LONDON — British actor Timothy West, who played wartime leader Winston Churchill on three occasions and the classic titular Shakespeare roles of Hamlet, King Lear and Macbeth, has died, He was 90. In a statement, his children said that West died "peacefully" in his sleep “with his friends and family at the end."

A staple of British television, he played Churchill three times over a long career. Onstage, he was King Lear, Macbeth and Willy Loman.

British actor Timothy West, who played the classic Shakespeare roles of King Lear and Macbeth and in recent years along with his wife, Prunella Scales, enchanted millions of people with their boating exploits on Britain's waterways,

British theater and screen actor Timothy West died Tuesday. He was 90. His children, Juliet, Samuel and Joseph, released a statement today that said he said died “peacefully yesterday evening” surrounded by friends and family.

Timothy West was married to Prunella Scales, best known for her performance as Sybil in Fawlty Towers, for more than 60 years

Actor Timothy West, known for many roles in television and the theatre, has died peacefully in his sleep aged 90 “with his friends and family at the end”, his family said.