Andrew Sachs, Best Known As ‘Manuel’ From ‘Fawlty Towers,’ Is Dead At Age 86

Andrew Sachs, best known as the hilariously inept waiter ‘Manuel’ from British comedy Fawlty Towers, has died at the age of 86. His family confirmed the actor’s passing to The Daily Mail on Thursday, and was reported by BBC News. Sachs’ wife Melody revealed that the actor had been suffering from dementia for the last four years of his life, and was buried on Thursday after dying on November 23.

For those familiar with the famous British comedy, Sachs’ Manuel was a constant thorn in Basil Fawlty’s (John Cleese’s) side throughout the series. His ‘Que?’ and ‘I know nothing!’ responses to requests or instructions were standout comedic moments in an already riotously funny series. Today, Manuel’s characterization — a parody of a foreigner hailing from Spain but working in England — might not go over as well, but at the time of Fawlty Towers‘ airing he was a highlight of the show. Which is tough when acting across from people like Cleese, Prunella Scales, and Ballard Berkeley.

Cleese wrote a few thoughts about Sachs’ passing on Twitter before going on stage for the tour of “Together Again at Last … For The Very First Time” with fellow comedian Eric Idle, calling his departed co-star a “great farceur.”

Between the late aughts and just last year, Sachs appeared on British soaps like Coronation Street and EastEnders. One of his last major credits was the 2012 movie Quartet also starring British acting greats Maggie Smith and Michael Gambon.

(via BBC News)