Andrew Sachs

2022-06-30T20:31:52Z

209.93.29.19:

{{short description|British actor (1930–2016)}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Andrew Sachs
| image = Andrew sachs.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Sachs in London, 2004
| birth_name = Andreas Siegfried Sachs
| birth_date = {{Birth date |df=yes|1930|4|7}}
| birth_place = [[Berlin]], Germany
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2016|11|23|1930|4|7}}
| death_place = [[London]], England
| spouse = {{marriage|Melody Lang|1960}}
| children = 3, including [[John Sachs]]
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1959–2016
| module = {{Listen| embed=yes |filename = Andrew Sachs voice.ogg |title =Sachs's voice |type = speech |description = recorded in 2012, as part of an [[:File:Andrew Sachs, audio description of London Zoo.ogg|audio description of London Zoo]] for [[VocalEyes]] }}
}}
'''Andreas Siegfried Sachs''' (7 April 1930 – 23 November 2016), known professionally as '''Andrew Sachs''', was a German-born British actor and writer. He made his name on British television and found his greatest fame for his portrayal of the comical Spanish waiter [[Manuel (Fawlty Towers)|Manuel]] in ''[[Fawlty Towers]]''.

He had a long career in acting and [[voice-over]] work for television, film and radio. He was successful well into his eighties, with roles in numerous films such as ''[[Quartet (2012 film)|Quartet]]'', and as [[Ramsay Clegg]] in ''[[Coronation Street]]''.

==Early life==
Sachs was born in Berlin, Germany, the son of Katharina (née Schrott-Fiecht), a librarian, and Hans Emil Sachs, an insurance broker.<ref name="guardian_profile">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/oct/29/andrew-sachs-profile|title=Andrew Sachs: profile|last=Williams|first=Rachel|date=29 October 2008|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=30 October 2008|location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081101103047/http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/oct/29/andrew-sachs-profile| archive-date= 1 November 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/29/Andrew-Sachs.html|title=Andrew Sachs Biography|work=filmreference.com|publisher=NetIndustries|access-date=30 October 2008}}</ref><ref>Andrew Sachs ''I Know Nothing!The Autobiography''Robson, London 2014 p. 2</ref> His father was Jewish and his mother was Lutheran, with Austrian ancestry.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/dec/01/andrew-sachs-dies-after-alzheimers-aged-86|title=Andrew Sachs, Manuel from Fawlty Towers, dies aged 86|newspaper=The Guardian|date=1 December 2016|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref> The family moved to Britain in 1938 to escape the [[Nazism|Nazis]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/student/career-planning/getting-job/passedfailed-an-education-in-the-life-of-andrew-sachs-actor-and-writer-525357.html|title=Passed/Failed: An education in the life of Andrew Sachs, actor and writer|last=Sale|first=Jonathan|date=2 February 2006|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=30 October 2008|location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081205164425/http://www.independent.co.uk/student/career-planning/getting-job/passedfailed-an-education-in-the-life-of-andrew-sachs-actor-and-writer-525357.html| archive-date= 5 December 2008 | url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ajr.org.uk/journal/issue.Sep02/article.474|title=Manuel dexterity: Profile of Andrew Sachs|last=Grunberger|first=Richard|date=September 2002|work=AJR Journal|publisher=Association of Jewish Refugees|access-date=30 October 2008}}</ref> They settled in north London,<ref name="guardian_profile"/> and he lived in [[Kilburn, London|Kilburn]] for the rest of his life.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thecnj.com/camden/2008/103008/news103008_08.html?headline=Make_a_meal_of_it%21_Fawlty_Towers_actor_in_BBC_Radio_2_row_opens_brand_new_hospital_restaurant|title=Make a meal of it! Fawlty Towers actor in BBC Radio 2 row opens brand new hospital restaurant|last=Osley|first=Richard|date=30 October 2008|work=[[Camden New Journal]]|access-date=14 December 2008}}</ref>

In 1960, Sachs married the actress, writer, and fashion designer Melody Lang, who took his surname.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fantasticfiction.com/s/melody-sachs/|title = Melody Sachs|website=Fantasticfiction.com}}</ref> He adopted her two sons from a previous marriage, who became known as [[John Sachs]] and William Sachs, and the couple had one daughter, Kate Sachs, in 1961.<ref>Christopher Mele, 'Actor Played Beloved Waiter on "Fawlty Towers", Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 3 December 2016, p. B6</ref> Lang appeared in one episode of ''Fawlty Towers'', "[[Basil the Rat]]", as Mrs. Taylor.

==Career==
===Early work===
In the late 1950s, whilst still studying [[ship management|shipping management]] at college, Sachs worked on radio productions, including ''Private Dreams and Public Nightmares'' by [[Frederick Bradnum]], an early experimental programme made by the [[BBC Radiophonic Workshop]].<ref name="radiodict">{{cite book|last1=Street|first1=Seán|title=Historical Dictionary of British Radio|date=21 April 2015|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-1442249233}}</ref>

Sachs began in acting with [[repertory theatre]] and made his [[West End theatre|West End]] debut as Grobchick in the 1958 production of the [[Whitehall farce]] ''[[Simple Spymen]]''.<ref name="GuardianObit">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/dec/02/andrew-sachs-obituary|title=Andrew Sachs obituary |date=2 December 2016|access-date=2 December 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|author=Dennis Barker}}</ref> He made his screen debut in 1959 in the film ''[[The Night We Dropped a Clanger]]''.<ref name="VarietyObit">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/obituaries-people-news/andrew-sachs-dead-fawlty-towers-1201931702/|title=Andrew Sachs, 'Fawlty Towers' Actor, Dies at 86|author=Sarah Ahern|date=2 December 2016|access-date=2 December 2016|newspaper=Variety}}</ref> He then appeared in numerous television series throughout the 1960s, including some appearances in [[ITC Entertainment|ITC]] productions such as ''[[The Saint (TV series)|The Saint]]'' (1962) and ''[[Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)]]'' (1969).<ref name="TelegraphObit">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/01/andrew-sachs-much-loved-fawlty-towers-actor-manuel-role-dies/|title=Andrew Sachs, the much loved Fawlty Towers actor, dies aged 86|author=Hannah Furness|date=2 December 2016|access-date=2 December 2016|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref>

===''Fawlty Towers''===
Sachs is best known for portraying [[Manuel (Fawlty Towers)|Manuel]], the Spanish waiter on the iconic sitcom ''Fawlty Towers'' (1975 and 1979), a role for which he was nominated for a [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]] award<ref name="bafta1">{{Cite web |title=Heritage: Andrew Sachs |url=http://www.bafta.org/heritage/in-memory-of/andrew-sachs |work=BAFTA |date=9 February 2017 |access-date=24 February 2018}}</ref> (the award went to co-star [[John Cleese]]).<ref name="bafta2">{{Cite web |title=BAFTA Awards Search: Fawlty Towers |url=http://awards.bafta.org/keyword-search?keywords=Fawlty%20Towers |work=BAFTA |access-date=24 February 2018}}</ref> He claimed in 1981 that Manuel was "really a very small part. In fact there was only one episode of ''Fawlty Towers'' – the one with the hamster – in which I had anything much to do."<ref name="Fred Morony p. 41">Sachs quoted in Fred Morony, "13 Fawlty Weeks changed Andrew Sachs's life", ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 15 August 1981, p. 41.</ref>

Sachs recorded three singles in character as Manuel; the first was "Manuel's Good Food Guide" in 1977, in which he appeared, in character, on the cover. Sachs was co-author of the tracks.<ref name="FawltyTowersFullyBooked">{{Cite book |title=Fawlty Towers: fully booked |page=86 |author=Morris Bright, Robert Ross |year=2001 |isbn=9780563534396}}</ref> This was followed in 1979 by "O Cheryl" with "Ode to England" on the B side, under the name "Manuel and Los Por Favors".<ref name="FawltyTowersFullyBooked"/> Sachs shares the writing credits for the B side with "B. Wade", who also wrote the A side.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/7p150 |title=Manuel And Los Por Favors [Andrew Sachs] – O Cheryl / Ode To England – Pye – UK – 7P 150 |website=45cat |access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref> In 1981, at the urging of [[Elton John]], "Manuel" released a cover version of [[Joe Dolce]]'s worldwide hit "[[Shaddap You Face]]", with "Waiter, there's a Flea in my Soup" on the B side.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/music/whats-a-matter-you-hey/2005/07/23/1121539192279.html |title=What's a matter you, hey? |date=24 July 2005 |newspaper=The Age |author=Clay Lucas |access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref> When finally released it reached 138 in the UK Chart.<ref name="FawltyTowersFullyBooked"/> Dolce prohibited Sachs from releasing his version until the original had been a hit.

He was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1980, when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] while making a personal appearance as Manuel at the HMV store on London's Oxford Street.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

Sachs, who had himself experienced life as a 'foreigner' in Britain, denied allegations that the character was based on racist stereotypes, arguing that Manuel could have been any 'foreign' worker.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/arts-to-hell-with-basil-1619527.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/arts-to-hell-with-basil-1619527.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=ARTS: TO HELL WITH BASIL|date=23 October 2011|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|access-date=22 October 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

During the shooting of the ''Fawlty Towers'' episode "[[The Germans]]", Sachs was left with second degree acid burns due to a fire stunt. He was also hit with a faulty prop on the set of the show by Cleese and suffered a severe headache.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8762883/Andrew-Sachs-suffered-burns-on-set-of-Fawlty-Towers.html |location=London |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |title=Andrew Sachs suffered burns on set of Fawlty Towers |date=14 September 2011 |access-date=25 October 2019}}</ref>

===Voice work and narration===
Sachs was frequently heard as a narrator of television and radio [[radio documentary|documentaries]], including all five series of BBC's [[BAFTA Award]]-winning business television series ''[[Troubleshooter (TV series)|Troubleshooter]]'' presented by Sir [[John Harvey-Jones]]<ref name="TelegraphObit"/> and [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s ''[[...from Hell]]'' series.<ref name="Speaker">{{cite web|url=http://www.tmcentertainment.co.uk/speaker-index.html?speakerid=520&parentcat=5|title=Andrew Sachs|website=Speak Out|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref> He also narrated several audio books, including [[C. S. Lewis]]'s [[The Chronicles of Narnia|Narnia]] series and [[Alexander McCall Smith]]'s first online book, ''Corduroy Mansions'',<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.audible.com.au/search/ref=a_search_c8_1_srchPg?searchNarrator=Andrew+Sachs&searchRank=main_titlerank | title = Audiobooks narrated By Andrew Sachs | access-date = 2 December 2016}}</ref> as well as two audiobooks of the popular children's TV series ''[[Thomas & Friends|Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends]]'' "Thomas and the Tiger" and "Thomas and the Dinosaur".<ref>{{cite book | title = Thomas and the Tiger (Thomas the Tank Engine) | id = {{ASIN|1860211976|country=uk}} }}</ref> He provided the voice of Puzzle the Donkey in the Focus on the Family production of ''[[The Last Battle]]'' by C. S. Lewis. In 2000, Sachs narrated the [[parody|spoof]] documentary series ''[[That Peter Kay Thing]]''.<ref name="docobook">{{cite book|last1=Marcus|first1=Daniel; Kara, Selmin|title=Contemporary Documentary|date=2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1317534167|page=33}}</ref> He also narrated the documentary series ''[[Eyewitness (British TV series)|Eyewitness]]'', based on the children's books of the same name.

Sachs performed all the voices in the English-language version of [[Jan Švankmajer]]'s 1994 film ''[[Faust (1994 film)|Faust]]''.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Devil on Screen: Feature Films Worldwide, 1913 through 2000|page=124|chapter=Faust|author=Charles P. Mitchell|year=2002|isbn=9780786446995}}</ref> He also did voices for children's animation, including ''[[William's Wish Wellingtons]]'',<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03jw5q3 | title = William's Wish Wellingtons | access-date = 2 December 2016|publisher=BBC}}</ref> ''Starhill Ponies'',<ref>{{cite web | url = http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/675816b8046045a893452579ff7f38bc | title = Starhill Ponies | access-date = 2 December 2016|publisher=BBC}}</ref> ''[[The Gingerbread Man (TV series)|The Gingerbread Man]]'',<ref>{{cite book | title = Bowker's Directory of Videocassettes for Children | year=1999|isbn=0835242013|author=R.R. Bowker}}</ref> ''[[Little Grey Rabbit]]'',<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b84081fa2 | title = Little Grey Rabbit | access-date = 2 December 2016|publisher=BFI}}</ref> ''[[The Forgotten Toys]]'',<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b80fb05fb | title = The Forgotten Toys | access-date = 2 December 2016|publisher=BFI}}</ref> ''[[Asterix and the Big Fight (film)|Asterix and the Big Fight]]''.<ref name="GuardianObit"/> and the horse in the English-language version of 1970's cult TV show ''[[Monkey_(TV_series)|Monkey]]''.

Roles for radio include [[G. K. Chesterton]]'s [[Father Brown]], 1984-1986,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00f0qwl|title=Father Brown stories|website=BBC Radio|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref> [[Dr. Watson|Dr. John Watson]] in four series of original [[Sherlock Holmes]] stories for BBC Radio 4,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rrljy | title = The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes | access-date = 2 December 2016}}</ref> [[Jeeves]] in ''[[The Code of the Woosters]]'',<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-36714323 | title = Obituary: Andrew Sachs, Fawlty Towers' Manuel | work = BBC News | date = 2 December 2016 | access-date = 2 December 2016}}</ref> [[Edmond Dantès]] in ''[[The Count of Monte Cristo]]'' on [[BBC Radio 7]]'s "Young Classics" series,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tmcz7|title=The Count of Monte Cristo|website=BBC Radio|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref> and Tooley in [[Neil Gaiman]]'s ''[[Neverwhere (radio play)|Neverwhere]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01r527b|title=Neverwhere, London Below|website=BBC Radio|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref>

===Later work===
Although no other role gained him the same attention as Manuel, Sachs continued to star in a range of productions, both comedic and dramatic. In a reversal of his ''Fawlty Towers'' role, he was the hotel manager Don Carlos Bernardo in the 1977 ''[[Are You Being Served? (film)|Are You Being Served?]]'' movie,<ref>{{cite book|title=Best of the Britcoms: From Fawlty Towers to The Office|page=20|year=2011|isbn=9781589795266|author=Garry Berman}}</ref> and in 1980 starred in the title role of a four-part BBC adaptation of the [[H. G. Wells]]'s ''[[The History of Mr Polly]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b727503e4 | title = The History of Mr. Polly Part One | access-date = 2 December 2016 | publisher=BFI}}</ref> The following year, he portrayed a [[French Revolution]]ary in [[Mel Brooks]]'s ''[[History of the World, Part I]]''.

In 1990, he appeared as a contestant on ''[[Cluedo (British game show)|Cluedo]]'', facing off against fellow actor [[Keith Barron]].

In 1994 Sachs appeared in the popular [[Thames Television]] comedy drama series ''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]''. He played Sidney Myers in the episode''"[[List of Minder episodes#Series 10 (1994)|All Things Brighton Beautiful.]]"''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.minder.org/episodeguide/S10E03_AllThingsBrightonBeautiful.htm | title=#10.3 All Things Brighton Beautiful }}</ref>

In 1996, Sachs portrayed [[Albert Einstein]] in an episode of the American PBS series ''[[Nova (American TV program)|NOVA]]'' entitled "Einstein Revealed".<ref name="nova">{{cite web|title=Einstein Revealed|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/2311eins.html|website=NOVA|publisher=PBS|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref> In 1997, Sachs played opposite [[Shane Richie]] in [[Chris Barfoot]]'s ''[[Dead Clean]]'':<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b80d65041| title = Dead Clean | access-date = 2 December 2016|publisher=BFI}}</ref> in a tale of mistaken identity, Sachs plays airport window cleaner Kostas Malmatakis who is hired to assassinate a businessman by his greedy partner ([[Mark Lindsay Chapman|Mark Chapman]]); the British short won a Gold Remi at the Houston Worldfest in 2001.<ref name=AAP>{{cite web|title=Anglo American Pictures|url=https://actors.mandy.com/uk/company/20904/anglo-american-pictures/|work=Mandy Actors|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref>

Sachs has had several roles in ''Doctor Who'' productions. He played "Skagra" in the webcast/audio version of the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' story ''[[Shada (Doctor Who)|Shada]]'', completed by [[Big Finish Productions]] and in 2008 he played the elderly version of former companion Adric, in another ''Doctor Who'' story for the same company, ''[[The Boy That Time Forgot]]''. In the 1980s, Sachs had submitted his name to be considered for the part of the [[Seventh Doctor]] in the television series.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/webcasts/shada/interviews/sachs/page7.shtml | title= Nearly Who | publisher=BBC | access-date=26 August 2014}}</ref>

In 2005, Sachs served as the performer for the audiobook version of ''Urchin of the Riding Stars'', the first book of ''[[The Mistmantle Chronicles]]''.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} In 2007, the BBC broadcast an adaptation of ''[[Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency]]'' with Sachs portraying Reg (Professor Urban Chronotis, the Regius Professor of Chronology).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/07_july/13/dirk.shtml | title = Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency opens for business on Radio 4|website=Bbc.co.uk | access-date = 2 December 2016}}</ref> He would later appear in another Adams adaptation as the Book in the live tour of ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy#Stage shows|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'' during its run at Bromley's [[Churchill Theatre]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/leisure/latest/9772442.Hitchhiker_s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy_radio_show_comes_to_The_Churchill_Theatre__Bromley/|title=Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy radio show comes to The Churchill Theatre, Bromley
|newspaper=[[Bromley News Shopper]]|publisher =[[Newsquest]]|author =Nikki Jarvis|date=20 June 2012|access-date=29 June 2012}}</ref>

On 17 November 2008, it was announced that Sachs had been approached to appear in [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] soap ''[[Coronation Street]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a135789/sachs-to-join-coronation-street.html | title = Sachs to join 'Coronation Street'? | website = [[Digital Spy]] | date = 17 November 2008 | access-date = 21 December 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081202003408/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a135789/sachs-to-join-coronation-street.html| archive-date= 2 December 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> He later confirmed on 14 December that he was taking up the offer, saying "My wife was such a fan that I've been watching it since 1962". In May 2009 he made his debut on the street as Norris' brother, Ramsay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a138392/sachs-im-taking-street-challenge.html |title=DigitalSPy.com |publisher=DigitalSPy.com |date=14 December 2008 |access-date=24 July 2012}}</ref> He appeared in 27 episodes and left in August 2009.<ref name="BFI">{{cite web|title=Andrew Sachs|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9ee25467/|work=BFI|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref>

Sachs toured with the Australian pianist [[Victor Sangiorgio]] in a two-man show called "Life after Fawlty", which included [[Richard Strauss]]'s [[Enoch Arden (Strauss)|voice and piano setting]] of [[Alfred, Lord Tennyson]]'s poem "[[Enoch Arden]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lyndaronan.com/andrew-sachs/ |title=LyndaRonan Personal Management |publisher=Lyndaronan.com |access-date=24 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126105751/http://www.lyndaronan.com/andrew-sachs/ |archive-date=26 January 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thornburyartsfestival.com/TFpage3.htm |title=Thornbury Arts Festival 2001 |publisher=Thornburyartsfestival.com |date=15 December 2000 |access-date=24 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017013640/http://www.thornburyartsfestival.com/TFpage3.htm |archive-date=17 October 2010 }}</ref> 2012 saw his last major role, as Bobby Swanson in the movie ''[[Quartet (2012 film)|Quartet]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/50c30bc1a5894 | title = Quartet | access-date = 2 December 2016|publisher=BFI}}</ref>

===Writing===
Between 1962 and 1985 Sachs wrote a number of plays for theatre and radio, in parallel with his acting career. His first radio play, in 1962, was ''One Man and His Dog''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.suttonelms.org.uk/asachs.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=23 November 2010 |archive-date=15 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115035533/http://www.suttonelms.org.uk/asachs.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Till Death Do Us Join'', concerning Ernest Wire's desire to murder his wife, and Ruby Drab's hope to 'dispose of her spouse', was produced by the BBC in 1964 and broadcast in Australia as ''So You Want to Get Rid of Your Wife'' the following year.<ref>'Husband Defined in BBC Comedy' Melbourne Age, 8 April 1965 p. 25</ref> In 1978, [[BBC Radio 4]] broadcast ''The Revenge'', a ground-breaking 30-minute play totally without dialogue (an experiment in binaural stereo recording), written and performed by Sachs.<ref name="radiodict" /> It was dismissed by playwright [[Jonathan Raban]] as a "wordless sequence of noises" and "a well-puffed curiosity". The play has however subsequently been repeated a number of times on [[BBC Radio 4 Extra]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.savoyhill.co.uk/technique/revenge.html | title = The Revenge, a radio play without words, written and performed by Andrew Sachs in 1978 |author =Beck, Alan| access-date = 21 December 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081225232309/http://www.savoyhill.co.uk/technique/revenge.html| archive-date= 25 December 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

''Made in Heaven'', which had starred Sachs's future ''Fawlty Towers'' co-star [[Prunella Scales]] when produced for radio in 1971, was brought to the stage in 1975. As performed at the Chichester Festival it starred [[Patrick Macnee]].<ref>Otto Dekom, 'Celibacy helped Macnee gain TV popularity' Wilmington Morning News 1 October 1975 p. 28</ref> Though it was a popular success, Sachs said in 1981, "the critics really slaughtered it ... Actually, I had to agree with the critics. There was a lot wrong with the play." He professed his intention to rewrite the work and stage it again.<ref name="Fred Morony p. 41"/>

Sachs claimed he would "concentrate on writing if anything happened to impair my acting. But I'm very much a part-time writer."<ref name="Fred Morony p. 41"/>

==Prank phone call controversy==
{{Main|The Russell Brand Show prank calls row}}
On 25 October 2008, the [[BBC]] apologised to Sachs and his agent after they had been informed that [[Russell Brand]] and [[Jonathan Ross]] had made several obscene phone calls to him during an episode of ''[[The Russell Brand Show (radio show)|The Russell Brand Show]]'' recorded on 16 October and broadcast two days later, on which Sachs had agreed to appear.<ref name="bbcApology">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7692911.stm|title=BBC apologises over Brand prank|date=27 October 2008|publisher=BBC|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=27 October 2008 | location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081029055454/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7692911.stm| archive-date=29 October 2008| url-status= live}}</ref> Both presenters had left explicit messages on Sachs's telephone answering machine stating that Brand had had sex with his granddaughter, [[Georgina Baillie]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/oct/30/russell-brand-ross-baillie-sachs|title='Living this way makes me happy'|last=Taylor|first=Matthew|date=30 October 2008|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=1 November 2008|location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081102044538/http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/oct/30/russell-brand-ross-baillie-sachs| archive-date= 2 November 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

[[Gordon Brown]], the then Prime Minister, criticised Ross and Brand's actions, saying that it was "clearly inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour", and the television watchdog, [[Ofcom]], launched an inquiry into the matter.<ref name="sack">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7696714.stm|title=BBC pressured to sack presenters |date=29 October 2008 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=29 October 2008 | location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081101133008/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7696714.stm| archive-date=1 November 2008| url-status= live}}</ref> Afterwards, Brand and Controller of Radio 2 [[Lesley Douglas]] resigned, with Ross soon suspended.<ref name="Apology accepted">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7697988.stm |title=Sachs accepts presenters' apologies |work=BBC News|date=29 October 2008|access-date=29 October 2008 | location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081101133058/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7697988.stm| archive-date=1 November 2008| url-status= live}}</ref> In February 2014, Sachs was interviewed by the BBC about his autobiography. He spoke of how the scandal still affected him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26254034 |title=BBC News – Andrew Sachs: Brand and Ross radio stunt 'disgusting' |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=19 February 2014 |access-date=16 March 2014}}</ref>

==Illness and death==
Sachs was diagnosed with [[vascular dementia]] in 2012, which eventually left him unable to speak and forced him to use a wheelchair. He died on 23 November 2016 at the [[Denville Hall]] nursing home in [[Northwood, London]].<ref name="bbc-obit">{{cite web | author=  |title= Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs dies aged 86|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38178353| date= 1 December 2016| website= [[BBC News Online]] |publisher= BBC| access-date= 1 December 2016 }}</ref><ref name="NYT Obit">{{cite news|last1=Mele|first1=Christopher|title=Andrew Sachs, Hapless Waiter on the BBC Sitcom 'Fawlty Towers,' Dies at 86|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/01/arts/television/andrew-sachs-hapless-waiter-on-the-bbc-sitcom-fawlty-towers-dies-at-86.html|access-date=2 December 2016|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=1 December 2016}}</ref> He was buried on 1 December, the same day his death was publicly announced.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/01/andrew-sachs-much-loved-fawlty-towers-actor-manuel-role-dies/|title=Andrew Sachs, the much loved Fawlty Towers actor, dies age 86|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=1 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/dec/01/andrew-sachs-dies-after-alzheimers-aged-86|title=Andrew Sachs, Manuel from Fawlty Towers, dies aged 86|date=2 December 2016|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref> Melody Sachs died the following year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dhhliteraryagency.com/melody-sachs.html|title = Melody Sachs|website=Dhhliteraryagency.com}}</ref>

On 2 December 2016, [[BBC One]] broadcast the ''Fawlty Towers'' episode "[[Communication Problems]]" in his memory, and John Cleese described him as a "sweet, sweet man".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/dec/01/andrew-sachs-dies-after-alzheimers-aged-86|title=Andrew Sachs, Manuel from Fawlty Towers, dies aged 86|last=Weaver|first=Matthew|date=2 December 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
In July 2021 the BBC Two television series ''Secrets of the Museum'' featured the conservation and installation of the waiter's white outfit, worn by the Manuel character in ''Fawlty Towers'', which had been donated to the [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] by his daughter Kate, as part of the museum's permanent costume exhibition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p09lw5xc/secrets-of-the-museum-series-2-2-epic-iran|title = Secrets of the Museum - Series 2: 2. Epic Iran|website=Bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

==Selected filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1947 || ''[[Hue and Cry (film)|Hue and Cry]]'' ||rowspan="2"| Schoolboy ||rowspan="2"| Uncredited
|-
| ''[[The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1947 film)|The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby]]''
|-
| 1959 || ''[[The Night We Dropped a Clanger]]'' || A.C.2 Briggs ||
|-
| 1961 || ''[[Nothing Barred]]'' || Convict ||
|-
| 1962 || ''[[We Joined the Navy]]'' || Short Changed US Seaman || Uncredited
|-
| 1962 || ''[[The Saint (TV series)]]'' || Jacques (Hotel concierge) || The Loaded Tourist, Season 1, ep. 5<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.shoutfactorytv.com/the-saint/the-loaded-tourist/574dc1a3eabece0d1301d77b|website=Shoutfactorytv.com|title=Watch the Saint Episode : The Saint: S1 E5 - the Loaded Tourist}}</ref>
|-
| 1973 || ''[[Hitler: The Last Ten Days]]'' || [[Walter Wagner (notary)|Walter Wagner]] ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1974 || ''[[Frightmare (1974 film)|Frightmare]]'' || Barry Nichols ||
|-
| ''[[Romance with a Double Bass]]'' || Musician Zhuchkov ||
|-
| 1975 || ''Robin Hood Junior'' || Friar ||
|-
|1975 (Reprised 1979) || ''[[Fawlty Towers]] ''|| Manuel ||
|-
| 1976 || ''[[House of Mortal Sin]]'' || Man in Church ||
|-
| 1977 || ''[[Are You Being Served? (film)|Are You Being Served?]]'' || Don Carlos Bernardo ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1978 || ''[[What's Up Nurse!]]'' || Guido the waiter ||
|-
| ''[[Revenge of the Pink Panther]]'' || Hercule Poirot ||
|-
| 1981 || ''[[History of the World, Part I]]'' || Gerard || Segment: "The French Revolution"
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Consuming Passions]]'' || Jason ||
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Asterix and the Big Fight (film)|Asterix and the Big Fight]]'' || Ardeco || English version, voice
|-
| 1993 || ''[[The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1993 film)|The Mystery of Edwin Drood]]'' || Durdles ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1994 || ''[[Taxandria (film)|Taxandria]]'' || André / Superintendent ||
|-
| ''[[Faust (1994 film)|Faust]]'' || || English version, voice
|-
| 1998 || ''[[The Legend of the Lost Keys]]'' || George Gardener ||
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Nowhere in Africa]]'' || Mr. Rubens ||
|-
| 2003 || ''Cheeky'' || TV Announcer ||
|-
| 2009 || ''[[Coronation Street]]'' || Ramsay Clegg ||
|-
| 2010 || ''[[Terry Pratchett's Going Postal]]'' || Tolliver Groat ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2012 || ''[[Run for Your Wife (2012 film)|Run For Your Wife]]'' || Clumsy Waiter ||
|-
| ''[[Quartet (2012 film)|Quartet]]'' || Bobby Swanson ||
|-
| 2014 || ''Breaking the Bank'' || Jenkins ||
|-
| 2015 || ''[[EastEnders]]'' || Cyril Bishop ||
|-
| 2016 || ''[[Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016 film)|Alice Through the Looking Glass]]'' || Mantel Clock || Uncredited, final film role
|}

==Books==
*2015, ''I Know Nothing! The Autobiography'', The Robson Press, {{ISBN|978-1849-5490-04}} (shortlisted for The [[Sheridan Morley Prize]], 2015)<ref>{{cite book |last=Sachs |first=Andrew |date=2014 |title=I Know Nothing! The Autobiography |url=https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/i-know-nothing |publisher=Biteback Publishing |isbn=9781849546362 |access-date=2 December 2016 |archive-date=28 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928043907/https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/i-know-nothing |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{IMDb name|755133|Andrew Sachs}}
*[http://www.suttonelms.org.uk/asachs.html Radio Plays by Andrew Sachs]
*[http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80026992 Imperial War Museum Interview]
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36714323 Obituary: Andrew Sachs] From BBC News
*{{British Comedy Guide|people|andrew_sachs}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sachs, Andrew}}
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century British male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century British male actors]]
[[Category:Audiobook narrators]]
[[Category:British male comedy actors]]
[[Category:British male film actors]]
[[Category:British male radio actors]]
[[Category:British male stage actors]]
[[Category:British male television actors]]
[[Category:British male voice actors]]
[[Category:British people of Austrian descent]]
[[Category:British people of German-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Deaths from dementia in England]]
[[Category:Deaths from vascular dementia]]
[[Category:German emigrants to England]]
[[Category:German people of Austrian descent]]
[[Category:Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Male actors from Berlin]]
[[Category:People educated at William Ellis School]]
[[Category:People from Kilburn, London]]

The Goon Show Depository - User contributions [en]

Andrew Sachs