Mel Smith was born on December 3, 1952 in Chiswick, London, England as Melvyn Kenneth Smith. He was an actor and writer, known for The Princess Bride (1987), National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) and Brain Donors (1992). He was married to Pamela Gay-Rees. He died on July 19, 2013 in St John's Wood, London.