Mel Smith – in pictures

Comedy actor and writer Mel Smith with poet Roger McGough and actress Alyson Spiro during rehearsals for the West End stage production of McGough's Summer With Monica in 1979 Photograph: Graham Morris/Getty Images

The Not the Nine O'Clock News team in 1980: Mel Smith, Pamela Stephenson, Rowan Atkinson and Griff Rhys Jones Photograph: Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar

Mel Smith, Rowan Atkinson, Griff Rhys Jones and Billy Connolly in 1981 Photograph: Rex Features

Mel Smith in Muck and Brass in 1982 Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

Mel Smith as Bernard in Morons From Outer Space in 1985 Photograph: Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar

Smith and Jones in 1987 Photograph: PA

Stephen Fry, Ben Elton, Robbie Coltrane, Griff Rhys Jones, Mel Smith and Rowan Atkinson at the Bafta awards in London in 1987 Photograph: Richard Young /Rex Features

Smith's wedding to Pamela Gay Rees at Westminster register office on 1 May 1988 Photograph: Tom Stockill/Rex Features

Smith's directorial debut was The Tall Guy, a 1989 romantic comedy written by Richard Curtis (centre) and starring Jeff Goldblum (left) Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones in Smith and Jones in Small Doses, made in 1989 Photograph: FremantleMedia Ltd/Rex Features

Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones in the 1989 film, Wilt Photograph: Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar

Rowan Atkinson filming Bean at Harrods with Mel Smith, who directed the film in 1996 Photograph: Ilpo Musto/Rex Features

Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones on stage at the Prince's Trust comedy gala at the Lyceum Theatre in London In October, 1998 Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Minnie Driver, Mel Smith and Mary McCormack on the set of High Heels And Low Lifes, directed by Smith in 2001 Photograph: Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar

Mel Smith as Winston Churchill ignores a Scottish smoking ban and smokes a Romeo & Juiliet 'Churchill' cigar on stage at the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh in 2006 Photograph: Murdo Macleod

On stage in Hairspray the musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London, 2007 Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/Rex Features

Mel Smith and his wife Pam at Royal Ascot, in June 2008 Photograph: Tony Larkin/Rex Features

Mel Smith in August 2011 Photograph: David Hartley/Rex Features