British Comedian. He was best known for his work on the sketch comedy shows Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones along with his comedy partner Griff Rhys Jones. Smith and Jones founded Talkback and appeared in the theatre productions of Allegiance and Hairspray
Other screen appearances included Babylon, Minder, Wolves of Wiloughby Chase, The Princess Bride and Restless Natives
Smith co-wrote and took the lead role in the space comedy Morons from Outer Space and was director of films such as The Tall Guy and Blackball.
He recorded a single with Kim Wilde for Comic Relief 1987: a cover of the Christmas song "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" with some extra comedy lines written by Smith and Jones. It reached number three in the UK charts.
Smith was hospitalised in 1999 with stomach ulcers, after admitting that he was consuming more than 50 Nurofen Plus tablets a day and he later admitted to a growing addiction to the pills. Smith said at the time that the pressures of film work were a contributing factor, along with a desperate need to ease the pain caused by gout
Cause of death: Heart attack∼Mel Smith was a well known comedian on British Television, as well as being a successful business man. He rose to fame in the latter half of the 70's and early 80's through his extensive work in the theatre and television. This included writing, producing and performing. Some of his best known work from that period was the sketch show NOT THE NINE O'CLOCK NEWS, and later ALAS SMITH AND JONES. During this time,he befriended Griff Rhys Jones who became his partner in comedy and indeed business. They were a great double act.
He made many many friends within the Entertainment Industry which stood him in good stead, laying the ground work for many other ventures, projects and ambitions.
Mel also helped co-create a television production company with Griff Rhys Jones. Together, they created a very successful enterprise which later went onto to help many other aspiring actors and comedians/comedienne's rise to fame and further popularity. It was called TALK BACK TELEVISION.
Mel did help direct several films as well, for example MR BEAN, which saw International fame.
As a person, his wonderful ability to make other people laugh was a genuine gift. That is precious!
Whether it was on-screen acting, sketch comedy, character acting, he was a very funny man. I am sure that all those who knew and worked with him, both on and off screen would pay tribute to a remarkable person. There was only one Mel Smith.
He was married to Pam Gay-Rees. They had one daughter, Alexandra.
Mel died of a heart attack. He was 60 years old.
Other screen appearances included Babylon, Minder, Wolves of Wiloughby Chase, The Princess Bride and Restless Natives
Smith co-wrote and took the lead role in the space comedy Morons from Outer Space and was director of films such as The Tall Guy and Blackball.
He recorded a single with Kim Wilde for Comic Relief 1987: a cover of the Christmas song "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" with some extra comedy lines written by Smith and Jones. It reached number three in the UK charts.
Smith was hospitalised in 1999 with stomach ulcers, after admitting that he was consuming more than 50 Nurofen Plus tablets a day and he later admitted to a growing addiction to the pills. Smith said at the time that the pressures of film work were a contributing factor, along with a desperate need to ease the pain caused by gout
Cause of death: Heart attack∼Mel Smith was a well known comedian on British Television, as well as being a successful business man. He rose to fame in the latter half of the 70's and early 80's through his extensive work in the theatre and television. This included writing, producing and performing. Some of his best known work from that period was the sketch show NOT THE NINE O'CLOCK NEWS, and later ALAS SMITH AND JONES. During this time,he befriended Griff Rhys Jones who became his partner in comedy and indeed business. They were a great double act.
He made many many friends within the Entertainment Industry which stood him in good stead, laying the ground work for many other ventures, projects and ambitions.
Mel also helped co-create a television production company with Griff Rhys Jones. Together, they created a very successful enterprise which later went onto to help many other aspiring actors and comedians/comedienne's rise to fame and further popularity. It was called TALK BACK TELEVISION.
Mel did help direct several films as well, for example MR BEAN, which saw International fame.
As a person, his wonderful ability to make other people laugh was a genuine gift. That is precious!
Whether it was on-screen acting, sketch comedy, character acting, he was a very funny man. I am sure that all those who knew and worked with him, both on and off screen would pay tribute to a remarkable person. There was only one Mel Smith.
He was married to Pam Gay-Rees. They had one daughter, Alexandra.
Mel died of a heart attack. He was 60 years old.
British Comedian. He was best known for his work on the sketch comedy shows Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones along with his comedy partner Griff Rhys Jones. Smith and Jones founded Talkback and appeared in the theatre productions of Allegiance and Hairspray
Other screen appearances included Babylon, Minder, Wolves of Wiloughby Chase, The Princess Bride and Restless Natives
Smith co-wrote and took the lead role in the space comedy Morons from Outer Space and was director of films such as The Tall Guy and Blackball.
He recorded a single with Kim Wilde for Comic Relief 1987: a cover of the Christmas song "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" with some extra comedy lines written by Smith and Jones. It reached number three in the UK charts.
Smith was hospitalised in 1999 with stomach ulcers, after admitting that he was consuming more than 50 Nurofen Plus tablets a day and he later admitted to a growing addiction to the pills. Smith said at the time that the pressures of film work were a contributing factor, along with a desperate need to ease the pain caused by gout
Cause of death: Heart attack∼Mel Smith was a well known comedian on British Television, as well as being a successful business man. He rose to fame in the latter half of the 70's and early 80's through his extensive work in the theatre and television. This included writing, producing and performing. Some of his best known work from that period was the sketch show NOT THE NINE O'CLOCK NEWS, and later ALAS SMITH AND JONES. During this time,he befriended Griff Rhys Jones who became his partner in comedy and indeed business. They were a great double act.
He made many many friends within the Entertainment Industry which stood him in good stead, laying the ground work for many other ventures, projects and ambitions.
Mel also helped co-create a television production company with Griff Rhys Jones. Together, they created a very successful enterprise which later went onto to help many other aspiring actors and comedians/comedienne's rise to fame and further popularity. It was called TALK BACK TELEVISION.
Mel did help direct several films as well, for example MR BEAN, which saw International fame.
As a person, his wonderful ability to make other people laugh was a genuine gift. That is precious!
Whether it was on-screen acting, sketch comedy, character acting, he was a very funny man. I am sure that all those who knew and worked with him, both on and off screen would pay tribute to a remarkable person. There was only one Mel Smith.
He was married to Pam Gay-Rees. They had one daughter, Alexandra.
Mel died of a heart attack. He was 60 years old.
Other screen appearances included Babylon, Minder, Wolves of Wiloughby Chase, The Princess Bride and Restless Natives
Smith co-wrote and took the lead role in the space comedy Morons from Outer Space and was director of films such as The Tall Guy and Blackball.
He recorded a single with Kim Wilde for Comic Relief 1987: a cover of the Christmas song "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" with some extra comedy lines written by Smith and Jones. It reached number three in the UK charts.
Smith was hospitalised in 1999 with stomach ulcers, after admitting that he was consuming more than 50 Nurofen Plus tablets a day and he later admitted to a growing addiction to the pills. Smith said at the time that the pressures of film work were a contributing factor, along with a desperate need to ease the pain caused by gout
Cause of death: Heart attack∼Mel Smith was a well known comedian on British Television, as well as being a successful business man. He rose to fame in the latter half of the 70's and early 80's through his extensive work in the theatre and television. This included writing, producing and performing. Some of his best known work from that period was the sketch show NOT THE NINE O'CLOCK NEWS, and later ALAS SMITH AND JONES. During this time,he befriended Griff Rhys Jones who became his partner in comedy and indeed business. They were a great double act.
He made many many friends within the Entertainment Industry which stood him in good stead, laying the ground work for many other ventures, projects and ambitions.
Mel also helped co-create a television production company with Griff Rhys Jones. Together, they created a very successful enterprise which later went onto to help many other aspiring actors and comedians/comedienne's rise to fame and further popularity. It was called TALK BACK TELEVISION.
Mel did help direct several films as well, for example MR BEAN, which saw International fame.
As a person, his wonderful ability to make other people laugh was a genuine gift. That is precious!
Whether it was on-screen acting, sketch comedy, character acting, he was a very funny man. I am sure that all those who knew and worked with him, both on and off screen would pay tribute to a remarkable person. There was only one Mel Smith.
He was married to Pam Gay-Rees. They had one daughter, Alexandra.
Mel died of a heart attack. He was 60 years old.
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