Timothy West, Shakespearean actor and waterways enthusiast, passes away at 90

London: Timothy West, the British actor renowned for his Shakespearean performances and TV roles, has passed away at the age of 90. In a statement Wednesday, his children said that West died "peacefully" in his sleep “with his friends and family at the end."

“After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father Timothy West died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening," his children Juliet, Samuel and Joseph said.

West, who was born in the north England city of Bradford, made his London stage debut in 1959, before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1960s, where he earned his acting chops.

West, celebrated for his versatile acting, starred in iconic productions such as King Lear and Macbeth and was beloved by audiences for his portrayal of Falstaff in Henry IV. He also played memorable roles in British TV series, including Coronation Street and Eastenders, and adapted Charles Dickens' novels like Bleak House and Hard Times.

“Timothy West was an icon of British drama, and at the BBC we feel incredibly privileged that he was on our screens across the decades,” said Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama.

He clearly had the look, as well as the depth, to play Britain's wartime leader Winston Churchill three times, first in 1979's From Churchill and the Generals, then in The Last Bastion five years later and finally in “Hiroshima” in 1995.

West, who was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1984 for his services to drama, was married for 61 years to actress Prunella Scales, who is most famous for her role as Sybil Fawlty in the classic 1970s BBC comedy “Fawlty Towers.”

The couple had two sons, actor Samuel and Joseph. West was also married to actor Jacqueline Boyer from 1956 to 1961, and they had a daughter, Juliet West.

Beloved boating journeys

In his later years, West and Prunella Scales, became famous for their charming boating journeys along the UK’s canals in Great Canal Journeys. The show, which aired for 10 seasons, highlighted the couple’s enduring love, even as it poignantly documented Scales' battle with dementia. West, who was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1984, is remembered not only for his remarkable acting career but also for his devotion as a caregiver to Scales, who is now 92.

The Canal & River Trust, which cares for the 2,000 miles of waterways in the U.K., praised West for inspiring countless people to get out there and enjoy the country's water network. “He was a dedicated supporter and a compelling advocate for boating who will be sadly missed,” the charity's chief executive Richard Parry said.