❉ Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs has died at the age of 86.
Daily Mail has reported that Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs has died at the age of 86, following a secret four-year battle with dementia that left him wheelchair-bound and unable to speak.
The article reports:
The much-loved actor, best known for his portrayal of put-upon Spanish waiter Manuel in the classic 1970s sitcom, passed away in a care home last week and was buried on Thursday.
His wife Melody, who cared for him tirelessly, said: ‘My heart has been broken every day for a long time.’
She also revealed that she collapsed while caring for him. After developing acute stress, she was taken into intensive care but ‘got over it real quick’ and bounced back so that she could carry on looking after him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-oH-TELcLE
John Cleese is currently on tour but took time out to react to the sad news of Andrew Sachs’ passing via a series of touching tweets.
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