Timothy West, and honorary degree holder at Bristol Uni, dies at 90
The actor, who received an honorary degree at the University of Bristol in 2017, passed away overnight
Timothy West, who was presented with an honorary degree by the University of Bristol back in 2017, has died at the age of 90.
The actor, who received the honour in recognition of his contribution to the world of acting, attended Bristol Grammar School (before dropping out), and went on to become the patron of the Kings Theatre in Gloucester - along with his wife, Prunella Scales.
He grew up in Bristol, and continued to have a long-standing relationship with the Bristol Old Vic - dating back more than five decades.
He served on its board during the late 80s and 90s and most-recently performed as King Lear to help mark the theatre's 250th anniversary.
'A long and extraordinary life'
In a statement released today (13 November), his children Juliet, Samuel and Joseph 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 greatgrandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly."
'One of the country's most respected actors'
Back when he received the honour at Bristol Uni, West was described by the institution as 'one of the country's most versatile, talented and respected actors'.
Talking to the University back in 2017, he said: "I thought there were better ways to carry on my education so I just stopped going to Bristol Grammar School. Instead, I would jump onto my bicycle, peddle up to Leigh Woods or down to the docks and imagine myself as the famous people who passed through Bristol. I was Cabot and Brunel, off having adventures."
Timothy and his family relocated to London after the war to help further his father's career in radio broadcasting - but it wasn't until the National Student Drama awards when he decided that acting was for him.
He said: "When I was a student, I came back to Bristol to take part in the first ever National Student Drama award set up by the Sunday Times and held in the Victoria Rooms. After the performance, I went to the loo and standing beside me was the famous judge and theatre critic Harold Hobson. He asked if I'd thought of doing it professionally. I paused for about five seconds and then went, 'Yes! Yes.' That's really the moment I made my decision to go into acting."
During his career West also played former British prime minister Winston Churchill three times, in From Churchill and the Generals (1979), The Last Bastion (1984), and Hiroshima (1995).
In 2019, the Bradford-born actor played Private Godfrey in Dad's Army: The Lost Episodes, a recreation of three missing episodes of the BBC comedy Dad's Army.
His film roles included Commissioner Berthier in The Day Of The Jackal (1973), King Francis in From Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998), and Nazi physician and war criminal Karl Gebhardt in Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973).
On stage, he was a regular performer of Shakespeare, playing Lear in 2016 and 2002.
He performed at the Piccadilly Theatre, with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, and the West End, portraying many classic roles, including Shylock, Falstaff, and Macbeth.
In 1984, West was appointed CBE for his services to drama in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
Jo Elsworth, Director of the Theatre Collection, said, back in 2017: "Tim has played an important role in supporting the city's theatrical life for over half a century. In addition to his support of the Bristol Old Vic, he was a Trustee of the renowned Mander & Mitchenson Collection and supported its transfer to the University of Bristol, which, in turn, transformed our own Theatre Collection into a world class resource for students and researchers.
"Tim is a mesmerising actor, who uses his exceptional technical precision combined with a seemingly effortless emotional presence to make you feel that you are not just watching him, but that you are going on journey with him.
"Tim and Prunella's commitment to their family, as well as to each other, and to theatre, is quite remarkable and deeply inspiring."