Donald William Sinclair (10 July 1909 â€" 1981) was the
coâ€"proprietor of the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay, England. He helped
manage the hotel after an extensive career as an officer in the
Merchant Navy and the Royal Navy. During World War II, he twice
survived the sinking of the ship he was serving on.Sinclair is
primarily known for being the inspiration for the character Basil
Fawlty, played by John Cleese, in the television sitcom Fawlty Towers
that Cleese co-wrote. This was owing to his allegedly stuffy, snobbish
and eccentric treatment of his guests, including Cleese and other
members of the Monty Python cast. Cleese later played a character
named Donald Sinclair in the 2001 film Rat Race.Prior to World War II,
Sinclair was in the British Merchant Navy. As an officer in the Royal
Naval Reserve, he was called up in September 1939 for military
service. Donald Sinclair (hotel owner) Biography, NetWorth, Height, Age, Weight, Family, Married, Son, Daughter