FAWLTY Towers actor Andrew Sachs has died at the age of 86 following a secret four-year battle with dementia.

The much-loved actor, best known for his role as clumsy Spanish waiter Manuel in the hit British TV sitcom, passed away in a care home last week, The Sun reports.

Sachs was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2012.

His Fawlty Towers co-star, John Cleese, has led tributes to the critically-acclaimed and adored actor, calling him a “sweet, gentle and kind man”.

Sachs’ wife Melody told the Daily Mail: “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. He had dementia for four years and we didn’t really notice it at first until the memory started going,” she said, of his health battle.

“It didn’t get really bad until quite near the end. I nursed Andrew, I was there for every moment of it.”

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