Comedian Mel Smith dies at 60: Actor and director suffered fatal heart attack at home after struggling with his health for years.

The star, who had been battling ill health for some time, passed away at his home in north west London yesterday morning, his agent Michael Foster confirmed. One of the best-known faces in British comedy (right), Smith became a household name when he appeared in Not The Nine O'Clock News alongside Griff Rhys Jones, Rowan Atkinson and Pamela Stephenson (centre) from 1979-82. Jones paid tribute to his long-time collaborator, describing him as 'a force for life', adding that he was 'a gentleman and a scholar, a gambler and a wit'. He added: 'We are all in a state of shock. We have lost a very, very dear friend.' Smith had been married to his wife Pam (left, pictured together in 2005) for 24 years.