Actor and comic best known for Alas Smith and Jones and Not the Nine O'Clock News dies of heart attack, aged 60

The actor and comedian Mel Smith, best known for his roles in Alas Smith and Jones and Not the Nine O'Clock News, has died of a heart attack at his home in north-west London, his agent has announced.

Smith, aged 60, was one of the major players in British comedy in the 1980s and 90s, moving from acting to production and direction before returning to the stage in recent years.

Michael Foster made the announcement on behalf of Smith's wife, Pam.

The actor grew up in a flat above a fish and chip shop in Chiswick and was educated at Latymer upper school in Hammersmith and New College, Oxford University.

He produced plays at the Royal Court Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and Sheffield Crucible but also performed with the Oxford Footlights at the Edinburgh fringe festival where he met John Lloyd who invited him to join Not the Nine O'Clock News.

Smith and Griff Rhys Jones continued from that TV sketch show to create Alas Smith and Jones. The pair later formed Talkback Production which was responsible for dozens of comedy shows, including Da Ali G Show and I'm Alan Partridge. The company was sold to Pearson for £62m in 2000.

Mel Smith (left) with Griff Rhys Jones in Alas Smith and Jones. Photograph: FremantleMedia/Rex Features

Jones, who had been friends with Smith for 35 years, 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. 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.

"We probably enjoyed ourselves far too much, but we had a rollercoaster of a ride along the way. Terrific business. Fantastic fun, making shows. Huge parties and crazy times. And Mel was always ready to be supportive. Nobody could have been easier to work with. We never had an argument about which part we should play or how we were going to do something. We never had an argument, in fact. We loved performing together. He was a very generous and supportive actor. We had a good deal of fun."

Smith was described by Peter Fincham, director of television at ITV, as having "extraordinary natural talent".

Fincham, who was the business partner of Smith and Jones at Talkback Productions, 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."

The Not the Nine O'Clock News producer John Lloyd told Sky News that Smith was an "amazingly talented guy", but he had not been in good health.

(L to R) Mel Smith, Pamela Stephenson, Rowan Atkinson and Griff Rhys Jones in Not the Nine O'clock News. Photograph: BBC/Sportsphoto/Allstar

"We did know he was ill. He's been ill for some time," Lloyd said. "So although it is the most awful news – I mean, it's a tragedy, it's a great loss, not just as an amazingly talented guy in all sorts of areas but also as a friend – I think he was not in good shape, so in some ways we try and put a good spin on it by saying it's a relief for him."

The Father Ted writer Graham Linehan said he and writing partner Arthur Mathews had been helped in their career by Smith, with their first sketches being broadcast on Alas Smith and Jones.

He said on Twitter: "Very sad to hear news of Mel Smith's death has been confirmed. He and Griff gave Arthur and I our break. Was always so kind & generous to us."

The comedian and broadcaster Stephen Fry tweeted: "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."

The actor and comic Peter Serafinowicz also paid tribute on Twitter: "Very sad to hear about Mel Smith. He did something very kind for me early in my career even though he hardly knew me. Such a funny man."