What Happened to the Cast of Fawlty Towers With the Series? Where are the Cast of Fawlty Towers Now?
by Reshwanth A
Updated Jul 10, 2023
What Happened To The Cast Of Fawlty Towers With The Series?
The cast of Fawlty Towers has gone on to various other projects since the show's original run on BBC Two between 1975 and 1979. John Cleese, widely known for his fantastic performance as Basil Fawlty, has continued to flourish in his acting, writing, and producing endeavors in movies and TV. Likewise, Prunella Scales and Andrew Sachs, along with other cast members, have stayed active in the entertainment field. In an exciting turn of events, after a span of forty years since its first airing, John Cleese and his daughter Camilla Cleese are gearing up to bring back the show, infusing fresh energy into the beloved Fawlty Towers.
Prunella Scales - Sybil Fawlty
Behind every successful man, there's an even more successful woman, and that was the case for Basil Fawlty. Basil's wife, Sybil, was assertive and frequently expressed dissatisfaction with her husband's (in)competence in managing their family hotel.
Fawlty Towers helped actress Prunella secure various other acting roles, including portraying Queen Elizabeth II in Alan Bennett's A Question of Attribution, for which she received the Best Actress award at the Baftas. Prunella is currently 91 years old and most recently appeared on Channel 4's Great Canal Journeys from 2014 to 2021.
Connie Booth - Polly Sherman
As previously mentioned, Booth was Cleese's first wife and co-writer of Fawlty Towers. In the show, she played Polly, a waitress who often served as a peacemaker and the voice of reason. Booth and her ex-husband have a daughter named Cynthia. In 1995, she retired from acting and pursued a career in physiotherapy.
Andrew Sachs - Manuel
Spanish waiter Manuel is one of the most beloved characters in British comedy, known for his limited English skills. The character was brilliantly portrayed by Berlin-born actor Andrew Sachs, and after the show ended, Sachs found it challenging to move away from this iconic role.
Sachs did continue to appear in several other films and TV shows, including Terry Pratchett's Going Postal, Run for Your Wife, and his portrayal of Cyril Bishop in EastEnders in 2015. In 2012, Sachs was diagnosed with vascular dementia and sadly passed away four years later at the age of 86 in a nursing home. Cleese fondly referred to Andrew as a "kind and gentle man" after his death.
Brian Hall - Terry Hugh
Brian Hall joined Fawlty Towers in the show's second series as the hotel chef, Terry Hugh. Prior to that, he had appeared in other shows such as Break in the Sun and The Grass Arena. In 1997, Brian passed away at the age of 59 after a three-year battle with cancer.
Ballard Berkeley - Major Gowen
In one word: eccentric. Most hotels have their fair share of eccentric guests, and Major Gowen was a regular visitor to Fawlty Towers. Ballard Berkeley, the actor behind the character, had an extensive career appearing in numerous films and shows, including The BFG, Citizen Smith, and Hi-de-Hi! Sadly, Ballard passed away at the age of 83 in 1988.
Ballard gained posthumous recognition in the 2020s as an icon of Hampshire Cricket Club, thanks to a scene in Fawlty Towers where he joyfully exclaims, "Hampshire won!" This line became a tweet that the club would use to celebrate every victory.
Where are the cast of Fawlty Towers now?
John Cleese as Basil Fawlty
Alongside his groundbreaking contributions to Monty Python, Fawlty Towers marked one of John Cleese's earlier endeavors in his illustrious career. Cleese took on the lead role of Basil Fawlty and co-wrote the sitcom with fellow cast member Connie Booth.
In the following years, Cleese embarked on various film and television projects, including notable works like "A Fish Called Wanda," the James Bond series (playing the role of Q), and the popular Shrek franchise. More recently, he has appeared in films such as The Very Excellent Mr Dundee and Clifford the Big Red Dog. Alongside his daughter, Camilla Cleese, John is preparing to bring back Fawlty Towers, where Basil will face the challenges of modern life while running a boutique hotel and discovering he has a newly-found daughter.
Prunella Scales as Sybil Fawlty
Prunella Scales portrayed Basil's enduring wife, Sybil, who also worked as a manager at the hotel. Sybil often took charge and dealt with difficult guests.
Prunella's role in the comedy was a defining one for the actress. She also appeared as Queen Elizabeth II in Alan Bennett's A Question of Attribution, earning her the BAFTA award for Best Actress. In recent years, she is known for her appearances on the TV program Great Canal Journeys for Channel 4.
Connie Booth as Polly Sherman
Connie Booth portrayed the character of waitress Polly Sherman in the sitcom and collaborated with John Cleese in writing the episodes. Booth and Cleese were married from 1968 to 1978 and have a daughter named Cynthia. In 1995, Connie retired from acting and pursued a new career in psychotherapy.
Andrew Sachs as Manuel Andrew Sachs'
The portrayal of Spanish waiter Manuel became an iconic part of the show. While Manuel was his most well-known role, Sachs also appeared in other films and TV shows, such as Terry Pratchett's Going Postal, Run for Your Wife, and a role in EastEnders in 2015. In 2012, Andrew was diagnosed with vascular dementia, which affected his ability to speak.
On November 23, 2016, Andrew Sachs passed away at the age of 86 in his nursing home in North London. His co-star, John Cleese, fondly described him as a "kind-hearted man."
Brian Hall as Terry Hugh
Brian Hall joined the cast of Fawlty Towers in its second series, playing the role of hotel chef Terry Hugh. He had previously acted in other television programs such as "Break in the Sun" and "The Grass Arena." Sadly, Brian passed away at the age of 59 in 1997 after battling cancer for three years.
Ballard Berkeley as Major Gowen
Major Gowen, a recurring guest at the hotel who often clashed with Basil, was portrayed by actor Ballard Berkeley. Berkeley had a long career and appeared in many films and shows, including The BFG. In 1988, at the age of 83, Ballard Berkeley passed away.
Fawlty Towers ( TV Series )
Fawlty Towers is a British TV sitcom created by John Cleese (who also portrayed the lead character, Basil Fawlty) and Connie Booth. The show first appeared on BBC Two from 1975 to 1979 and spanned two series, comprising a total of 12 episodes. It is regarded as a timeless gem of British comedy, praised for its clever writing, physical humor, and unforgettable performances by the talented cast.
Alongside John Cleese, who portrayed Basil Fawlty, the main cast included Prunella Scales as Sybil Fawlty (Basil's wife), Andrew Sachs as Manuel (the Spanish waiter), and Connie Booth as Polly (the hotel maid). Since the original airing of the show, these cast members have pursued diverse projects within the entertainment industry. John Cleese has continued to engage as an actor, writer, and producer, while Prunella Scales and Andrew Sachs have also remained actively involved in their respective fields.
Fawlty Towers Cast
Cast
Role
John Cleese
Basil Fawlty
Prunella Scales
Sybil Fawlty
Connie Booth
Polly Sherman
Andrew Sachs
Manuel
Brian Hall
Terry Hugh
Ballard Berkeley
Major Gowen
What Happened To The Cast Of Fawlty Towers With The Series - FAQs
After Fawlty Towers, John Cleese continued to have a successful career in the entertainment industry. He worked on various films and TV shows, including memorable roles in projects like A Fish Called Wanda, the James Bond series (as Q), and the Shrek franchise. He remains active as an actor, writer, and producer, with recent appearances in films like The Very Excellent Mr Dundee and Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Prunella Scales, who played Sybil Fawlty, went on to have a notable career beyond Fawlty Towers. She received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in Alan Bennett's A Question of Attribution, which earned her a BAFTA award for Best Actress. More recently, she is recognized for her appearances on the TV program Great Canal Journeys. Andrew Sachs, known for his role as Manuel, continued acting in other films and TV shows, such as Terry Pratchett's Going Postal and a role in EastEnders. Sadly, Andrew Sachs passed away in 2016.
Connie Booth, who portrayed Polly Sherman and co-wrote the episodes, retired from acting after Fawlty Towers. She pursued a new career in psychotherapy and stepped away from the entertainment industry.
Brian Hall, who played Terry Hugh, had previously appeared in other television programs like Break in the Sun and The Grass Arena. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1997 after battling cancer. Ballard Berkeley, known for his role as Major Gowen, had a long career in films and shows, including The BFG. Berkeley passed away in 1988.
Yes, apart from Fawlty Towers, the cast members pursued various projects in the entertainment industry. John Cleese, Prunella Scales, and Andrew Sachs, in particular, were involved in other films, TV shows, and stage performances throughout their careers. While some cast members continued to act, others explored different paths or retired from the industry.