Billy Mays is dead

[BigIg]

'Infomercial King' Billy Mays Found Dead in Home - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment - FOXNews.com

DEVELOPING: Television pitchman Billy Mays — who built his fame by appearing on commercials and infomercials promoting household products and gadgets — died Sunday.

Mays, 50, was found unresponsive by his wife inside his Tampa, Fla., home at 7:45 a.m. on Sunday, according to the Tampa Police Department.

Police said there were no signs of forced entry to Mays' residence and foul play is not suspected. Authorities said an autopsy should be complete by Monday afternoon.

"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 wife, Deborah, said in a statement on Sunday.

Mays was well known for his numerous television promotions of such products as Orange Glo and OxiClean. He was also featured on the reality TV show "Pitchmen" on the Discovery Channel, which followed Mays and Anthony Sullivan in their marketing jobs.

Born William Mays in McKees Rocks, Pa., on July 20, 1958, Mays developed his style demonstrating knives, mops and other "as seen on TV" gadgets on Atlantic City's boardwalk. For years he worked as a hired gun on the state fair and home show circuits, attracting crowds with his booming voice and genial manner.

After meeting Orange Glo International founder Max Appel at a home show in Pittsburgh in the mid-1990s, Mays was recruited to demonstrate the environmentally friendly line of cleaning products on the St. Petersburg-based Home Shopping Network.

Commercials and informercials followed, anchored by the high-energy Mays showing how it's done while tossing out kitschy phrases like, "Long live your laundry!"

Recently he's been seen on commercials for a wide variety of products and is featured on the reality TV show "Pitchmen" on the Discovery Channel, which follows Mays and Anthony Sullivan in their marketing jobs. He's also been seen in ESPN ads.

His ubiquitousness and thumbs-up, in-your-face pitches won Mays plenty of fans. People line up at his personal appearances for autographed color glossies, and strangers stop him in airports to chat about the products.

"I enjoy what I do," Mays told The Associated Press in a 2002 interview. "I think it shows."

Mays was on board a US Airways flight that blew out its front tires as it landed at a Tampa airport on Saturday, MyFOXTampa.com reported.

US Airways spokesman Jim Olson said that none of the 138 passengers and five crew members were injured in the incident, but several passengers reported having bumps and bruises, according to the station.

Authorities have not said whether Mays' death was related to the incident.

Discovery Channel spokeswoman Elizabeth Hillman released a statement Sunday extending sympathy to the Mays family.

"Everyone that knows him was aware of his larger-than-life personality, generosity and warmth," Hillman's statement said. "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."

Too bad, I liked him more than MJ.

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.esrever ni dootsrednu eb ylno nac efiL
...But must be lived forwards.

[Phil]

Why is everyone dieing at 50?

[BigIg]

That is indeed strange.

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.esrever ni dootsrednu eb ylno nac efiL
...But must be lived forwards.

[Phil]

Let me guess.....before this week is over another celeb will kick the bucket......

[masta.g.86]

I will miss his ear drum shattering voice as he advertises Oxyclean.

"HI! BILLY MAYS HERE, AND THIS IS HOW I TALK!"

Originally Posted by Phil

Let me guess.....before this week is over another celeb will kick the bucket......

He must've been as sick as I am of all this MJ **** that he decided to be a martyr to get the media to shut up about all this MJ stuff.

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[Squall-Leonhart]

i blame oxiclean.

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[Phil]

I liked oxyclean

[Squall-Leonhart]

Celebrities die in sets of 3.

this is the last i hope.

*prays that patrick swaze is doin ok with his treatment.*

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[BigIg]

Originally Posted by masta.g.86

I will miss his ear drum shattering voice as he advertises Oxyclean.

"HI! BILLY MAYS HERE, AND THIS IS HOW I TALK!"

I know. No one can do it like him.


Vince Shlomi could have been close, but then he beat up a hooker.

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.esrever ni dootsrednu eb ylno nac efiL
...But must be lived forwards.

[Squall-Leonhart]

if James Earl Jones was trying to sell me a box of tissues for $30, i'd ****ing buy those tissues!

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[Phil]

Roflmao indeed!

[Noja87]

this should get more attention than MJ. Billy May was the man

[Phil]

A man with a plan

[Squall-Leonhart]

so who's the girl Phil

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[Little Mike]

WTF is happening in the world? Swine flu is now MJ flu?

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[Exodus]

Originally Posted by Squall-Leonhart

Celebrities die in sets of 3.

This is the 5th then. One more coming up?

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[Squall-Leonhart]

crap.

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[RockmanForte]

I feel sorry for him but... Billy Mays - false adverisiting - that's all I say, why ?? His stuff doesnt work! What a Lying Big Billy.

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[BigIg]

He was doing his job. What do you expect?
"TRY NEW ORANGE GLOW! Not only does it not work, it is capable of making your crappy stuff look 10x crappier!"

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.esrever ni dootsrednu eb ylno nac efiL
...But must be lived forwards.

[RockmanForte]

He was doing his job ? His stuff works because he told us so ? No, he wasn't honest and his voice was lying. It is not fair, you know!

*GRIN*

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I have:

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