Fawlty Towers star Prunella Scales dies aged 93

[muriel_volestrangler]

Fawlty Towers actress Prunella Scales has died aged 93, her family have confirmed.

Scales was best known for playing hotel manager Sybil Fawlty, the long-suffering and domineering wife of Basil - played by John Cleese - in the classic British sitcom.

The actress died "peacefully at home in London yesterday", her sons Samuel and Joseph said.
...
Scales also went on to receive a Bafta nomination for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in Alan Bennett's 1991 televised play, A Question of Attribution.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjd0yn5gyndo

She also did a lot in the theatre - see The Guardian's appreciation: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/oct/28/prunella-scales-was-a-queen-of-comedy-with-a-passion-for-classical-theatre

But it's Fawlty Towers - often seen as the best sitcom ever in Britain - for which she's universally known. John Cleese paid tribute, saying "Scene after scene she was absolutely perfect" and "She was a very sweet lady, who spent a lot of her life apologising. I used to tease her about it. I was very, very fond of her."

[yardwork]

1. Fawlty Towers was hilarious. I loved her.

[Ping Tung]

2. Fawlty towers is my go-t0 when I need to change my mood and laugh my ass off. K&R

[Liberal In Texas]

3. She was a perfect foil to Cleese's manic insanity.

"Prunella was an inspiration not just for her achievements on screen, but because she spoke so openly about living with dementia, shining an important light on the UK's biggest killer."
Now you can Rest In Peace nice lady.

[allegorical oracle]

4. Sad. Thought she was brilliant. Of course, Basil would drive any woman mad. nt

[bif]

5. I loved her and the show!

Brings back a lot of memories. It's a shame it's not streaming anywhere.

[IronLionZion]

6. I enjoyed that classic series

It was streaming somewhere before, maybe Britbox. But not anywhere currently.