The star's agent, Michael Foster, confirmed that Smith passed away at his home yesterday morning. Smith was confirmed dead by the ambulance crew, with a later post-mortem confirming death from a heart attack. We are all in a state of shock. He had a relish for it that seemed utterly inexhaustible. Mel Smith (left) with his wife Pam in 2010. Brilliant writer, actor and director and a lovely man too. "He had a wonderfully generous and sympathetic presence both on and off screen," he said. And he was a brilliant actor. "That, I think, is a contribution that will never go away.". He was captain of the school rugby team from the 2nd form to the 6th. Smith, who died in his sleep from a heart attack on Friday, at the age of 60, grew up in a flat above a fish and chip shop in Chiswick, West London. His voice was very strange though like he had a broken nose. "If you direct a comedy movie that takes 245 million dollars at the box office you've done something pretty special, and I never thought he was given enough credit for this success. Mel Smith, the comic actor, writer, producer and director has died. Smith formed a lasting partnership with co-performer Griff Rhys Jones with whom he set up the independent television company, Talkback Productions. In a statement released on behalf of Smith's wife, Pam, Mr Foster said: "Mel Smith, comedian and writer, died on Friday aged 60, from a heart attack at his home in north west London." So sad to hear about the passing of the great Mel Smith. Comic, actor and director Mel Smith has died following a heart attack at the age of 60, his agent has confirmed. Comedian Mel Smith, celebrated for the long-running sketch shows Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones, has died of a heart attack at the age of 60. He went on to describe Smith as a "gentleman and a scholar, a gambler and a wit". Their business partner and agent at Talkback, ITV director of television Peter Fincham, said Smith had "extraordinary natural talent". He was a very generous and supportive actor. "I still can't believe this has happened," said Rhys Jones. Does anyone know what has happened to him? 'Gentleman and scholar' Mel Smith dies aged 60, Mel Smith had 'extraordinary talent but wore it lightly', Comic, actor and director Mel Smith dies aged 60, Rowan Atkinson 'truly sad' by the death of Mel Smith, Comedians pay tribute to Mel Smith on Twitter, Jones' tribute to 'very, very dear friend' Mel Smith, Griff Rhys Jones: Mel Smith was 'a force for life', Mel Smith was a star of Not the Nine O'Clock News, Mel Smith had an 'extraordinary natural talent', Stephen Fry & Graham Linehan pay tribute to Mel Smith, UK's top civil servant Sir Mark Sedwill to stand down, Controversial appointment of Brexit aide as National Security Adviser, Scotland records no new virus deaths for third day running, 'UK on a knife edge ahead of further lockdown easing'. Comic actor and writer Mel Smith has died of a heart attack aged 60. I will look back on the days working with him as some of the funniest times that I have ever spent. "Life was always exciting around Mel," he said. The pair were most famous for their TV shows Not The Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith And Jones. Comic Mel Smith suffered a fall just days before he died of a heart attack, friends revealed last night. A tribute to British comedian Mel Smith, who died in July 2013, aged 60, featuring home video footage, rare archive material and many classic sketches. Mel played the one with a … Mel Smith was born on December 3, 1952 and died on July 19, 2013. "He inspired love and utter loyalty and he gave it in return. "Mel Smith - a lovely man of whom I saw too little in his later years. What does lockdown lifting look like across the UK? An ambulance was called to Smith's home just after 09:00 BST where he was found to have died. I will look back on the days working with him as some of the funniest times that I have ever spent.". "We never had an argument about which part we should play or how we were going to do something. The British comic actor and writer Mel Smith has died of a heart attack, aged 60. We had a good deal of fun. .css-1xgx53b-Link{font-family:ReithSans,Helvetica,Arial,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:700;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:#FFFFFF;}.css-1xgx53b-Link:hover,.css-1xgx53b-Link:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Read about our approach to external linking. 'Comedy great' Mel Smith dies The comic, actor and director Mel Smith has been hailed as "one of the comedy greats of the modern era" after his death from a heart attack aged 60. Terrific business. Smith, best known for his appearances on Alas Smith and Jones and Not The Nine O'Clock News died of a heart attack at his home yesterday. "Being funny came naturally to him, so much so that he never seemed to give it a second thought. Boeing 737 plane feared crashed in Indonesia, Spain hit by heavy snow as deadly storm sweeps in, The hunt to identify and arrest Capitol rioters, .css-q4by3k-IconContainer{display:none;height:1em;width:1em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-right:0.25em;}Capitol riots: âWe would have been murderedâ VideoCapitol riots: âWe would have been murderedâ. On the morning of 19 July 2013, the London Ambulance Service was called to Smith's home in north-west London. Capitol riots: âWe would have been murderedâ Video, Capitol riots: âWe would have been murderedâ, A night at India's largest farmers' protest. Most watched News videos. Mel and Griff were one of the great comedy acts and it's hard to imagine that one of them is no longer with us.". ", He said the pair had never had an argument and "loved performing together", adding: "He inspired love and utter loyalty and he gave it in return. Mel lived a full life, but was kind, funny and wonderful to know. Mel Smith Birthday and Date of Death. Tributes have been paid to the comedian, actor and director Mel Smith, who has died aged 60. The British comedian - known for the sketch shows … What can you expect when pubs, bars and restaurants reopen? We loved performing together. He said: "Mel did an extraordinary thing - he taught us all how to make comedy natural. Covid-19: Queen and Prince Philip receive vaccinations, Sex workers say 'defunding Pornhub' puts their livelihoods at risk, Nasa's Curiosity rover: 3,000 days on Mars, Covid: UK reports more than 80,000 deaths. Sad loss. His father, Ken was born in Co Durham, he married Vera and together took over her family's greengrocers shop in Quick Road, Chiswick, London. For more details of these cookies and how to disable them, Melisandre, the Red Woman, died at the end of Game of Thrones Season 8, episode 3. Europe's slow start: How many have had the jab? Mel Smith was on Mastmind just now, he did very well on his specialist subject of Shakespeare. TV star Mel Smith, who died of a heart attack at the age of 60 last year, left a £6.5 million fortune in a trust. .css-14iz86j-BoldText{font-weight:bold;}Comic actor and writer Mel Smith has died of a heart attack, aged 60, his agent has confirmed. A tribute to British comedian Mel Smith, who died in July 2013, aged 60, featuring home video footage, rare archive material and many classic sketches. Comic actor and writer Mel Smith has died of a heart attack, aged 60, his agent has confirmed. The British comedian - known for the sketch shows Alas Smith and Jones and Not The Nine O'Clock News - died at his home on Friday, Michael Foster said. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Wire. Jones added: "We are all in a state of shock. Griff Rhys Jones yesterday led the tributes to his long-standing comedy partner Mel Smith, who died after suffering a heart attack. Rowan Atkinson, who worked with Mel Smith on both Not the Nine O'Clock News and Bean, the first Mr Bean film, said he was "truly sad" to hear about his death. Stephen Fry and Graham Linehan have paid tribute to Mel Smith following his death at the age of 60: Terrible news about my old friend Mel Smith, dead today from a heart attack. Jake Angeli, real name Jacob Anthony Chansley, is accused of violent entry and disorderly conduct. Meanwhile, friends and colleagues have paid tribute to him. johnnybriggs 20:12, 31 December 2008 (UTC) I noticed that too. Griff Rhys Jones has said Mel Smith was "a force for life" to everybody who met him, adding he was "a gentleman and a scholar, a gambler and a wit". In 1971 he won a place at New College, Oxford where he studied experimental psychology and lodged at New College Lane which was where Edmund Halley ( of Halley's comet fame) had his observatory. Mel Smith (left) and Griff Rhys Jones on stage at the Prince’s Trust comedy gala at the Lyceum Theatre in London. And Mel was always ready to be supportive. I loved the sketches that we did together on Not the Nine O'Clock News. I loved the sketches that we did together on Not the Nine O'Clock News. The boss of Ocado and M&S’s retail collaboration, Mel Smith, has been made a CBE in recognition for her service to the retail sector and efforts to keep food on tables during the pandemic. We have lost a very, very dear friend.". Other friends and colleagues took to Twitter to send their condolences, with comedian and broadcaster Stephen Fry writing: "Terrible news about my old friend Mel Smith, dead today from a heart attack. "He had a wonderfully generous and sympathetic presence both on and off screen. Nobody could have been easier to work with. Smith, who died last year at the age of 60, enjoyed big parties and bigger cigars. Sounded like a speech defect but it seems odd to develop one in middle age. Comedian Mel Smith has died of a heart attack aged 60, his agent said on Saturday. "He was my friend and business partner for many years and had extraordinary natural talent with the rare gift of wearing it lightly. Cardiff-born Jones, who wrote and starred in Alas Smith and Jones with Smith, said he was “a gentleman and a … If the gorilla had the best line, Smith had the more expressive countenance, mugging with a deadpan virtuosity rarely seen since Oliver Hardy in his pomp. "He was also an excellent theatre and movie director, doing a wonderful job on the first Mr Bean movie. Comedian Mel Smith Dies Aged 60 Why you can trust Sky News Griff Rhys Jones has led the tributes to his longtime comedy partner Mel Smith, who died from a heart attack at the age of 60. The comic, known for Alas Smith and Jones and Not the Nine O’Clock News, was at his home in London when he died … He was a brilliant theatre director... Not only was he a great actor, he was a wonderful editor.". The star, who famously appeared in Not The Nine O'Clock News alongside Griff Rhys … QAnon: What is it and where did it come from? The comic, actor and director Mel Smith has been hailed as "one of the comedy greats of the modern era" after his death from a heart attack at the age of 60. "Mel and Griff were one of the great comedy acts and it's hard to imagine that one of them is no longer with us.". "He was the cast member with whom I felt the most natural performing empathy. Smith has died from a heart attack at his home in … Mel Smith was a star of Not the Nine O'Clock News, and one of the best episodes with Griff Rhys-Jones, parodied the charms of world darts. In a statement on behalf of his wife, Pam, Mr Foster said: "Mel Smith, comedian and writer, died on Friday aged 60, from a heart attack at his home in north-west London.". To everybody who ever met him, Mel was a force for life. Mel Smith Mel Smith died from a heart attack at his home in north west London, Photograph: David Cheskin/PA Wire. Mel Smith dead The comedian is most famous as half of Smith and Jones, alongside comedy partner Griff Rhys Jones. "We probably enjoyed ourselves far too much, but we had a rollercoaster of a ride along the way. Smith died of a heart attack aged 60, his agent said. Mel Smith has died of a heart attack aged 60, his agent has confirmed (Picture: PA) Actor and comedian Mel Smith – best known for his work in sketch shows including Not … Actor and comedian Mel Smith has died of a heart attack at the age of 60. Read about our approach to external linking. Here's what you need to know about the character's long-awaited death. VideoA night at India's largest farmers' protest, How British Asians broke into London's club scene, Locked-down women turn to pills amid Malta abortion ban, Sex workers object to card firms boycotting Pornhub, 'I fully expect to live to at least 180 years old', .css-orcmk8-HeadlineContainer{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;-ms-flex-pack:justify;justify-content:space-between;}'QAnon Shaman' Jake Angeli charged over pro-Trump riots.css-1dedj2h-Rank{-webkit-align-self:center;-ms-flex-item-align:center;align-self:center;color:#B80000;margin-left:3.125rem;}1, Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737 passenger plane feared to have crashed in Indonesia2, Storm Filomena: Spain sees 'exceptional' snowfall3, Capitol riots: The hunt to identify and arrest the rioters4, QAnon: What is it and where did it come from?5, Covid-19: Queen and Prince Philip receive vaccinations6, Sex workers say 'defunding Pornhub' puts their livelihoods at risk7, Google suspends 'free speech' app Parler8, Nasa's Curiosity rover: 3,000 days on Mars9, Covid: UK reports more than 80,000 deaths10. Mel was 60 years old at the time of death. Was always so kind & generous to us. Speaking from the Latitude festival, Peter said he would remember Mel more as a friend than as a comedian - he was his partner in a company they ran together called Talkback Productions. By using this site, you agree we can set and use cookies. He was a gentleman and a scholar, a gambler and a wit. Mel Smith's 'frail and anxious' appearance on quiz sparks fears for comic legend's health. But he never took himself or the business too seriously. Fantastic fun, making shows. Mel Smith, who has died at the age of 60, has been described as having "extraordinary natural talent" by Peter Fincham, director of television at ITV. Smith and Rhys Jones together created Talkback Productions, which made a number of much-loved comedies - among them Da Ali G Show, I'm Alan Partridge and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. where at the age of 12 he played Falstaff. Far more than a comic actor, Smith also wrote and edited a host of celebrated TV comedies in the 1980s and 90s. "To everybody who ever met him, Mel was a force for life. 'Comedy great' Mel Smith dies at 60 The comic, actor and director Mel Smith has been hailed as "one of the comedy greats of the modern era" after … Check coronavirus cases in your area with our interactive map. Watch: Mel Smith in the Not the Nine O'Clock News darts sketch. A night at India's largest farmers' protest. The pair met, along with Rowan Atkinson and Pamela Stephenson, working on Not the Nine O'Clock News, which ran from 1979 to 1982. We have lost a very, very dear friend.". In a statement, he said: "Mel Smith - a lovely man of whom I saw too little in his later years. Video, A night at India's largest farmers' protest, 'QAnon Shaman' Jake Angeli charged over pro-Trump riots, Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737 passenger plane feared to have crashed in Indonesia, Storm Filomena: Spain sees 'exceptional' snowfall, Capitol riots: The hunt to identify and arrest the rioters. With Rebecca Front, Mel Smith, Rowan Atkinson, Nicky Kentish Barnes. He said he would remember Mel as a "gentle man" who "wore his extraordinary talent very lightly". Mel was born in 1952 and educated at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith. US President retweets video containing 'white power' chant, Leicester could see local lockdown following rise in coronavirus cases, Biden slams Trump over report Russia paid militants for attacks. Comedian Mel Smith, celebrated for the long-running sketch shows Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones, has died of a heart attack at the age of 60. We never had an argument, in fact. "Mel was not a pressure person. He convinced her that the way forward was to convert the shop into a bookmakers and before long they'd moved to a semi detached house. Rhys Jones described his friend of 35 years as a "brilliant actor". Mel lived a full life, but was kind, funny & wonderful to know. Directed by Archie Powell. Comedian Mel Smith dies of heart attack at 60. Mr Fincham, who was the business partner of Smith and his comedy sideback Griff Rhys Jones at Talkback Productions as well as their agent, said: "Life was always exciting around Mel. The actor and comedian Mel Smith has died at the age of 60. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Huge parties and crazy times. "Being funny came naturally to him, so much so that he never seemed to give it a second thought. Comic Mel Smith dies aged 60. © 2021 BBC. see our cookie policy. Entertainer: Mel Smith died on Friday, aged 60, a loss which was described as a 'great shock' by his long-standing comedy partner Griff Rhys Jones. He was well known for his roles in sketch shows such as Alas Smith and Jones and Not the Nine O' Clock News. Very sad to hear news of Mel Smith's death has been confirmed. His father eventually moved on from the coalface to run a string of betting shops, but Mel owned the racehorses. Griff Rhys Jones, who had been friends with Mel Smith for 35 years, said: "I still can't believe this has happened. The comedian Mel Smith, best known for Not the Nine O’Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones, has died of a heart attack aged 60. Mel Smith, Actor: The Princess Bride. Comedian Mel Smith has died of a heart attack aged 60, his agent said today. ", .css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link{color:inherit;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:focus,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:focus{color:#B80000;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link::after,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited::after{content:'';position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:2;}Obituary: Comedian Mel Smith, 'QAnon Shaman' charged over pro-Trump riots. The programme's creator, John Lloyd, told the BBC his friend had been ill for some time. ITV News reporter Martha Fairlie looks back at his career: ITV's director of television Peter Fincham expressed his sadness on hearing Mel Smith had died, describing the news as a "big moment" for the industry. 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