Mel Smith: 'Amazingly Talented' Comedian Dies Jul 20th 2013, 14:24
Comedian Mel Smith, known for the Alas Smith and Jones and Not the Nine O'Clock News shows, has died from a heart attack, aged 60.
Mel began his career as a theatre-director at some of the country's most established venues, but it was his partnership with fellow comedian Griff Rhys Jones that made him a household name.
In the 1970s, Mel and Griff as they became known produced and starred in four series of the hit comedy, Not The Nine O'Clock News.
Alas Smith and Jones was one of the most popular sketch shows in the 1980s.
It won an Emmy Award and The British Comedy Award for Top Entertainment Series where Mel and Griff were named Top Entertainment Performer.
In 1987, Jones recorded a single with Kim Wilde for Comic Relief. The cover of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree reached number three in the UK charts.
Friends and colleagues have been paying their respects.
Not the Nine O'Clock News producer John Lloyd said Smith was an "amazingly talented guy" but added that he had not been in good health.
Mel with Gryff Rhys Jones and Elton John in 1987 at the London Palladium He said: "We did know he was ill. He's been ill for some time.
"So although it is the most awful news - I mean, it's a tragedy, it's a great loss not just as an amazingly talented guy in all sorts of areas but also as a friend.
"I think he was not in good shape, so in some ways we try and put a good spin on it by saying it's a relief for him."
Comedian and author Stephen Fry tweeted: "Terrible news about my old friend Mel Smith, dead today from a heart attack. Mel lived a full life, but was kind, funny & wonderful to know."
Smith was described as having "extraordinary natural talent" by Peter Fincham, director of television at ITV.
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.
"He was my friend and business partner for many years and had extraordinary natural talent with the rare gift of wearing it lightly.
"Being funny came naturally to him, so much so that he never seemed to give it a second thought. 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."
Author Kathy Lette wrote on Twitter: "R.I.P. Mel Smith. Sorry to bring sad and bad news, but apparently he died from heart attack in his sleep."
Writer Irvine Welsh took to Twitter to write: "Sad to hear about the death of Mel Smith, who gave me loads of laughs."
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