitcom 'Fawlty Towers.'

Prunella Scales passed away peacefully at the age of 93 after battling vascular dementia, a condition she had been diagnosed with since 2013.

Yes, she was nominated for a BAFTA award for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in the play 'A Question of Attribution' (1991).

Prunella Scales was married to actor Timothy West, who predeceased her by a year. She is survived by her two sons, a stepdaughter, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Her acting career spanned nearly 70 years, starting with a scholarship at the Old Vic Theatre School in 1949; she had notable TV roles including 'Fawlty Towers' and a BAFTA-nominated performance as Queen Elizabeth II.

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