I was saddened this morning to wake up to the news that Mel Smith had passed away from a heart attack at the age of just 60. He will be well and truly missed by comedy lovers around the world.
Heartbroken Griff Rhys Jones last night led tributes to his comedy partner Mel Smith, who has died of a heart attack in bed at 60.
Mel, adored by audiences for his work on sketch shows Alas Smith and Jones and Not The Nine O’Clock News, was found dead at his London home.
Griff 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.” – Daily Mirror
I think that it’ll be a fitting tribute for me to spend a few hours this week watching my DVDs of Not the Nine O’Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones.
Melvin Kenneth “Mel” Smith (3 December 1952 – 19 July 2013) was an English comedian, writer, film director, producer and actor. 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, which grew to be one of the UK’s largest producers of TV comedy and light entertainment programming. – wiki
Many years ago a lot of people would comment on a resemblance between Mel and me. I have a speaking suspicion that even Mel noticed it.
A friend and I went to see Mel and Griff Rhys Jones in a live Alas Smith and Jones show at the Perth Concert Hall some time in the eighties. After the show we went to the stage door in the hope of meeting my comedy heroes. I think there would have been around 15 or 20 people altogether.
After a short while the security people opened the door and let us in to wait backstage. Then, after another short wait, Mel and Griff emerged.
Both got down to the business of signing programs. They would smile at the person holding the program, then look down to sign it before handing it back with anger smile.
Then Mel came to me. Smile, look down ……. then another look up at me with a quizzical look on his face, a quick shake of the head, then he looked down again, signed my program and gave it back with a smile.
It was a very short interaction with a great talent but one I will always remember.
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