Comedian Andy Smart has died unexpectedly. He was 63 and his death was announced by his daughter Grace.

Writing on her father's Facebook page she wrote: "Hi this is Grace, Andy’s daughter, I’m very sorry to let you all know that dad passed away unexpectedly last night. He had so many friends and such a great life. Raise a glass for him. G x"

Smart first made his name in comedy as half of the street performers-turned-TV-stars phsyical comedy act The Vicious Boys. He was a member of the impro group The Comedy Store Players for many years and was a keen traveller and fan of extreme sports as well as a follower of football and horse racing. He had run with the bulls at Pamplona and enjoyed combining mountain activity with comedy at the annual Altitude Comedy Festival in Austria. 

He documented his adventures around the world in his book A Hitch In Time (pictured).

Tributes have flooded in. the Comedy Store tweeted: "This has hit us all very hard. We send our deepest condolences to his family, friends and fellow Players."

Fellow Comedy Store Player Josie Lawrence tweeted: "Shocking news.Andy Smart has died. We the Comedy Store Players are utterly heartbroken. We cannot say how much we will miss him. He was a joy. He laughed more than anyone we knew. He did so much crazy stuff but mostly he made our little world way more fun. We loved him so much."

Comedian Charlie Baker summed Smart up well: "Andy rinsed life dry. Not a drop left in the tank. A good man. Fun, funny, kind and generous. Sending all his family, friends and colleagues strength and love as he leaves us for the ultimate Yes and …. #RIPAndySmart"

Stuart Goldsmith wrote: "Really sad to hear about the passing of Andy Smart, a wonderful man and comic, and one of the godfathers of street-performing in the UK and beyond. He really bit down on life, hugely inspiring"

Buy Andy Smart: A Hitch In Time here.