But what became clear in his later years is that one role meant more to him than any other: Husband.
Timothy, who has died aged 90, was the main carer to his wife of 61 years, Fawlty Towers star Prunella Scales, 92, who is living with dementia.
After her diagnosis in 2013, the pair threw open the doors to their lives for documentary series Great Canal Journeys, in which the veteran actors won over a new generation of fans touched by their love story and stoicism.
Over 10 series, keen narrowboaters Tim and Pru sailed waterways as far afield as Venice, Argentina, Canada and Cambodia as well as some closer to home. They spoke frankly about Pru's vascular dementia, earning praise from Alzheimers Research UK for helping to destigmatise the condition.
Even after their last series ended in 2019, Timothy kept raising awareness of what was happening to his beloved wife before his eyes.
"Pru doesn't have much awareness of time so when she joins me in the living room, her face lights up as if we've been apart for days," he wrote in Pru and Me last year.
"The look on her face makes me realise how much I love her."
Gyles Brandreth, who alongside Sheila Hancock took over the boat show after Tim and Pru, said: "On stage, on screen, on a canal boat, on the end of a pier... in the garden with a glass of wine, he was just the best."
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 14, 2024 من Daily Mirror UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 14, 2024 من Daily Mirror UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
SMITH'S A TENSATION
Jones hails the near-perfect England fly-half... but Marcus says he's still learning every time he plays
KEEP FAITH WITH POPE
Baz backs stand-in keeper Ollie to succeed at No.3
Was Brit double killer the Butcher of Mons?
Belgian crime expert calls for probe into monster Sweeney
Paddy given a factory reset
BBC hit back for Xmas special with new host
Maid 'murdered by Brit was about to fly home
Killed in Hong Kong a day before trip back
TRUMP ELECTION RAP IS DROPPED
Case over 2020 defeat set to be thrown out
Cher.. and Cher alike
Star was in her 30s before she found out her real name
Tragic Liam fell 'trying to flee from hotel room'
Staff 'knew he threatened to escape'
Craig.... the softie
Strictly judge had to tone down his cruel barbs or be cancelled
Danny's had me in tears
McFly star's sister proud he opened up over his anxiety