Born: April 7, 1930 – Died: November 23, 2016
Andrew Sachs, born Andreas Siegfried Sachs, was a remarkable figure in the entertainment industry, renowned for his versatility and captivating performances. Born in Berlin, Germany, Sachs moved to London with his family in 1938, escaping Nazi persecution. His parents, Katharina, a librarian, and Hans Emil Sachs, an insurance broker, provided a diverse cultural background, with his father being Jewish and his mother Catholic of half-Austrian descent.
Early Life and Career
Sachs' early life in London set the stage for his future in acting. After studying shipping management in college, he ventured into radio productions, working on innovative BBC Radiophonic Workshop projects. His acting career began in repertory theatre, leading to his West End debut in 1958 in "Simple Spymen." Sachs made his film debut in 1959 with "The Night We Dropped a Clanger."
The turning point in Sachs’ career came with his portrayal of Manuel, the lovable Spanish waiter in the iconic British sitcom "Fawlty Towers" (1975-1979). This role not only showcased his comedic talent but also earned him a BAFTA nomination, marking him as a significant figure in British television.
Throughout his career, Sachs was involved in various roles, showing his range in acting and voice-over work. He made notable appearances in productions like "Quartet" and "Coronation Street." In addition to acting, he recorded singles, creatively contributing to their lyrics, and even ventured into writing.
Sachs' personal life was as fulfilling as his professional one. He married Melody Lang in 1960, who appeared in "Fawlty Towers." They had three children, and Sachs embraced her two sons from a previous marriage. Beyond his family life, Sachs faced challenges, including a serious on-set injury during "Fawlty Towers" and later, a battle with vascular dementia.
Sachs' impact on the entertainment industry is profound. He is remembered as an icon for his versatility, dedication, and the ability to bring joy and laughter to audiences worldwide. His portrayal of Manuel in "Fawlty Towers" remains a benchmark in comedic acting, and his diverse body of work highlights his exceptional talent in bringing characters to life. His journey from a refugee escaping persecution to a beloved actor is a testament to his resilience and enduring legacy in the world of entertainment.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Alice Through the Looking Glass | Mantel Clock (uncredited) |
| 2015 | EastEnders (TV Series) | Cyril Bishop |
| 2014 | Breaking the Bank | Jenkins |
| 2013 | Quartet: Deleted Scenes (Video) | Bobby Swanson (uncredited) |
| 2013 | Spies of Warsaw (TV Mini Series) | Herschenson |
| 2012 | Quartet | Bobby Swanson |
| 2012 | Run for Your Wife | Clumsy waiter |
| 2008–2011 | Casualty (TV Series) | Mendel Lan | Father Morgan |
| 2010 | Going Postal (TV Mini Series) | Groat |
| 2009 | Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor Adventures (TV Series) | Crassostrea (voice) |
| 2009 | Coronation Street (TV Series) | Ramsay Clegg |
| 2006 | The 10th Man (Short) | Joe |
| 2006 | Mr. Loveday's Little Outing (TV Movie) | Mr. Loveday |
| 2006 | The Bill (TV Series) | David Leyton |
| 2005 | Benjamin's Struggle (Short) | Benjamin (older) |
| 1988–2005 | Timewatch (TV Series) | Dr. Eduard Bloch | Narrator |
| 2005 | Holby City (TV Series) | Joseph Wolpert |
| 2005 | Speer und er (TV Mini Series) | Unknown |
| 2004 | Heroes Delight (TV Series) | Vincent's Grandpa (voice) |
| 2004 | The Blue Dragon (TV Series) | Numerous |
| 2003 | Looking for Victoria (TV Movie) | Benjamin Disraeli |
| 2003 | Cheeky | TV Announcer |
| 2003 | Doctor Who: Shada (TV Mini Series) | Skagra (voice) |
| 2003 | Doctors (TV Series) | Geoffrey Vickerstaff |
| 2003 | Walking with Cavemen (TV Mini Series) | Narrator |
| 2003 | Between Iraq and a Hard Place (TV Movie) | Mullah Omar |
| 2002 | Comedy Lab (TV Series) | Hitman |
| 2002 | Single Voices (TV Series) | Arthur |
| 2001 | Nowhere in Africa | Mr. Rubens |
| 2000 | Silent Witness (TV Series) | Josef Horowitz |
| 2000 | Attachments (TV Series) | Murray Plaskow |
| 2000 | That Peter Kay Thing (TV Mini Series) | Narrator (voice) |
| 2000 | Little Grey Rabbit (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1999 | Calling All Toddlers (Video) | Narrator (segment: William's Wish Wellingtons: William the Conkeror) |
| 1999 | Jack of Hearts (TV Series) | Peter Pryce |
| 1999 | Parking Wars (TV Series) | Narrator (voice) |
| 1998 | Starhill Ponies (TV Series) | Various Characters (voice) |
| 1998 | Dead Clean (Short) | Kostas Malmatakis |
| 1998 | Norman Ormal: A Very Political Turtle (TV Movie) | Party Political Broadcast Voice Over (voice) |
| 1996–1998 | Big Bag (TV Series) | Narrator (segment "William's Wish Wellingtons") (voice) |
| 1998 | The Legend of the Lost Keys (TV Series) | George Gardener |
| 1997 | Wiggly Park (TV Series) | Males (voice) |
| 1994–1997 | Pirates (TV Series) | Mr. Neville Jones | Basmati Bill |
| 1997 | The Forgotten Toys (TV Series) | Additional Voices (1998-1999) (voice) |
| 1996 | Einstein Revealed (TV Movie) | Albert Einstein |
| 1996 | Horizon (TV Series) | Albert Einstein |
| 1995 | The Forgotten Toys (Short) | Chef | Old Man (voice) |
| 1994–1995 | William's Wish Wellingtons (TV Series) | Narrator (voice) |
| 1994 | Taxandria | André | Superintendent |
| 1994 | Faust | All Voices (English version, voice) |
| 1994 | Minder (TV Series) | Sidney |
| 1993 | Every Silver Lining (TV Series) | Nat Silver |
| 1993 | The Mystery of Edwin Drood | Durdles |
| 1993 | The Mushroom Picker (TV Mini Series) | Tadeus |
| 1993 | Frontline (TV Series) | Narrator |
| 1992 | The Gingerbread Man (TV Series) | (voice) |
| 1992 | Woof! (TV Series) | Mr Peterson |
| 1991 | Q.E.D. (TV Series) | Stephen Kingsley |
| 1989 | Bergerac (TV Series) | Moise Davidson |
| 1989 | Asterix and the Big Fight | Ardeco (English version, voice) |
| 1988 | Consuming Passions | Jason |
| 1987 | Assert Yourself (TV Mini Series) | Various Characters |
| 1986 | Artists and Models (TV Series) | (voice) |
| 1985 | There Comes a Time (TV Series) | Tony James |
| 1985 | The Galactic Garden (TV Movie) | Vector |
| 1984 | Big Deal (TV Series) | MC |
| 1983 | It'll All Be Over in Half an Hour (TV Series) | Various Characters |
| 1982 | It's Your Move (TV Movie) | Roadsweeper |
| 1982 | Dead Ernest (TV Series) | Ernest Springer |
| 1981 | History of the World: Part I | Gerard - The French Revolution |
| 1978–1980 | Monkey (TV Series) | Horse | Yu-Lung (season 2) (English version, voice) |
| 1980 | The History of Mr. Polly (TV Mini Series) | Alfred Polly |
| 1980 | The Tempest (TV Movie) | Trinculo |
| 1979 | Not the Nine O'Clock News (TV Series) | Manuel |
| 1979 | Jackanory (TV Series) | Storyteller |
| 1975–1979 | Fawlty Towers (TV Series) | Manuel |
| 1979 | Lovely Couple (TV Series) | Vicar |
| 1979 | The Dawson Watch (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1979 | Strangers (TV Series) | Conron |
| 1978 | The BBC Television Shakespeare (TV Series) | Trinculo |
| 1978 | Cooper, Just Like That (TV Series) | Foreign Legionnaire |
| 1978 | Revenge of the Pink Panther | Hercule Poirot |
| 1978 | Rising Damp (TV Series) | Snell |
| 1978 | Crown Court (TV Series) | Jeremy Nisbett |
| 1978 | Send in the Girls (TV Series) | Paul |
| 1977 | What's Up Nurse! | Guido, Waiter |
| 1976–1977 | The Basil Brush Show (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1977 | The Sound of Laughter (TV Series) | Brian Jones |
| 1977 | Took and Co. (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1977 | Are You Being Served? | Don Carlos Bernardo |
| 1977 | Clipjoint (TV Movie) | Francis St John Allison |
| 1976 | James and the Giant Peach (TV Movie) | Interviewer | 1st Naval Officer | Security Chief |
| 1976 | House of Mortal Sin | Man in Church |
| 1975 | Robin Hood Junior | Friar |
| 1975 | How Not to Exhibit Yourself (Video) | Unknown |
| 1975 | Romance with a Double Bass (Short) | Musician Zhuchkov |
| 1974 | Frightmare | Barry Nichols |
| 1973 | Hitler: The Last Ten Days | Walter Wagner |
| 1971 | Quest for Love | TV Announcer (uncredited) |
| 1970 | Codename (TV Series) | Stein |
| 1970 | Callan (TV Series) | German Captain |
| 1970 | My Partner the Ghost (TV Series) | Commentator |
| 1968–1969 | ITV Playhouse (TV Series) | Morris Harper | Sergei Sergeich | Nigel Fenn |
| 1969 | Fraud Squad (TV Series) | Frank Turbot |
| 1960–1969 | Brian Rix Presents ... (TV Series) | Pierre | Ike Smith | An Auld Scots Prisoner (and player of many parts) |
| 1968 | Nearest and Dearest (TV Series) | Doctor |
| 1968 | Hugh and I Spy (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1968 | Let Sleeping Wives Lie (TV Movie) | Mr. Gudgeon |
| 1967 | The Brian Rix Theatre of Laughter (TV Mini Series) | Ike |
| 1967 | Stand by Your Bedouin (TV Movie) | Hamid |
| 1966 | Intrigue (TV Series) | Brachman's Assistant |
| 1966 | Sergeant Cork (TV Series) | Mr. Paul |
| 1965 | Buddenbrooks (TV Mini Series) | Pastor Tiburtius |
| 1965 | Legend of Death (TV Series) | Dr. Zemouron |
| 1963 | Espionage (TV Series) | German Sergeant |
| 1962 | Mr. Toby's Christmas (TV Series) | Mr. Toby |
| 1962 | Dial RIX (TV Series) | Thin Furniture Man | Harry Daisy |
| 1962 | We Joined the Navy | Short Changed US Seaman (uncredited) |
| 1962 | The Saint (TV Series) | Jacques |
| 1962 | The Six Proud Walkers (TV Series) | Willie Walker |
| 1961 | BBC Sunday-Night Play (TV Series) | Dino Giovanni | Reporter |
| 1961 | Nothing Barred | The Convict Choir |
| 1958–1959 | Dial 999 (TV Series) | Salesman | Attendant | Ginger Clark (uncredited) |
| 1958–1959 | BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (TV Series) | Mr. Niblett | Rev. Cathcart Sloley-Jones | First Ambulance Man |
| 1959 | Make Mine a Double | A. C. 2. Briggs |
| 1949 | Paper Orchid | Office Boy (uncredited) |
| 1947 | The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby | Schoolboy (uncredited) |
| 1947 | Hue and Cry | Schoolboy (uncredited) |
General:
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