Timothy West(I)
- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
A versatile British actor noted for his great power and command on the
classical stage and in several other mediums including radio, film and
television, Timothy West was born on October 20, 1934 in Bradford,
West Yorkshire, England, the son of actors (Harry)
Lockwood West and his wife Olive
(Carleton-Crowe). Educated at John Lyon School and the Polytechnic, he
first appeared on the stage in 1956 at the Wimbledon Theatre in a
production of "Summertime". He then spent several seasons in repertory
at such venues as Wimbledon, Newquay, Hull, Northampton, Worthing and
Salisbury. He made his London debut at the Piccadilly Theatre in the
comical farce "Caught Napping" in 1959.
For the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Aldwych (in 1964), he
appeared in "Afore Night Come" and "The Marat-Sade", in addition to
building up his Shakespeare repertoire with roles in "The Merry Wives
of Windsor", "Love's Labour's Lost", "The Merchant of Venice", "The
Comedy of Errors" and "Timon of Athens". For the Prospect Theatre
Company, he appeared he took on the Shakespearean roles of Prospero
("The Tempest"), Claudius ("Hamlet"), Bolingbroke ("Richard II") and
Mortimer ("Edward II"), among others. He also played the noted
historical figure Samuel Johnson in two plays.
Along with definitive portrayals of Lear, Macbeth, Falstaff and
Shylock, he became well-respected as a stage director. More recently,
he directed a touring production of "H.M.S. Pinafore" while
delightfully grandstanding in the role of Sir Joseph Porter. Other
recent performances at age 70+ include "National Hero" and the title
role in "The Life of Galileo".
Cutting a grand and imposing Wellesian figure, his acclaimed work on
television has included recreating a number of his classical
characters. He has played kingly roles, such as his superb Edward VII
in the epic miniseries
Edward the King (1975),
and essayed a number of notable historical figures such as Cardinal
Wolsey in
Henry VIII (1979),
Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbechev in
Breakthrough at Reykjavik (1987)
and Martin Luther (2002).
He has portrayed Winston Churchill a number of times in such master
productions as
Churchill and the Generals (1979),
The Last Bastion (1984) and
Hiroshima (1995), while his
extended gallery of greats have gone on to include Sir Thomas Beecham
and Joseph Stalin.
Although his star shines less bright on film, he has nevertheless
contributed greatly over the years with marvelously stern and scowling
character roles in such prestigious/box office fare as
Nicholas and Alexandra (1971),
The Day of the Jackal (1973),
Hedda (1975) (as Judge Brack),
Agatha (1979),
Cry Freedom (1987),
Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998), 102 Dalmatians (2000), Iris (2001), Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones (1990), Endgame (2009), Run for Your Wife (2012) and Delirium (2017).
Long married to second wife actress/comedienne
Prunella Scales, the couple have
appeared together on stage over the years in such productions as "When
We Are Married", "A Long Day's Journey Into Night", "The Birthday
Party" and "The External". They have two sons, Joseph West (Joe) and Samuel West, the latter also an actor of
note. Timothy's daughter Juliet is from his first marriage. A gifted
raconteur, he is the author of several books, including "I'm Here I
Think, Where are You?", a collection of letters written while on tour,
his autobiography "A Moment Towards the End of the Play," and, his most
recent, "So You Want to Be an Actor?" co-written with wife Prunella. In
1984, he was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his
services to the profession and has received honorary doctorates from
six different universities.
classical stage and in several other mediums including radio, film and
television, Timothy West was born on October 20, 1934 in Bradford,
West Yorkshire, England, the son of actors (Harry)
Lockwood West and his wife Olive
(Carleton-Crowe). Educated at John Lyon School and the Polytechnic, he
first appeared on the stage in 1956 at the Wimbledon Theatre in a
production of "Summertime". He then spent several seasons in repertory
at such venues as Wimbledon, Newquay, Hull, Northampton, Worthing and
Salisbury. He made his London debut at the Piccadilly Theatre in the
comical farce "Caught Napping" in 1959.
For the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Aldwych (in 1964), he
appeared in "Afore Night Come" and "The Marat-Sade", in addition to
building up his Shakespeare repertoire with roles in "The Merry Wives
of Windsor", "Love's Labour's Lost", "The Merchant of Venice", "The
Comedy of Errors" and "Timon of Athens". For the Prospect Theatre
Company, he appeared he took on the Shakespearean roles of Prospero
("The Tempest"), Claudius ("Hamlet"), Bolingbroke ("Richard II") and
Mortimer ("Edward II"), among others. He also played the noted
historical figure Samuel Johnson in two plays.
Along with definitive portrayals of Lear, Macbeth, Falstaff and
Shylock, he became well-respected as a stage director. More recently,
he directed a touring production of "H.M.S. Pinafore" while
delightfully grandstanding in the role of Sir Joseph Porter. Other
recent performances at age 70+ include "National Hero" and the title
role in "The Life of Galileo".
Cutting a grand and imposing Wellesian figure, his acclaimed work on
television has included recreating a number of his classical
characters. He has played kingly roles, such as his superb Edward VII
in the epic miniseries
Edward the King (1975),
and essayed a number of notable historical figures such as Cardinal
Wolsey in
Henry VIII (1979),
Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbechev in
Breakthrough at Reykjavik (1987)
and Martin Luther (2002).
He has portrayed Winston Churchill a number of times in such master
productions as
Churchill and the Generals (1979),
The Last Bastion (1984) and
Hiroshima (1995), while his
extended gallery of greats have gone on to include Sir Thomas Beecham
and Joseph Stalin.
Although his star shines less bright on film, he has nevertheless
contributed greatly over the years with marvelously stern and scowling
character roles in such prestigious/box office fare as
Nicholas and Alexandra (1971),
The Day of the Jackal (1973),
Hedda (1975) (as Judge Brack),
Agatha (1979),
Cry Freedom (1987),
Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998), 102 Dalmatians (2000), Iris (2001), Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones (1990), Endgame (2009), Run for Your Wife (2012) and Delirium (2017).
Long married to second wife actress/comedienne
Prunella Scales, the couple have
appeared together on stage over the years in such productions as "When
We Are Married", "A Long Day's Journey Into Night", "The Birthday
Party" and "The External". They have two sons, Joseph West (Joe) and Samuel West, the latter also an actor of
note. Timothy's daughter Juliet is from his first marriage. A gifted
raconteur, he is the author of several books, including "I'm Here I
Think, Where are You?", a collection of letters written while on tour,
his autobiography "A Moment Towards the End of the Play," and, his most
recent, "So You Want to Be an Actor?" co-written with wife Prunella. In
1984, he was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his
services to the profession and has received honorary doctorates from
six different universities.