Mel Smith (born in 1952)
☼ Born on3 January 1952, in Chiswick, London, England, UK
† Died on19 January 2013, in St John's Wood, London, England, UK, cause heart attack
Biography:
His father Ken was born in Co Durham, and married Vera; together they took over her family's greengrocer's shop in Quick Road, Chiswick, London. He convinced her that the way forward was to convert the shop into a bookmaker's, and before long they'd moved to a semi-detached house. Mel was born in 1952 and educated at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith. where at the age of 12 he played Falstaff. He was captain of the school rugby team from the second form to the sixth. In 1971 he won a place at New College, Oxford, where he studied experimental psychology and lodged at New College Lane which was where Edmund Halley (of Halley's comet fame) had his observatory. His attendance record was so bad that he was asked if he would get busy and do some work for his finals or spend all his time actin
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g and directing; he chose the latter and in 1973 became assistant director at the Royal Court Theatre in London.
Through the mid-1970s he had assistant-director jobs around the country until he met actor Bob Goody; together they wrote and directed several productions including 'Have You Heard the One About Joey Baker' and 'The Gambler,' which was revived in London's West End. In 1979 they attracted the attention of a television sketch show which they joined, doing send-ups of shows such as 'Blue Peter,' then moved on to 'Not the Nine O'Clock News'. In 1981, Mel and Griff Rhys Jones formed Talk Back Productions, starting off with their series 'Alas Smith and Jones' plus such as 'I'm Alan Partridge', 'Never Mind the Buzzcocks', and 'They Think It's All Over'. Mel moved on to producing and directing films such as 'Radioland Murders', 'Bean, the Ultimate Disaster Movie', and 'The Tall Guy'.
Spouse:Pamela Gay-Rees (1991 - July 19, 2013)
Trivias:
[#1] Confessed to never having watched his performance in The Princess Bride (1987) due to the painful experience involved in filming the role. His character required him to wear colored contact lenses and, unknown to Smith and the costume department at the time, he was actually allergic to the lens solution used. This meant that Smith was in constant pain and discomfort throughout filming, hence why he was so reluctant to relive the memory.
[#2] Original choice to direct Wayne's World (1992).
[#3] Was a friend of the British group Queen.
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[#4] Attended Oxford University in England, UK
[#5] Was out of work when asked if he wanted to be in a new offbeat comedy series "Not the Nine O'Clock News".
[#6] British comedian and director who came to prominence as part of the team of Not the Nine O'Clock News (1979). Frequently collaborated with fellow comedian Griff Rhys Jones with whom he was partner in the production company Talkback.
[#7] Went to Oxford to read experimental psychology but at 20 became president of the Oxford Debating Society and decided not to take his degree.
[#8] According to Matthew Robinson on the "Doctor Who - Resurrection Of The Daleks" DVD, he was originally offered the part of Stein (subsequently played by Rodney Bewes).
[#9] Originally wanted to be a director.
[#10] Was associate director of the Crucible at Shefield but resigned in 1977.
[#11] Used to run a commercial radio company with Griff Rhys Jones.
[#12] Originated the role of Wilbur Turnblad in London's West End production of Hairspray in 2007 at the Shaftesbury Theatre.
[#13] Spent three years with "Not the Nine 'O Clock News".
[#14] Was president of the dramatic society and toured America and Canada with the Oxford and Cambridge Drama Group with "As You Like It".
[#15] For a time he lived with Fleet Street journalist Angela Pitts.
[#16] News obituaries of Mel Smith revealed that he had been a gambler.
[#17] He owned a greyhound Valid Reason.
[#18] He was quite slim when he when he played cricket and rugby at university. When he stopped playing he put on weight.
[#19] At one time owned a third share in the race horse Cloud Walker.
[#20] Made a 40 minute silent short 'An Englishman in Sweden' in 1985.
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Red Wave Video 14 June 2020 15:14