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| Comedian Mel Smith dies of heart attack aged 60 | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Comic actor and writer Mel Smith has died of a heart attack, aged 60, his agent has confirmed. | 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. | 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. |
| Smith formed a lasting partnership with co-performer Griff Rhys Jones with whom he set up the independent television company, Talkback Productions. | Smith formed a lasting partnership with co-performer Griff Rhys Jones with whom he set up the independent television company, Talkback Productions. |
| Rhys Jones described his friend of 35 years as a "brilliant actor". | Rhys Jones described his friend of 35 years as a "brilliant actor". |
| 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." | 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." |
| An ambulance was called to Smith's home just after 09:00 BST where he was found dead. | |
| 'Gentleman and scholar' | 'Gentleman and scholar' |
| Meanwhile, friends and colleagues have paid tribute to him. | |
| "I still can't believe this has happened," Rhys Jones said. | "I still can't believe this has happened," Rhys Jones said. |
| "To everybody who ever met him, Mel was a force for life. He had a relish for it that seemed utterly inexhaustible." | "To everybody who ever met him, Mel was a force for life. He had a relish for it that seemed utterly inexhaustible." |
| 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. I will look back on the days working with him as some of the funniest times that I have ever spent." | 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. I will look back on the days working with him as some of the funniest times that I have ever spent." |
| He went on to describe Smith as a "gentleman and a scholar, a gambler and a wit". | He went on to describe Smith as a "gentleman and a scholar, a gambler and a wit". |
| 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 and wonderful to know." | 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 and wonderful to know." |
| Author Kathy Lette said: "RIP Mel Smith. Sorry to bring sad and bad news, but apparently he died from heart attack in his sleep." | Author Kathy Lette said: "RIP Mel Smith. Sorry to bring sad and bad news, but apparently he died from heart attack in his sleep." |
| Writer Irvine Welsh tweeted: "Sad to hear about the death of Mel Smith, who gave me loads of laughs." | Writer Irvine Welsh tweeted: "Sad to hear about the death of Mel Smith, who gave me loads of laughs." |
| Not the Nine O'Clock News producer John Lloyd told the BBC his friend had been ill for some time. | |
| He said: "Mel did an extraordinary thing - he taught us all how to make comedy natural. He was a brilliant theatre director... Not only was he a great actor, he was a wonderful editor." | He said: "Mel did an extraordinary thing - he taught us all how to make comedy natural. He was a brilliant theatre director... Not only was he a great actor, he was a wonderful editor." |
| Talkback Productions went on to make a number of much-loved comedies, among them Da Ali G Show, I'm Alan Partridge and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. | Talkback Productions went on to make a number of much-loved comedies, among them Da Ali G Show, I'm Alan Partridge and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. |
| "What that did is produce a gigantic raft of new material," Mr Lloyd said. "That, I think, is a contribution that will never go away." | "What that did is produce a gigantic raft of new material," Mr Lloyd said. "That, I think, is a contribution that will never go away." |
| The pair sold the company for £62m in 2000. | The pair sold the company for £62m in 2000. |
| Experimental psychology | |
| Their business partner and agent at Talkback, ITV director of television Peter Fincham, described Smith's "extraordinary natural talent". | Their business partner and agent at Talkback, ITV director of television Peter Fincham, described Smith's "extraordinary natural talent". |
| "Life was always exciting around Mel," he said. "Being funny came naturally to him, so much so that he never seemed to give it a second thought. | "Life was always exciting around Mel," he said. "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 and Griff were one of the great comedy acts and it's hard to imagine that one of them is no longer with us." |
| The son of a bookmaker from Chiswick, west London, Smith was already directing plays with friends at the age of six. | |
| He went on to read experimental psychology at New College, Oxford, where he was involved with the dramatic society. | |
| Not the Nine O'Clock News ran from 1979 to 1982 and united him with Rhys Jones, Pamela Stephenson, and Rowan Atkinson. | |
| He directed the latter in Bean - The Ultimate Disaster Movie in 1997. | |
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