Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Billy Mays, star of TV's "Pitchmen," found dead at home.

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Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 06-28-2009, 11:43 AM:

No, guys... it comes in fours.

Only over the past year or so have I've warmed up to Billy Mays and his kind, friendly smile. The deal was sealed when I began watching him on the "Pitchmen" show. He seemed like a fun guy.

Billy Mays found dead in his home at 50.

quote:
TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa police say Billy Mays, the television pitchman known for his boisterous hawking of products such as Orange Glo and OxiClean, has died. He was 50.

Authorities say Mays was pronounced dead Sunday morning after being found by his wife at home. There were no signs of a break-in, and investigators do not suspect foul play. The coroner's office expects to have an autopsy done by Monday afternoon.

Mays' wife, Deborah Mays, says the family doesn't expect to make any public statements and asked for privacy.

Mays was also featured on the reality TV show "Pitchmen" on the Discovery Channel, which followed Mays and Anthony Sullivan in their marketing jobs.

More details.

quote:
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.

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 06-28-2009, 12:21 PM:

Hi Tim

I dont really consider this guy to be in the same league as Ed, Farrah, or Michael.

I Do hope he didnt suffer. RIP. All the best to his family.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 06-28-2009, 12:25 PM:

Celebrity, Bruce. He was a celebrity. My rule of fours still holds. [Razz]

Posted by Rick Raskin (Member # 1561) on 06-28-2009, 12:31 PM:

An icon of sorts. I would mute the TV whenever his ads came on. Still, I'm sorry for him and his family.

Posted by Allison Parsons (Member # 2728) on 06-28-2009, 01:39 PM:

Wow, just as I was getting into Pitchmen on Discovery.

He was great at what he did, but I always felt that he was yelling at me. HI I'M BILLY MAYS!!! BUY OXYCLEAN!!!! No thanks...

Probably the most recognizable faces in commercials since Ron Popeil

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 06-28-2009, 01:57 PM:

quote: Rick Raskin
I would mute the TV whenever his ads came on.

Same here!

Posted by Charles Greenlee (Member # 3856) on 06-28-2009, 02:15 PM:

Better than Vince Mr. "You'll love my nuts"

I wonder if they'll replace him on Pitchmen and keep doing the show. If so, who?

I kinda liked him, and Sullivan.

Maybe they can get Mr. Ron "Set it and forget it" Popeil? Is he even still around?

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 06-28-2009, 07:20 PM:

Ron Popeil's retired, isn't he? [Wink]

Ol' Vince is annoying and abrasive, certainly... but sort of likeable in an offbeat way. At least he is for me.

My reaction when I first heard, "HI! I'M BILLY MAYS!!" was, "Good for you! Who the hell is Billy Mays?"

Posted by Jim Cassedy (Member # 4115) on 06-28-2009, 09:51 PM:

I often found Mr Mays' TV pitches annoying but also
strangely entertaining. Too bad about his untimely passing.

I really don't want to wish anyone ill, but I'm secretly
waiting for the day when that old hag who whines "I've
fallen and I can't get up" . . . . doesn't. [Wink]

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 06-28-2009, 10:18 PM:

quote: Jim Cassedy
I'm secretly waiting for the day when that old hag who whines "I've fallen and I can't get up" . . . . doesn't.

Too late.

quote: Entertainment Weekly
Celebrity news for the week of August 15, 1997

DEATHS TV commercial actress Edith Fore, 81, July 31, of natural causes, in Camden, N.J. In 1990, former nurse Fore uttered the now-famous words ''I've fallen and I can't get up'' in a commercial for the Lifecall Medic Alert system. She was recruited for the spot, for which she was paid $500, after she fell and used the device to get help.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 06-28-2009, 10:50 PM:

quote: Tim Reed
My reaction when I first heard, "HI! I'M BILLY MAYS!!" was, "Good for you! Who the hell is Billy Mays?"

Same here. I went and looked him up.
Basically he was one of those people who was trying to be famous for being famous by selling cleaning products on TV. :roll:

I'm sorry to hear about his death.

But I bet he'll have the cleanest casket you've ever seen! [Big Grin]

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 06-28-2009, 11:33 PM:

Never heard of the guy. His name sounds like he must have been a baseball player, though. What team did he play for?

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 06-28-2009, 11:35 PM:

After watching Pitchmen for the past few months I definitely gained a new respect for Billy Mays. He helped a lot of people make their dreams come true. I'm sure they exaggerate on the show a bit, but you can still tell he did a lot. Many scoff that he just wanted his cut, but I see nothing wrong with that. This is an actual loss to the world, but he helped legitimize his field so I'm sure more will take his place.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 06-29-2009, 12:02 AM:

And by reading the story on the possibility on his death would be almost the same as Natasha Richardson's death due to her skiiing accident back in March .."epidural hematoma" where he hit his head hard when that plane had a rough landing.

-Monte

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 06-29-2009, 03:41 AM:

quote: Joe Redifer
His name sounds like he must have been a baseball player, though. What team did he play for?

That's Willie Mays and he played for the Giants and later for the Mets.

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 06-29-2009, 07:12 AM:

Wow this is a shocker. I never really care much for his picthing always thought he was obnoxious until I saw a few episodes of pitchmen and realized he was how good he was at selling a product.

quote: Chris Slycord
That's Willie Mays and he played for the Giants and later for the Mets

And not to be confused with Willie Mays Hays from the motion picture Major League. He hit like Mays and played like Hays. [beer]

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 06-29-2009, 08:36 AM:

His NYTimes obituary says he gave out bottles of Oxiclean at his wedding, and interupted a dance to pitch the product. Now THAT is dedication!

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 06-29-2009, 09:45 AM:

I only thought of him as that obnoxious TV pitchman until I watched "Pitchmen". Great show and Billy was probably a standup guy who happened to be really good at that one thing.

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 06-29-2009, 12:26 PM:

Quite a shocker to hear this one, but the fact he said he wasn't feeling well the night before hints at a serious concussion or other trauma.

A lesson and warning to all of us: if you don't feel well, get checked out by a doctor or emergency staff, especially after a hit to the head or fall of any kind.

I almost died from ignoring the pain in my left leg, thinking it was a muscle pull. Turned out to be a serious blood clot that had travelled through my heart and ended up in my lungs.

Yes his voice was loud and obnoxious, but it sure made you remember the product he was pitching.

Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 06-29-2009, 03:04 PM:

Did Mr Mays pitch something called "KaBoom"?
If so, I expect the bad jokes to come forthwit... [Frown]

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 06-29-2009, 03:52 PM:

My hometown paper is reporting the preliminary cause of death as Heart Disease.

Story Here

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 06-29-2009, 09:54 PM:

Yeah, he did KaBoom commercials, but he didn't die from a gun shot so I don't see what jokes will be coming "forthwit."

Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 06-30-2009, 02:10 AM:

Perhaps if he had a blood vessel burst inside his head, it would have went KaBoom...
However the article that William linked to offers a different possibility...
I don't know. Maybe we will find out in due time.