Andrew Sachs dies at 86

Fawlty Towers' Manuel had dementia

Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs has died at the age of 86.

The actor was diagnosed with dementia four years ago which left him wheelchair-bound and unable to speak, but he kept his illness secret. He died in a care home last week and was buried today.

Melody, his wife of 57 years, told the Daily Mail: ‘My heart has been broken every day for a long time.’

But of his illness, she said: ‘It wasn’t all doom and gloom, he still worked for two years. We were happy, we were always laughing, we never had a dull moment… It didn’t get really bad until quite near the end.’

Eight years ago, Sachs was the victim of a prank phone call by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross, which caused widespread repercussions around the BBC. The pair left obscene voicemail messages for the elderly actor during a Radio 2 show, which prompted a furore – but only after the story was picked up by The Mail on Sunday.

Among those paying tribute tonight are Blackadder's Tony Robinson, who said: '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.'

Film director Edgar Wright tweeted: 'RIP Andrew Sachs who spun comic gold as Manuel in Fawlty Towers.'

And Omid Djalili said: 'Sad to learn of the passing of Andrew Sachs. Fond memories sharing a dressing room with him & Bill Bailey at We Are Most Amused in 2008.'

Sachs was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1930, but when the family fled the Nazis they settled in north London.

He started his acting career in the 1950s, but will forever be known as hapless Manuel, the Spanish waiter in Fawlty Towers who bore the brunt of Basil’s anger, which he played in 1975 and 1979. He even released four singles as Manuel.

Melody Sachs also appeared in one episode, Basil the Rat, as Mrs Taylor.

Andew's other credits include Coronation Street, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and Father Brown in a BBC radio series based on the stories of G. K. Chesterton.

Here he is in his most famous role: