LONDON - Actor and writer Mel Smith, a major force in British comedy whose evening news parody anticipated the hijinks of hits such as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, has died of a heart attack, his agent, Michael Foster, said Saturday. He was 60.
Smith shot to fame along with his partner-in-comedy, Griff Rhys Jones, in Not the Nine O’Clock News. The show’s take down of earnest BBC newscasts, talk shows and commercials influenced a generation of comedians.
“We probably enjoyed ourselves far too much, but we had a roller coaster of a ride along the way. Terrific business. Fantastic fun, making shows. Huge parties and crazy times,” Jones said. “Mel was always ready to be supportive. Nobody could have been easier to work with.”
The pair’s sketch show laid the ground for current-affairs spoofs such as the The Day Today and, much later, America’s Daily Show.
Born in London, Smith was directing plays by the age of 6. He studied experimental psychology at Oxford, directing productions at the Oxford Playhouse and performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.
It was after he was invited by producer John Lloyd to join the Not the Nine O’Clock News, which launched in 1979, that he met Jones, who would join him in comedy partnerships for decades to come.
Smith also directed films, including Bean - The Ultimate Disaster Movie, starring Rowan Atkinson, and Richard Curtis in The Tall Guy. His acting credits include the 1987 cult hit The Princess Bride.
Foster said Smith died Friday at his home in northwest London.
He is survived by his wife, Pam.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 8 on 07/22/2013