Prunella Scales, Whose Sharp Wit Defined ‘Fawlty Towers,’ Passes Away at 93. Image- Express.co.za
(The Post News)- At the age of 93, Prunella Scales, the adored British actress best remembered for playing the sardonic hotel manager Sybil Fawlty in the renowned sitcom Fawlty Towers, passed away, according to her family.
Scales passed away quietly at her London home on Sunday, according to her sons, Samuel and Joseph. They revealed that the day before she passed away, she had been watching Fawlty Towers, which was a fitting farewell for the actress who contributed to the series’ legendary status on television.
In a tribute, actor John Cleese, who portrayed her on-screen husband Basil Fawlty, described Scales as “a really wonderful comic actress” and said, “Scene after scene, she was absolutely perfect.”
Despite being diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013, Scales remained beloved for her warmth, humor, and enduring impact on British comedy. Two sons, a stepdaughter, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren survive her.
While BBC director of comedy Jon Petrie called her “a national treasure whose brilliance as Sybil Fawlty lit up screens and still makes us laugh today,” broadcaster Gyles Brandreth recalled her as “a funny, intelligent, interesting, gifted human being.”
Scales was “part of a golden era of British comedy” and “gave many people a huge amount of enjoyment,” according to a representative for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Beyond Fawlty Towers, Scales’s performance as Queen Elizabeth II in Alan Bennett’s 1991 television play A Question of Attribution won her praise from critics and a BAFTA nomination.
Nevertheless, she became well-known for her depiction of Sybil Fawlty, the fashionable, powerful, and irritable lady who ruled over her incompetent husband Basil in their chaotic Torquay hotel. Scales established one of the most enduring characters in comedy with her signature permed hair, stylish outfits, and “Basil!” barking.
This year is the 50th anniversary of Fawlty Towers, a production that never disappoints its audiences and is a monument to Scales’ enduring talent and performance brilliance.
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