The star, who famously appeared in Not The Nine O'Clock News alongside Griff Rhys Jones, passed away at his home in north west London yesterday after suffering a heart attack, his agent Michael Foster said.
One of the best-known faces in British comedy, Smith had endured health problems for some time.
Griff Rhys Jones said Smith was 'a force for life' to everybody who met him, adding 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.'
Friend and television producer John Lloyd told the BBC he had not seen Smith for some time because of his poor health.
'Mel had kept himself to himself since he became ill. He kind of let it be known that he wanted that he didn't want to see people which is terribly sad.
'I personally feel terrible that I didn't see him in the last few weeks,' he said.
Tributes have been paid to the late star on Twitter.
Comedian and broadcaster Stephen Fry wrote: '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.'
Author Kathy Lette said: 'R.I.P. Mel Smith. Sorry to bring sad and bad news, but apparently he died from heart attack in his sleep.'
Writer Irvine Welsh added: 'Sad to hear about the death of Mel Smith, who gave me loads of laughs.'
Smith was described as having 'extraordinary natural talent' by Peter Fincham, director of television at ITV.
Mr Fincham, who was the business partner of Smith and his comedy sideback Griff Rhys Jones at Talkback Productions as well as their agent, 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.'
In 1999, the Alas Smith and Jones actor ended up seriously ill in hospital after he took an accidental overdose of more than 50 Nurofen tablets.
It came after a long addiction to sleeping pills, which he blamed on work and pain caused by gout.
Smith was one of the major success stories of Not The Nine O'Clock News which ran on the BBC from 1979-82 alongside Rhys Jones, Pamela Stephenson and Rowan Atkinson.
He also set up Talkback Productions, one of the biggest independent production companies and talent agencies which created Smack The Pony, Da Ali G Show and I'm Alan Partridge.
Smith had been a director since his days at Oxford University, and went on to have more success behind the camera with films such as Bean, The Tall Guy and Blackball.
Though he and Jones sold Talkback in 1999 to Freemantle, Smith remained one of the key figures in UK comedy.
During an appearance on Celebrity Mastermind in 2009, Smith had appeared frail and slurred his words.
It later emerged he had been suffering from severe pharyngitis. He leaves his wife Pam, the couple had been married for 24 years.
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 wrote 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.'
Actor and comic Peter Serafinowicz also paid tribute. He wrote: '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.'
One of the best-known faces in British comedy, Smith had endured health problems for some time.
Griff Rhys Jones said Smith was 'a force for life' to everybody who met him, adding 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.'
Friend and television producer John Lloyd told the BBC he had not seen Smith for some time because of his poor health.
'Mel had kept himself to himself since he became ill. He kind of let it be known that he wanted that he didn't want to see people which is terribly sad.
'I personally feel terrible that I didn't see him in the last few weeks,' he said.
Tributes have been paid to the late star on Twitter.
Comedian and broadcaster Stephen Fry wrote: '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.'
Author Kathy Lette said: 'R.I.P. Mel Smith. Sorry to bring sad and bad news, but apparently he died from heart attack in his sleep.'
Writer Irvine Welsh added: 'Sad to hear about the death of Mel Smith, who gave me loads of laughs.'
Smith was described as having 'extraordinary natural talent' by Peter Fincham, director of television at ITV.
Mr Fincham, who was the business partner of Smith and his comedy sideback Griff Rhys Jones at Talkback Productions as well as their agent, 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.'
In 1999, the Alas Smith and Jones actor ended up seriously ill in hospital after he took an accidental overdose of more than 50 Nurofen tablets.
It came after a long addiction to sleeping pills, which he blamed on work and pain caused by gout.
Smith was one of the major success stories of Not The Nine O'Clock News which ran on the BBC from 1979-82 alongside Rhys Jones, Pamela Stephenson and Rowan Atkinson.
He also set up Talkback Productions, one of the biggest independent production companies and talent agencies which created Smack The Pony, Da Ali G Show and I'm Alan Partridge.
Smith had been a director since his days at Oxford University, and went on to have more success behind the camera with films such as Bean, The Tall Guy and Blackball.
Though he and Jones sold Talkback in 1999 to Freemantle, Smith remained one of the key figures in UK comedy.
During an appearance on Celebrity Mastermind in 2009, Smith had appeared frail and slurred his words.
It later emerged he had been suffering from severe pharyngitis. He leaves his wife Pam, the couple had been married for 24 years.
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 wrote 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.'
Actor and comic Peter Serafinowicz also paid tribute. He wrote: '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.'
Source : DailyMail, SkyNews , BBC
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