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20 Jul 2013

Comedian Mel Smith dies of heart attack at 60

Comic actor and writer Mel Smith has died of a heart attack aged 60. The British comedian, known for his work on shows including Not The Nine O’Clock News, died at his home on Friday.

The comedian found fame with the comedy sketch show Not The Nine O’Clock News before going on to form a long-running comedy partnership with Griff Rhys Jones.

He died on Friday after reportedly suffering a heart attack in his sleep.

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 9.07 on Friday morning to an address in Grove End Road and sent two respondents but sadly the patient was dead at the scene.”

Griff Rhys Jones , who had been friends with Smith for 35 years, said: “I still can’t believe this has happened. To everybody who ever met him, Mel was a force for life. He had a relish for it that seemed utterly inexhaustible.

“He inspired love and utter loyalty and he gave it in return.

“I will look back on the days working with him as some of the funniest times that I have ever spent.

‘Nobody could have been easier to work with’

“We probably enjoyed ourselves far too much, but we had a rollercoaster of a ride along the way. Terrific business. Fantastic fun, making shows. Huge parties and crazy times. And Mel was always ready to be supportive. Nobody could have been easier to work with.

“We never had an argument about which part we should play or how we were going to do something. We never had an argument, in fact.

“We loved performing together. He was a very generous and supportive actor. We had a good deal of fun.

Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones discuss the Beatles in the Alas Smith and Jones comedy show (video courtesy of YouTube)

“Mel was not a pressure person. He was a gentleman and a scholar, a gambler and a wit. And he was a brilliant actor. But he never took himself or the business too seriously. We are all in a state of shock. We have lost a very, very dear friend.”

Author Kathy Lette shared the sad news on Twitter. She tweeted: “R.I.P. Mel Smith. Sorry to bring sad and bad news, but apparently he died from heart attack in his sleep.”

Comedian Graham Linehan, who co-wrote the Father Ted comedy series, tweeted: “Very sad to hear news of Mel Smith’s death has been confirmed. He and Griff gave Arthur and I our break. Was always so kind & generous to us.”

Comedian and broadcaster Stephen Fry wrote on Twitter: “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.”

Mel Smith stars alongside Rowan Atkinson in The Gorilla sketch on the BBC’s Not the Nine O’Clock News (video courtesy YouTube)

Not the Nine O’Clock News producer John Lloyd told Sky News Smith was an “amazingly talented guy” but added that he had not been in good health.

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.”