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Hollywood went hunting for lots of British comedy talent in the 1990s - and lured the likes of Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson...

For some reason, Hollywood fell in love with British actors again in the 1990s. Sparked by Alan Rickman's turn as Hans Gruber in Die Hard at the back end of the 1980s, many movie villains were either Brits, or in the case of Cliffhanger, John Lithgow taking on the mannerisms of a British antagonist.

Yet in particular, Hollywood went recruiting British comedy talent, with faces then mainly - but not exclusively - known for their small screen work getting roles of various sizes in Hollywood productions. Here are some who racked up the air miles - starting with the man who arguably became one of the most successful...

Hugh Laurie - 101 Dalmatians

Laurie is a man of many talents, who ultimately cracked America with...

British comedian Mel Smith, who directed The Tall Guy and the first Mr Bean movie, has died.

The comic actor and writer was best known in the UK for his work on sketch shows Alas Smith and Jones and Not the Nine O’Clock News. His agent confirmed he died at his home in London on Friday [July 19] of a heart attack.

His comedy partner was Griff Rhys Jones with whom he set up independent television company Talkback Productions in 1981. The company, which was sold to Pearson for £62m in 2000, produced series such as Da Ali G Show, I’m Alan Partridge and The Apprentice.

After taking roles in movies including National Lampoon’s European Vacation and The Princess Bride, Smith made his feature directorial debut in 1989 with The Tall Guy. The romantic comedy also marked the screenwriting debut of Richard Curtis and starred Jeff Goldblum, Emma Thompson and Rowan Atkinson.

Smith next directed...

News Den Of Geek 20 Jul 2013 - 14:44

The writer, actor and director Mel Smith has died at the age of 60.

Some really sad news to report. The actor, writer and director Mel Smith has died, at the age of 60. The news has now been officially confirmed by the BBC. A heart attack is believed to be the cause of his death.

Smith sprung to fame in the groundbreaking and hugely influential Not The Nine O'Clock News, and then he joined up with Griff Rhys-Jones for a long running and fruitful partnership, the highlight of which being Alas Smith And Jones. The pair's monologues were so popular, they even become part and parcel of the annual build up to the F.A. Cup Final. They also joined together for the movie of Tom Sharpe's Wilt.

Smith co-wrote and starred in the movie Morons From Outer Space too, and he made...

Classic Media, a media company with a portfolio of some of the world's leading family entertainment brands, and Rgh Entertainment, the animation development and production unit of Rubicon Group Holding (Rgh), are proud to announce that Postman Pat will be making his big screen debut in . The announcement of the film, which will be released in CG 3-D Stereoscopic, is timed to today's celebration of Postman Pat's 30th birthday.

The renowned voice cast will be led by actor Stephen Mangan (Episodes, Green Wing, Dirk Gently) as Postman Pat. Academy Award and BAFTA Award Winner Jim Broadbent (Iris, Moulin Rouge), Rupert Grint, who achieved international fame as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter film series, and David Tennant (Doctor Who, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) will join Stephen in bringing the world of Postman Pat to life on the big screen.

The film finds Pat, everyone's favorite postman,...

In celebration of Postman Pat's 30th birthday, it's been announced that there will be a CG animated 3D movie made based on the 1980's British stop-motion animated kids TV series. I have never seen this series, but then I didn't grow up in the UK.

The movie will be called Postman Pat: The Movie – You Know You're the One. "The film finds Pat, everyone's favorite postman, coming face-to-face with the temptations of money, status and a shiny new suit when he enters a national TV talent show competition that threatens to tear him away from his hometown of Greendale and the friends he loves. What happens when kindness meets selfishness? When local fame meets global notoriety? A nice cup of tea is kicked aside by a frappacappucino? Pat is set to find out as he falls for the age old temptation of the grass being greener..."

The movie...

Minnie Driver wowed crowds in London last night at the premiere of her new film High Heels And Lowlifes. The 31-year-old star looked stunning as she arrived for the event in London's Leicester Square in a stunning red created by British designer Matthew Williamson. The film is about two female gangsters in London with Minnie starring alongside her real-life pal Mary McCormack, the American actress. Minnie says of working with a close friend, "We had a really good time. Because we were the only girls, we were in charge." McCormack adds, "It's great to work with a friend. We made each other laugh and got the giggles a lot, but we weren't realy naughty."...

Hollywood star Minnie Driver was rushed to hospital from the set of her new movie suffering from appendicitis. The actress collapsed with abdominal pain on the set of High Heels and Lowlifes (2001), a gangster comedy directed by Mel Smith, and was forced to have immediate surgery. The British star is too ill to leave the hospital but has been visited by her fiance Josh Brolin. A source says, "She was in terrible agony. It was totally unexpected and she was so shocked by the amount of pain she was in. Minnie is resting up and is so relieved that it is all over and they located the problem. She was so scared that something really serious was wrong."...

Minnie Driver admits she'll never move back to her native Britain - because she has an American boyfriend. Minnie says because of her 2-year relationship with Josh Brolin she has now accepted that California is her home - although she is currently filming new movie High Heels and Lowlifes (2001) in London. She explains, "When you fall in love with someone from another country, you put a root of some sort down in that country. I always thought I'd go back but Josh's kids are in California and so is their mother, so we couldn't live in England." She adds, "But I do want to have a place for us to go there, so we can have a real change."...