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Mel Smith
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Melvyn Kenneth Smith (3 December 1952 – 19 July 2013) was an English actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He worked on the sketch comedy shows Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones with his comedy partner, Griff Rhys Jones. Smith and Jones founded Talkback, which grew to be one of the United Kingdom's largest producers of television comedy and light entertainment programming.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Smith's father, Kenneth, was born in Tow Law, County Durham, and worked at a coal mine during the Second World War looking after the pit ponies. After the war ended, he moved to London and married Smith's mother, whose parents owned a greengrocers in Chiswick. When the government legalised high street betting with the Betting and Gaming Act 1960, he turned the shop into the first betting shop in Chiswick.[1]

Smith was born and brought up in Chiswick.[2] He was educated at Hogarth Primary School, Chiswick and passed his 11-Plus examinations. He was also a keen sportsman and played for two seasons in the Hogarth School football team. The first season he played under the captaincy of Gerry Francis, the future English international and England captain. He applied and went to Latymer Upper School, a now private school in Hammersmith. He studied Experimental Psychology at New College, Oxford.[3][4]

Career

[edit]

Whilst at Oxford University, Smith produced The Tempest, and performed at the Edinburgh Fringe with the Oxford University Dramatic Society. One year they shared a venue with the Cambridge Footlights, directed by John Lloyd. His extra-curricular activities while at university led to him joining the Royal Court Theatre production team in London, and then Bristol Old Vic. He was also associate director of Sheffield's Crucible Theatre for two years. Later, he directed a theatre production of Not in Front of the Audience.[5]

John Lloyd later had the opportunity to develop the idea that became the satirical BBC television series Not the Nine O'Clock News. This was followed briefly by Smith and Goody (with Bob Goody) and then the comedy sketch series Alas Smith and Jones, co-starring Griff Rhys Jones, its title being a pun on the name of the American television series Alias Smith and Jones.

In 1982, he starred as the lead role in ITV drama Muck and Brass where he played Tom Craig, a ruthless property developer. In 1983 he played Crouch, the German's fiend's demented and slightly necrophiliac servant in the parodical comedy, Bullshot. In 1984, he appeared in the Minder episode "A Star Is Gorn" playing the character Cyril Ash, a ruthless and crooked record producer. He also guest-starred on The Goodies episode "Animals".[6] At the end of the 1980s, he played the title role in the sitcom Colin's Sandwich (1988–90), playing a British Rail employee with aspirations to be a writer.

In 1981, Smith and Griff Rhys Jones founded TalkBack Productions, a company that produced many of the most significant British comedy shows of the following decades, including Smack the Pony, Da Ali G Show, I'm Alan Partridge and Big Train. In 2000, the company was sold to Pearson for £62 million.[7] Dressed as bobbies, Smith and Jones introduced Queen on stage at Live Aid in July 1985, with Smith removing his helmet before shouting into the microphone, "her majesty, Queen!"[8]

Smith co-wrote and took the lead role in the space comedy Morons from Outer Space (1985), but the film failed to make much impact.[9] His next cinema effort was better received as director of The Tall Guy (1989), giving Emma Thompson a major screen role. In America, perhaps his best-known film is Brain Donors, the 1992 update of the Marx Brothers film A Night at the Opera, starring Smith as a cheeky, opportunistic cab driver turned ballet promoter. Paramount Pictures considered this film the outstanding comedy of the year, but when the producers left Paramount for another studio, Paramount withdrew its support for the film.[10]

In 1987, Smith recorded a single with Kim Wilde for Comic Relief: a cover of the Christmas song "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" with some additional comedy lines written by Smith and Jones.[11] The pairing of Smith and Wilde was a comic allusion to the duo Mel and Kim. The song reached number three in the UK charts.[12] The same year he appeared in The Princess Bride as the Albino.[13]

Smith and Jones were reunited in 2005 for a review/revival of their earlier television series in The Smith And Jones Sketchbook. Smith joked: "Obviously, Griff's got more money than me so he came to work in a Rolls-Royce and I came on a bicycle. But it was great fun to do and we are firmly committed to doing something new together, because you don't chuck that sort of chemistry away. Of course, I'll have to pretend I like Restoration."[14]

In August 2006, Smith returned to the theatre stage after some 20 years, appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe festival in Allegiance, Irish journalist and author Mary Kenny's play about Churchill's encounter with the Irish nationalist leader Michael Collins in 1921.[15] The play initially caused some controversy, with Smith proposing to flout the Scottish ban on smoking in public places, but the scene was quickly adapted after gaining the required amount of publicity. The play was directed by Brian Gilbert and produced by Daniel Jewel.[16] In 2006, he also appeared in Hustle as Benjamin Frasier, a pub landlord who was scammed by the Hustle team when his on-screen son Joey tried to launch a rap career.

In autumn 2006, Smith starred opposite Belinda Lang in a tour of a new comedy An Hour and a Half Late by French playwright Gérald Sibleyras, which was adapted by Smith. He then directed a West End revival of Charley's Aunt starring Stephen Tompkinson. From October 2007 to January 2008, he played the role of Wilbur Turnblad in the London production of Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre.[17]

Personal life

[edit]

Smith was married to Pamela (née Gay-Rees), a former model, who grew up in Easington and Durham. The couple had houses in St John's Wood, London, and the hamlet of Great Haseley, Oxfordshire,[18] as well as a property in Barbados.[19]

Health

[edit]

Smith was hospitalised in 1999 with stomach ulcers, following an accidental overdose of over 50 Nurofen Plus tablets in one day, after previously admitting an addiction to sleeping pills. Smith said at the time that the pressures of film work were a contributing factor, along with a desperate need to ease the pain caused by gout. Partly as a result, he agreed to sell Talkback Productions. On 31 December 2008, Smith appeared on Celebrity Mastermind whilst suffering from severe pharyngitis.[20]

Death

[edit]

On the morning of 19 July 2013, the London Ambulance Service was called to Smith's home in north-west London. Smith was confirmed dead by the ambulance crew, with a later post-mortem confirming death from a heart attack. He was 60 years old.[21]

Filmography

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Film

[edit]

Writer

Director

Executive producer

Actor

Television

[edit]

Writer

Director

Producer

  • Tough Target (1995) (1 episode)
  • Too Much Sun (2000) (6 episodes)

Performer

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Mel Smith

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Melvyn Kenneth Smith (3 December 1952 – 19 July 2013) was an English comedian, actor, writer, and filmmaker best known for his long-running satirical sketch comedy partnership with Griff Rhys Jones. Smith rose to prominence in the late 1970s as a performer and writer on the BBC's Not the Nine O'Clock News (1979–1982), an influential sketch series that parodied politics, media, and society alongside talents like Rowan Atkinson and Pamela Stephenson; the programme earned multiple BAFTA awards in 1981. His collaboration with Rhys Jones produced Alas Smith and Jones (1984–1998), a sketch show featuring rapid-fire head-to-head dialogues and character sketches that captured British cultural absurdities and became a cornerstone of . Beyond television, Smith directed films including the romantic comedy The Tall Guy (1989) starring and , the ensemble comedy Radioland Murders (1994), and the blockbuster Bean (1997) with , which grossed over $285 million worldwide. Smith, who studied at , succumbed to a heart attack at his home in at the age of 60.

Early life and education

Family and upbringing

Mel Smith was born Melvyn Kenneth Smith on 3 December 1952 in , . His parents were Kenneth and Vera Smith; his father had been born in Tow Law, , and worked in a coal mine during the Second World War, tending to pit ponies, before relocating to after the conflict. Kenneth and Vera together managed family businesses in , initially taking over Vera's family's greengrocer's shop on Quick Road before operating the area's first , reflecting the modest entrepreneurial environment of post-war . Smith grew up above or near local shops, including accounts of the family premises being over a , in a working-class setting that shaped his early exposure to community commerce rather than affluence. No siblings are documented in primary biographical accounts of his childhood.

Academic and early theatrical pursuits

Smith was educated at in , where he excelled in sports as captain of the rugby team from the second form through the sixth and took an early interest in by portraying Falstaff at age 12. As a 15-year-old schoolboy, he directed his first play, demonstrating precocious involvement in stage production. In 1971, Smith entered New College, Oxford, to read experimental psychology, deliberately choosing the university for the opportunities provided by its esteemed dramatic society. He quickly became deeply engaged with the Oxford University Dramatic Society (OUDS), rising to serve as its president and prioritizing theatrical work over academic obligations. Through OUDS, Smith directed a production of at the , refining his skills in comedy and , and performed in shows at the Fringe Festival, including one shared venue with the Cambridge University Footlights. In his third year, he forwent completing his degree to focus on directing multiple productions at the and . This intensive involvement marked the foundation of his career in theatre, blending performance, direction, and emerging comedic instincts.

Professional career

Breakthrough in sketch comedy

Smith's prominent entry into television occurred through the BBC Two series Not the Nine O'Clock News, a satirical program that aired from 16 October 1979 to 8 March 1982. The show, produced by John Lloyd, featured fast-paced sketches lampooning contemporary politics, media , and cultural trends, often through absurd characters and topical . Smith contributed as a performer and writer, marking his shift from stage directing and to national broadcast visibility. As part of the rotating ensemble cast, Smith shared sketches with performers including Rowan Atkinson, Pamela Stephenson, and Griff Rhys Jones (who joined as a regular from the second series onward). His roles ranged from authoritative figures in mock news segments to comedic everymen in ensemble bits, such as parodies of public figures and institutional absurdities, which highlighted his versatile timing and physical comedy style. The series' format emphasized brevity and irreverence, with Smith often delivering deadpan reactions that amplified the satirical edge, contributing to the show's reputation for revitalizing British sketch comedy post-Monty Python. Not the Nine O'Clock News propelled Smith to widespread recognition, establishing his comedic persona and forging key professional alliances, particularly with Rhys Jones, that shaped subsequent collaborations. Running for four series with specials, it drew audiences through its timely critiques, such as those on emerging punk culture and political scandals, and sold over a million copies of its associated record albums by 1980. This exposure transformed Smith from an Oxford University Footlights alum into a household name, underpinning his later ventures in sketch and narrative .

Long-term partnership and television success

Smith and , having collaborated on the satirical sketch series (1979–1982), established a enduring professional partnership centered on comedy sketches and production. Their duo emphasized Smith's boisterous, physical humor contrasting with Rhys Jones's sharper, verbal wit, which propelled them to prominence as a leading team akin to earlier acts like . In 1984, they launched on , a program featuring original material performed before a studio audience, with the title parodying the American Western series . The series debuted on 31 January 1984 and initially ran for four seasons through 1988, delivering satirical takes on contemporary life through recurring characters and absurd scenarios. It achieved strong viewership and critical acclaim for revitalizing on British television, spawning catchphrases and memorable bits that entered . The partnership extended the show's format under the simplified title Smith & Jones, continuing on and until 1998, encompassing a total of 10 series over 16 years and including Christmas specials. This longevity underscored their commercial viability, bolstered by co-founding TalkBack Productions in the early , which handled production and later expanded into independent television output sold for £62 million in 2000. Their collaborative television work not only sustained their careers but also influenced subsequent duos through its blend of live-audience energy and scripted precision.

Film acting and directing

Smith's transition to feature films began with acting roles in supporting capacities. In 1985, he portrayed Bernard in , a he co-wrote with long-time collaborator , which satirized tropes through inept extraterrestrials landing in . That same year, he appeared as the in National Lampoon's , a sequel in the Vacation series where his character briefly interacts with the during their chaotic European travels. In 1987, Smith played The Albino, a torturer in the fantasy-adventure , delivering lines in a distinctive high-pitched voice that contributed to the film's memorable ensemble of quirky antagonists. His most prominent film acting role came in 1996 as Sir Toby Belch in the Shakespeare adaptation Twelfth Night, directed by Trevor Nunn, where he embodied the boisterous, drunken knight with physical comedy aligning with his television persona. Other appearances included a minor role in the 1992 comedy Brain Donors and an early part as Alan in the 1980 British drama Babylon. These roles showcased Smith's versatility in both comedic and dramatic contexts, though his film acting output remained limited compared to his television work. Smith's directing career marked a significant expansion into cinema, starting with his debut feature in 1989, a romantic comedy scripted by featuring as a struggling and in her breakthrough role. He followed with in 1994, a frantic ensemble farce set at a 1930s radio station premiere, starring and amid a series of murders and mishaps. In 1997, Smith helmed , adapting Rowan Atkinson's beloved television character for the screen, where the titular disaster-prone figure causes havoc at an art gallery in , grossing over $285 million worldwide against a $18 million budget. Subsequent directorial efforts included (2001), a heist comedy with and as mismatched friends attempting a kidnapping, and Blackball (2003), a sports starring as a rebellious lawn bowls player challenging establishment figures. These films often blended with character-driven humor, reflecting Smith's background in , though critical and commercial reception varied, with Bean standing out as his most financially successful venture.

Later projects and production work

Following the conclusion of Smith and Jones in 1998, Smith directed several feature films, transitioning from television to cinema with a focus on comedy. His 1994 directorial effort , a produced under George Lucas's oversight, featured a including and but failed commercially at the . More notably, Smith directed Bean in 1997, adapting Rowan Atkinson's television character into a feature starring Atkinson alongside and ; the film achieved significant success, earning roughly $250 million worldwide against an $18 million budget. Later films under his direction included the heist comedy (2001), starring and , and the sports satire Blackball (2003), with in the lead, though neither matched Bean's financial or critical impact. In production, Smith co-founded Talkback Productions in 1981 alongside , initially to support their collaborative work but expanding into a major independent entity responsible for acclaimed series such as (1999–2003), (2000–2004), and (1997–2002). The company's sale in 2000 to fetched £62 million, yielding substantial returns for Smith and underscoring his influence in British television comedy output. Smith also returned to theatre direction later, helming a 2007 revival of at the Theatre Royal Bath, though details on its reception remain limited in contemporary accounts. These endeavors reflected his ongoing commitment to comedic forms amid diminishing on-screen visibility.

Personal life

Relationships and family

Smith married Pamela Gay-Rees, a former model, in 1988 at Westminster Registry Office in . The marriage lasted until his death in 2013, with Pamela surviving him alongside his sister, Lesley.

Health struggles and lifestyle issues

Smith developed an to prescription painkillers in the late , leading to a severe overdose incident in 1999 when he consumed over 50 Plus tablets containing . This episode hospitalized him and caused exhaustion, depression, and two leaking stomach ulcers. He publicly acknowledged the addiction's toll, describing it as an "everyday" issue stemming from over-reliance on over-the-counter medications for . Throughout his adult life, Smith contended with , heavy eating, and , which exacerbated his vulnerabilities. By his later years, he weighed approximately 16 stone (about 102 kilograms or 224 pounds), contributing to recurrent attacks. His habit persisted into adulthood, as evidenced by his 2006 attempt to defy Scotland's public during a theatrical performance portraying , though he ultimately complied after official intervention. Smith also faced challenges with alcohol and recreational drugs earlier in his career, which he later attributed to overwhelming his life. By 2007, he had achieved sobriety through two years of support from , ceasing both drinking and drug use to regain control. Additional ailments included severe in 2009, which affected his speech and prompted public concern, though it was attributed to a throat infection rather than a .

Death and legacy

Circumstances of death

Mel Smith died on July 19, 2013, at the age of 60, from a heart attack at his home in northwest . His agent, Michael Foster, confirmed the cause of death to media outlets, stating that Smith suffered the fatal attack while in bed. No details or contributing factors beyond the acute cardiac event were publicly disclosed at the time, and the death was reported as occurring peacefully in his sleep. Authorities treated the incident as a natural passing with no suspicious elements involved.

Posthumous recognition and influence on comedy

Following his death on 19 July 2013, Mel Smith was eulogized by prominent figures in , including actors and , who credited his improvisational skills and satirical edge with shaping television humor. Producer described Smith as a foundational talent whose partnerships elevated sketch formats, while comedian noted that his on-screen presence "helped to define a new style of comedy from the late 1970s that continues to influence people to this day." These tributes, reported across outlets like the and Hollywood Reporter, underscored Smith's role in transitioning from scenes to mainstream success without diluting edge. A , Mel Smith: I've Sort of Done Things, aired on on 26 December 2013, compiling interviews with collaborators such as and archival footage to highlight Smith's career trajectory from Not the Nine O'Clock News to film direction. The program portrayed him as a "hell-raising comic" adept at spontaneous performance, drawing on personal anecdotes to affirm his unpretentious approach amid professional accolades. Reviewers praised it for capturing his blend of wit and vulnerability, though it avoided deeper scrutiny of personal excesses. Smith's posthumous influence endures in British sketch traditions, particularly through the topical he pioneered alongside and , which prefigured formats like by merging news parody with character-driven absurdity. His emphasis on verbal dexterity and in —running 1982–1998 with intermittent revivals—informed subsequent duos and ensembles prioritizing unscripted chemistry over polished narratives. Observers, including the Television Academy, have labeled him an "influential" figure whose output from the late onward modeled resilient, audience-engaging humor resilient to commercial pressures.

Filmography

Feature films

Smith directed his first feature film, The Tall Guy (1989), a written by and starring as a struggling performer and in her screen debut as a nurse. The film received mixed reviews but was noted for its witty script and Thompson's breakthrough performance. In 1994, Smith directed , a fast-paced ensemble set in a radio station, produced by and featuring , , and Michael Lerner; it underperformed at the despite a $15 million budget. He later helmed (1997), adapting the popular British TV character played by into a family that grossed over $285 million worldwide on a $18 million budget, marking Smith's most commercially successful directorial effort. Smith also directed (2001), a heist starring and , and Blackball (2003), a sports with as a lawn player. As an actor, Smith appeared in supporting roles, including the torturer known as the Albino in (1987), delivering the memorable line "Mawwiage" in a lisping voice. He played the Hotel Manager in (1985) and co-wrote and starred as one of the titular aliens in the sci-fi (1985). In (1996), Smith portrayed the boisterous in Trevor Nunn's adaptation of Shakespeare's play. His film acting credits also include Bullseye! (1990) alongside and in a con-artist .

Television series and specials

Smith first rose to prominence on British television as a performer in the BBC Two sketch comedy series Not the Nine O'Clock News, which ran for four series from October 1979 to May 1982. The programme featured satirical content targeting politics, current events, and popular culture, with Smith contributing sketches alongside cast members Rowan Atkinson, Pamela Stephenson, and Griff Rhys Jones starting from the second series. It achieved high ratings, peaking at over 12 million viewers per episode in its later seasons, and earned a BAFTA award for Best Light Entertainment Performance for the ensemble in 1981. In 1984, Smith partnered with Rhys Jones for , a sketch show that combined , , and visual gags, running for five main series from January 1984 to October 1998, totaling 39 episodes. The duo wrote much of the material, drawing on their collaboration, and the series incorporated recurring segments like historical spoofs and advertisements. It included two specials: one in December 1987 featuring guests like , and another holiday-themed edition emphasizing festive sketches. Smith later led the BBC Two sitcom Colin's Sandwich from May 1988 to December 1990, portraying Colin Watkins, a complaints handler aspiring to write horror novels amid personal frustrations. The series comprised 13 episodes across two seasons, scripted by Terry Kyan and Paul Smith, and received praise for its dry and Smith's understated performance as an anti-hero.

References

  1. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-23388743
  2. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809321/
  3. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809321/bio/
  4. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/114094956/melvin_kenneth-smith
  5. https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/jul/21/mel-smith
  6. http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/526237/index.html
  7. https://www.hammersmithtoday.co.uk/page/hammersmithtoday/info/melsmith001.htm
  8. https://www.smh.com.au/national/mel-smith-a-career-both-sides-of-the-camera-20130722-2qdqp.html
  9. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/celebrity-obituaries/10192703/Mel-Smith.html
  10. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-23394871
  11. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/arts/television/mel-smith-tv-actor-director-and-producer-dies-at-60.html
  12. https://epguides.com/NottheNineOClockNews/
  13. https://www.theguardian.com/media/1999/jul/12/broadcasting.mondaymediasection
  14. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10193618/Mel-Smith.html
  15. https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/how-mel-smith-not-nine-2070276
  16. http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/526218/index.html
  17. https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/alassmithandjones/index.shtml
  18. https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/jul/20/mel-smith-death-griff-rhys-jones
  19. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11204277/Griff-Rhys-Jones-Im-greedy-for-life-I-do-too-many-things.html
  20. https://www.highperformr.ai/people/mel-smith-833a89b
  21. https://theartsdesk.com/comedy/mel-smith-1952-2013
  22. https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/nov/16/mel-smith-comedy
  23. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089622/
  24. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/
  25. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/mel_smith
  26. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110939/
  27. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118689/
  28. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337879/
  29. https://www.dailystar.co.uk/showbiz/mel-smiths-life-tragic-sudden-29085010
  30. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2000/feb/22/healthandwellbeing.health1
  31. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/comedy/10192505/Comedian-who-lived-life-to-the-full-dies-of-a-heart-attack.html
  32. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1559215/Drink-and-drugs-were-taking-over-my-life.html
  33. https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a139694/slurring-smith-sparks-health-fears/
  34. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-23390982
  35. https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2013/07/20/18326/mel_smith_dies_at_60
  36. https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/mel-smith-dead-heartbroken-griff-2069422
  37. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-23392368
  38. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/uk-comedy-stars-pay-tribute-589573/
  39. https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/news/mel-smith-influential-british-comedy-performer-writer-director-producer
  40. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080253/
  41. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088475/
  42. https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/906-alas-smith-and-jones/season/0
  43. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094439/
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