'Fawlty Towers' star Andrew Sachs, who played Spanish waiter Manuel in the iconic series, has died aged 86, his family has confirmed.
Sachs passed away on November 23rd and was buried yesterday, his wife Melody Lang confirmed the news to the Daily Mail. She also told the paper that Sachs had been diagnosed with dementia four years previous.
Sachs, whose father was a Jewish insurance broker, was born in Berlin before his family fled the Nazis to settle in Britain, where he later would become a household name as the hapless Manuel in 'Fawlty Towers' who was constantly on the receiving end of Basil Fawlty's madness.
Former co-star on 'Fawlty Towers' John Cleese led the tributes to Sachs, describing him as "a kind man and a true farceur".
Just heard about Andy Sachs. Very sad....
I knew he was having problems with his memory as his wife Melody told me a couple of years ago...— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) December 1, 2016
...and I heard very recently that he had been admitted to Denham Hall,but I had no idea that his life was in danger. A very sweet gentle...
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) December 1, 2016
...and kind man and a truly great farceur.I first saw him in Habeas Corpus on stage in 1973.I could not have found a better Manuel. Inspired
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) December 1, 2016
If media folk need more, I wrote the foreword to his book a couple of years ago,which apparently 'moved him to tears'
Going onstage now...— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) December 1, 2016
So sad that Andrew Sachs has died. A true friend and a kindred spirit. I still have the wonderful baby pictures he took of my children. RIP.
— Tony Robinson (@Tony_Robinson) December 1, 2016