Andrew Sachs passed away aged 86 yesterday (1 December) after suffering with dementia for years, an actor beloved chiefly for his role of hapless waiter Manuel in Fawlty Towers. The show’s star, John Cleese, paid tribute to the “sweet, gentle man” on Twitter shortly before he was due to take the stage in Dallas, Texas last night.
Tony Robinson also tweeted about Sachs’ passing, writing: “So sad that Andrew Sachs has died.
Cleese and Sachs had wonderful chemistry and timing over the two series of Fawlty Towers, playing bungling hotel owner Basil Fawlty and even more bungling waiter Manuel respectively, the show still being cherished as one of the nation’s best sitcoms.