Born:
October 20, 1934
in
Bradford
Best Known For:
Being a star of stage, TV and film.
Early-life:
Timothy Lancaster West was born in Bradford on October 20, 1934, to actors Olive and Harry (better known as Lockwood West). He worked as a furniture salesman and recording engineer before landing a job as an assistant stage manager at the Wimbledon Theatre. On his first day there, he also made his acting debut as a farmer in a scene with a couple of lines. He then spent several seasons in repertory performing at a number of theatres around the country.
Career:
West's big break on the small screen came in 1975 when he played the title role in Edward the Seventh. Since then he has demonstrated his versatility with roles in a BBC production of King Lear, ITV comedy Brass and the soaps Coronation Street and EastEnders. He has also made memorable guest appearances in the likes of A Very Peculiar Practice, Goodnight Sweetheart, Midsomer Murders, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Waking the Dead, Not Going Out and Last Tango in Halifax. Although known primarily for his stage and small-screen performances, West has starred in a number of films, including The Day of the Jackal, Cry Freedom and Iris. A fan of boating, he has presented series about canals and narrowboating called Water World and Great Canal Journeys. The latter featured his second wife, Prunella Scales; their eldest son, Samuel, is also an actor.
Quote:
"If you work in the theatre a lot, as I do, then the television people have lost you. They never go to the theatre, so many think you're dead or retired."
Trivia:
West was awarded a CBE in 1984. He supports a number of charities, including The National Piers Society and Cancer Research UK.