vc318

What the heck is going on!

Famed TV Pitchman Billy Mays Found Dead - E! Online


Famed TV Pitchman Billy Mays Found Dead



Billy Mays, the prominent face and boastful voice behind some of television's biggest products, was found dead in his Florida home on Sunday morning.

The Tampa Police Department confirms to Fox News that Mays' unresponsive body was discovered by his wife, Deborah, at 7:45 a.m.

While police do not suspect foul play, Mays, 50, was on board a US Airways flight into Tampa on Saturday, when its front tires blew out during landing. US Airways spokesman Jim Olson said that while some passengers reported a few bumps and bruises, no one was seriously injured.

Following the flight, Mays was interviewed by Tampa's local news, MyFox 13, joking about being bumped during the landing. "All the things from the ceiling started dropping. It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head," teased Mays.

His wife released a statement after news of Mays death broke on Sunday, saying: "Although Billy lived a public life, we don't anticipate making any public statements over the next couple of days. Our family asks that you respect our privacy during these difficult times."

Mays is widely recognized as the "Infomercial King" for such products as OxiClean, Orange Glo and Kaboom. The ad spokesman has become a staple on televisions nationwide, always lighting up the screen with his trademark blue button-up shirt, distinctive beard and loud but memorable sales pitches.

Most recently, Mays became the co-host of his own Discovery Channel series, Pitchmen, alongside fellow infomercial honcho, Anthony Sullivan. The pair appeared on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien last week discussing their foray into what is officially called direct-response marketing.

Following the sad news, Discovery Channel released their own comment, stating: "It is with incredible sadness that we have to report that Billy Mays died in his sleep last night. Everyone that knows him was aware of his larger-than-life personality, generosity and warmth."

They continue, "Billy was a pioneer in his field and helped many people fulfill their dreams. He will be greatly missed as a loyal and compassionate friend. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family at this time of incredible loss. More information will be distributed as it becomes available."

Authorities expect an autopsy to be completed by Monday afternoon.

What is going on with the world?! I mean he wasn't nearly as popular as Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett or Michael Jackson, but I can't believe that Billy Mays is dead. And I just saw him on Conan the other night. Boy. May he rest in peace.

dudeNchief

wow. Didn't see that coming

Lain

I've said this on another thread but these string of deaths lately is scary!

Hermoine_Granger

Yeah screw death coming in threes apparently now it comes in fours

Sheesh with Ed Mcmahon then Farrah then Michael now Billy it makes you wonder and hope to the gods thats it

Bambi_

I'm absolutely floored...so many young deaths recently, and completely random, too.

Tina

I loved him on The Pitchmen. He'll be sadly missed.

mcdreamylover

I found him annoying but it's still sad. What a week this has been huh? I heard last week that Walter Cronkite (sp?) is on his death bed so he may be next.

vc318

^ I heard that too. But I bet it'll be someone that w would have never expected.

I just read that Billy Mays' death was caused by heart disease not a bump on the head but nothing has been confirmed yet:

TV pitchman Billy Mays had heart disease, coroner says - CNN.com

sunnykerr

No, I think it bears repeating that he died from heart disease.

For one thing, it dispells this ridiculous rumour/conspiracy theory going around that he had a rough flight in which he was hit on the head with something, was checked out by a doctor upon landing and then died of it anyway.

I mean, I know medical errors happen all the time. But this is really too far-fetched.

More importantly, though, it misses the really IMPORTANT point, for me. Which is that heart disease is, if I'm not mistaken, the leading cause of death in adults. And, if it's not, then it's certainly up there.

So the point is to take care of ourselves. Of checking with out doctors. Of monitoring our blood pressure, our cholesterol levels, our sodium intake and all of that.