Mel Smith Dead: Alas Smith And Jones Comedian Dies Aged 60
PA/Huffington Post UK | Posted: 20/07/2013 14:56 BST | Updated: 20/07/2013 15:42 BST
Comedian Mel Smith has died of a heart attack aged 60, his agent said on Saturday. The comic, known for Alas Smith and Jones and Not the Nine O'Clock News, was at his home in London when he died on Friday, his agent Michael Foster said.
In a statement to the Press Association 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."
Griff Rhys Jones called his longtime comedy partner "a force for life" to everybody who met him, adding he was "a gentleman and a scholar, a gambler and a wit". Jones added: "We are all in a state of shock. We have lost a very, very dear friend."
mel smith
Mel Smith and his comedy partner Griff Rhys Jones
Tributes have been paid to the late star. 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."
Author Kathy Lette wrote on the site: "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."
Smith was described as having "extraordinary natural talent" by Peter Fincham, director of television at ITV. 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."
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