Billy Mays: 1958-2009

[StorminNorman]

Just heard on Fox News! :csad:


Report: 'Infomercial King' Billy Mays Dies

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

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529328,00.html

They are picking off American royalty!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/missveegraphics/billy_mays_001.jpg
July 20, 1958 - June 28, 2009

[Spider-Man Luvr28]

Woah. I always found his infomercials annoying like hell but this is completely unexpected & came outta nowhere.

[BatMatt]

What?! He was on Conan just a handful of days ago! What a crazy week this has been

[terry78]

I loved watching that dude on late night commercials because of how goofy he was. This is getting nuts with all these deaths, man. I know people die everyday, but celebs like this?

[StorminNorman]

I'm going to a party tonight, I am going to see if they will play some Billy Mays commercials. :(

[Gallagher]

Typical.

Just trying to steal MJ's thunder :o

[Johnny DC]

Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson and now Billy Mays?!

[rorshach]...hurm...[rorshach]

Maybe someone's picking off American pop culture icons.

[KenK]

I just told my family, and my mom almost lost her s**t! LOL!

But this is crazy with all these deaths just in the past week. Mays was only 50, as well. It's one thing when someone dies of old age (or they just happen to be fairly old and it's some other disease that kills them), but this is getting ridiculous. And lord knows the last few deaths in my family I've had to deal with in the past four years, the people in question were way too young (38, 60 and 48). Just terrible.

[Nivek]

Wow, that's crazy!

[KenK]

Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson and now Billy Mays?!

[rorshach]...hurm...[rorshach]

Maybe someone's picking off American pop culture icons.

Can't help but chuckle at that one.

[StorminNorman]

I was just asking a friend yesterday if he knew of a good fighting game with a great create a character mode so I could make Billy Mays. :(

[Gallagher]

Soul Calibur 4 :D

[FaT_tONle]

I loved the products he tried to sell. They looked like they actually worked. Sad sad news...

[Metal Spidey]

I was just asking a friend yesterday if he knew of a good fighting game with a great create a character mode so I could make Billy Mays. :(

Smackdown! vs RAW 2009. Sure it's not a fighting game but you can pummel Triple H, Stone Cold, Cena and Kane with Billy Mays. How fun is that?

[Raiden]

Huh? What the heck? He looks so young too. This is totally unexpected. I saw him in some new ESPN commercials during the NBA playoff too.

[SoulManX]

Wow.Just.Wow:csad:

[Nirvana]

What the hell!? I am completely shocked, he was so young, too. Jesus, looks like Vince won. :csad:

[The Chairman]

I thought it was a joke when I read this. Very, very sad. My prayers and condolences.

[Shifty]

Known as
TV pitchman for
OxiClean,
Orange Glo,
Kaboom,
Engrave It,
Handy Switch,
iCan,
Mighty Mendit,
Mighty Putty (regular) &
Mighty Putty Wood,
Hercules Hook,
AwesomeAuger,
Steam Buddy,
Zorbeez,
Big City Slider Station,
The Ding King,
ESPN 360,
Energize,
Impact Gel Insoles,
Omni DualSaw,
Jupiter Jack,
What Odor?,
Tool Bandit,
SIMONIZ Instant Shine,
SIMONIZ fix it! (regular) &
fix it! PRO,
Gopher,
Samurai Shark,
Grater Plater,
Ragazzi's Pizza, and
Green Now!

[Cmill216]

The grim reaper must be in heat.

[Spider-ManHero12]

Holy crap! I'm shocked!!!

R.I.P. :csad:

[Mister J]

What the hell? I saw someone mention this in another thread and thought it was some sort of weird joke.

Mays seemed like a fun guy ...maybe from a distance, but still. I always got a kick out of his infomercials and antics. Sad news.

[Spidey-Bat]

Very sad news. I hope they still run his commercials. They were the only commercials I wouldn't fast forward through :(

[Jolie_Desastre]

RIP Billy Mays

I loved that he could make fun of himself like when he went on Leno to do that Shakespeare/infomercial skit :(

[kane9321]

Wtf..omg

[Pyrox]

my God, what a few days it's been

[Immortalfire]

Noooooooo..what the hell :csad:

[The Apocalypse]

Always great waking up and hearing about a death. :(

R.I.P.

[PWN3R]

The beard will be missed.

[Lunar_Wolf]

I remember the Smosh videos doing a parody from him recently :(

[PyroChamber]

Come on, God! Damn!

A new week and we already got a new death.

[Sawyer]

It was Vince! :eek:

Just kidding... RIP Billy.

[DarkReflections]

what!!! of all people billy mays is dead? i hate commercials, but out of all of them the only ones i could stand watching was billy's. and now death has taken another victom.


RIP Billy :csad:

[Darthphere]

I am shocked. I am in total shock. As the official informercial expert on here, this is such a deep blow to me. I'm struggling with this more than MJ. I need a couple of minutes.

[Ghostvirus]

Why should I care about this guy? He was one celeb class level from being one of the thousands that you all apparently don't care about that have died in the last week.

I feel for the people that loved & cared about him, but this will not affect me in the least.

[Darthphere]

Why should I care about this guy? He was one celeb class level from being one of the thousands that you all apparently don't care about that have died in the last week.

I feel for the people that loved & cared about him, but this will not affect me in the least.

You could say the same thing about any celebrity. Dude, keep your opinions to your goddamn self.

[Go Web Go!]

This is ridiculous. 4 celebs dead within a week, 2 of which I was very fond of (MJ & Billy)
Wow. This is just hard to believe. He was just on Conan the other night being his usual upbeat self. Damn. What is going on with the world? RIP Billy.

[Immortalfire]

In memory of Billy, I'm going to go de-wrinkle some clothes with a Steam Buddy, repair things with Mighty Putty, and clean my counter tops with Kaboom.

:csad:

[voyzovrezon]

What?! He was on Conan just a handful of days ago! What a crazy week this has been

I saw that too. He demonstrated a rag like the Sham-Wow by spilling Conan's coffee on his desk and wiping it up, then placed the rag over Conan's head with dripping a drop.

It was an entertaining segment. He seemed like a real nice guy. Such a shame.

[Kane52630]

WTF!

someone is picking off of famous people

[LegendaryCaleb]

what the heck :(

[enterthemadness]

:csad: I like his tv ads. This has been a bad week or so for celebs.

RIP Billy Mays.

[daywalker2007]

RIP,
what the hell is going on this week??
Seriously!
So many greats passing away.
I pray no one else goes this week, its already too much.
And with so much **** on going around the world, makes you feel miserable at whats happened.

[Wolfwood]

Man, with the shamwow guy in jail, who will step up and make awesome informercials?

[RKO]

Whoa!

What's the cause of death?

[spider-neil]

being a brit I have no idea who he, or ed mahon were.
the curse of the 'three' may still be in effort; MJ...farrah...???
:wow:

[Go Web Go!]

No cause yet. Autopsy tomorrow, but I did read that his plane was involved in a rough landing last night and caused him to hit his head. Who knows if that had something to do with it. :(

[Figs]

being a brit I have no idea who he, or ed mahon were.
the curse of the 'three' may still be in effort; MJ...farrah...???
:wow:

You ever hear of Star Search or even bigger The Johnny Carson show?


R.I.P Mays.

[CelticPredator]

This makes me sad. Way more so then MJ's. :(

[Immortalfire]

Man, with the shamwow guy in jail, who will step up and make awesome informercials?

There's still Anthony Sullivan.

[Kane52630]

i have to tune in for AOTS tomorrow, Kevin and Olivia must be sad

[Go Web Go!]

There's still Anthony Sullivan.

But he's not one of our own :csad:

[StarkTheProdigy]

everyone is dying this week. now all we need is vince to die from shamwow and slapchop.

[PyroChamber]

Oddly enough, he was 50 years old.

[Kane52630]

50 with a black beard? damn you Just for Men!

[Sentinel X]

First it was the king of pop

Now its the king of infomercials....noooooo!! :csad:

[xwolverine2]

omg why is everyone dying!...

[Double Down]

This was the last post by Billy Mays on Twitter (24 hours ago):

Just had a close call landing in Tampa. The tires blew out upon landing. Stuck in the plane on the runway. You can always count on US Air.

http://twitter.com/realBillyMays/status/2362206907


And this is what his son wrote this morning:

My dad didn't wake up this morning.. I'm sure you'll all hear about it. It hasn't yet hit me but it's about to.
http://twitter.com/realBillyMays/status/2362206907

[Kane52630]

someone said that the end is coming near since all the deaths of celebs are showing up
i guess 2012 coming faster than we think

[CELTICPRED]

someone said that the end is coming near since all the deaths of celebs are showing up
i guess 2012 coming faster than we think

Whoever said that is an idiot.





As for Billy Mays, I'm saddened by the news. I've watched all of the Pitchmen shows this season and have become a pretty big fan.


Sucks.

[SpeterMan3]

Did he die in Tampa? That's too close to me...

[Go Web Go!]

This was the last post by Billy Mays on Twitter (24 hours ago):



http://twitter.com/realBillyMays/status/2362206907


And this is what his son wrote this morning:


http://twitter.com/realBillyMays/status/2362206907

Poor guy.

[BatMatt]

It's weird seeing on Billy's twitter that Monday was a big day because of his hip replacement surgery and he'll keep us posted :(

[Shemtov]

FIrst MJ then Billy Mays.
I blame global warming.

[Spidey-Bat]

And this is what his son wrote this morning:

"My dad didn't wake up this morning.. I'm sure you'll all hear about it. It hasn't yet hit me but it's about to."

http://twitter.com/realBillyMays/status/2362206907

Should he really be "Twittering" about his dad's death only hours after he died?

[batboy99]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Billy Mays was my hero :(

[BatMatt]

He hit his head in that plane landing, I wonder if he died the same way Liam Neeson's wife did, or something similar

[Dr. Evil]

That's just awful.

:csad:

[Kane52630]

JRPJCDJC, that wasnt funny
and that reminds me of family guy where peter was death and wanted to kill the cast of dawson's creek

[Dr. Evil]

I was never a fan of the guy, but the news of his passing is awful.

[Timstuff]

This makes me really sad. Billy Mays was a real staple of TV, and it's really sad to see him go. :(

It's like a freaking epidemic... Within like a week, we've lost 4. :(

[RachelDawes]

I hope this is the last celebrity death for a while because they're starting to depress me.

[JustABill]

Too many celebs in one week. Too many fricking celebs in one week. :( And all of them really great at what they did which makes it even worse. :(

[Pac-Master]

Woah...R.I.P.:csad:

[C. Lee]

Lets see if some of you can refrain from proving you are just crude children and keep it clean and civil.

And if a post is real offensive....report it, do not quote it.

[JustABill]

Somewhere out there wherever we go after we die. Ed McMahon is hosting a show and Farrah Fawcett is on it tossing her perfect hair about being interviewed by Ed, Michael Jackson is moonwalking as the musical guest, and Billy is excitedly pitching his latest product.

Best show ever. :(

[Marx]

I think some are forgetting David Carradine.

It was David Carradine, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Billy Mays.

[Marx]

He hit his head in that plane landing, I wonder if he died the same way Liam Neeson's wife did, or something similar

What was the time difference between the plane incident and his death?

[JustABill]

I think some are forgetting David Carradine.

It was David Carradine, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Billy Mays.
David was a couple weeks ago. Those 4 died all in the same week.

[BatMatt]

What was the time difference between the plane incident and his death?

Around 19 hours between landing and his death pronunciation I believe, he went to bed at 10pm saying he didn't feel well.

[Marx]

Around 19 hours between landing and his death pronunciation I believe, he went to bed at 10pm saying he didn't feel well.

Wow...that could have been a factor.

[NewYorkSpider]

RIP Billy. :csad:

This week has been pretty devestating.

[Hobgoblin]

Wow...

And here he's just started a reality show on the Discovery Channel.

[CELTICPRED]

Wow...

And here he's just started a reality show on the Discovery Channel.

Pitchmen is a great show.

Really showed another side of Billy nobody sees.

[Milu]

David, Ed, Farrah, Michael, and now Billy?

RIP :(

[Hobgoblin]

Pitchmen is a great show.

Really showed another side of Billy nobody sees.

Nothing is guaranteed in life. :csad: It can all come down in an instant.

[darkseid26]

Billy mays , we will miss you r.i.p.

[Capt Throbberson]

Caps lock in his honor

[squeekness]

TV ads just won't be the same. :( RIP.

[Sawyer]

Pitchmen is a great show.

Really showed another side of Billy nobody sees.

I'd respond to that, but I dont really feel good about speaking ill of the dead.

[CELTICPRED]

I'd respond to that, but I dont really feel good about speaking ill of the dead.

If it was about Billy's arrogance and ego, I wouldn't disagree.

[craigdbfan]

Jeez who's next.....

I almost expect to find a celebrity death every time I check the news at this point.

[Drizzle]

He's selling OxiClean to Jesus now. :csad:

[BatMatt]

I just saw an Awesome Auger commercial :(

[Excel]

Wtf is going on...sounds a lot like the Natasha Richardson thing.

[Ghostvirus]

You could say the same thing about any celebrity. Dude, keep your opinions to your goddamn self.

Not gonna happen. I am sorry that you are so affected by a person that practiced one of the lowest forms of "entertainment". But I am not.

also find it instulting to Fawcetts, & Jackson's memory that some of you are even putting this dudes name in the same sentence.

[Sawyer]

Not gonna happen. I am sorry that you are so affected by a person that practiced one of the lowest forms of "entertainment". But I am not.

also find it instulting to Fawcetts, & Jackson's memory that some of you are even putting this dudes name in the same sentence.

Yeah. I dont mean to belittle Mays' death at all, but I cant help but roll my eyes when a few of you are like "OMFG we lost another legend!!!"

No.

[Anita18]

What?! He was on Conan just a handful of days ago! What a crazy week this has been
I KNOW! Nuts!

[CelticPredator]

Well, I had enough of Jackson....didnt know FF too well, and I have no idea who Ed is.

So...Billy is the only one I cared about.

[Darthphere]

Not gonna happen. I am sorry that you are so affected by a person that practiced one of the lowest forms of "entertainment". But I am not.

also find it instulting to Fawcetts, & Jackson's memory that some of you are even putting this dudes name in the same sentence.

Yeah. I dont mean to belittle Mays' death at all, but I cant help but roll my eyes when a few of you are like "OMFG we lost another legend!!!"

No.

I never said he was a legend. But he's someone you see everyday on TV, multiple times. We made fun of him more than we ever praised him. MJ dying is tragic, but frankly after the initial shock wears off it's not all that surprising.

It's just real low class to come into a thread about someone's death and try to knock the dude for being a "low class entertainer". That's more than any of us or you will ever accomplish. Frankly, it's ****ed up. I think people made a big deal about Heath Ledger's death, I didn't go into their thread and say he was "An average actor." because I can show some restraint and class. Coming in here and being an ******* makes you lower than whatever you thought Billy Mays is. At least Billy Mays didn't molest little kids.


*Note: The post was mostly directed at Ghostvirus, Sawyer, you're still ok.

[C. Lee]

Not gonna happen. I am sorry that you are so affected by a person that practiced one of the lowest forms of "entertainment". But I am not.


Then perhaps you really should stay out of here.

[Golgo-13]

Wow..is there something in the water?

R.I.P

[TheDreamMaster]

RIP Billy Mays. Infomercials will never be the same.

Gotta say, what a week. What a sad, awful week for entertainment.

[JTStarkiller]

I was joking with my brother that right after MJ died, EVERYONE on my Twitter feed was talking about it, and right smack in the middle was a random post from the Sony Playstation blog, talking about awesome beards in pop culture (in relation to some new downloadable content for LittleBigPlanet).

How strange that Billy Mays passes so soon after. RIP.

[darkseid26]

crazy week, R.I.P. billy mays
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[Ghostvirus]

I never said he was a legend. But he's someone you see everyday on TV, multiple times. We made fun of him more than we ever praised him. MJ dying is tragic, but frankly after the initial shock wears off it's not all that surprising.

It's just real low class to come into a thread about someone's death and try to knock the dude for being a "low class entertainer". That's more than any of us or you will ever accomplish. Frankly, it's ****ed up. I think people made a big deal about Heath Ledger's death, I didn't go into their thread and say he was "An average actor." because I can show some restraint and class. Coming in here and being an ******* makes you lower than whatever you thought Billy Mays is. At least Billy Mays didn't molest little kids.


*Note: The post was mostly directed at Ghostvirus, Sawyer, you're still ok.

So does this mean that I can go into Jackson's thread & bash Mays?

I wasn't bashing Mays. I don't even know the guy. I only know him from the orange stuff he created a while back.

I did however at the end of the my original post say that I feel for his friends & family. To which I am sure they are horribly saddened by his loss.

[Spade]

It's been half a day, but I still have trouble believing he's dead. Mays got annoying with his omnipresence every now and then, but he was a nice break in between Vince and his Spanglish ShamWow! gimmickry. You never knew what he was gonna promote next. He was awesome.

_tyct9l-fD8

[kane9321]

maybe he died the same way natasha richardson did...maybe:(

[Matt Murdock]

Meant more to me than Michael Jackson's death, oddly enough.

[Spidey-Bat]

Look up Big City Toilet on YouTube. I'd post the link but it uses the S word and a mod might remove it.

[Team Andino]

Im honestly more upset that Billy Mays passed away then Michael Jackson. Its so sad when anyone dies and this last week has been ridiculous. Dunno if anyone posted this or saw this but I saw it yesterday an enjoyed it.

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[Paradyme]

maybe he died the same way natasha richardson did...maybe:(

I think if I ever get hit really hard on the head I'm probably going to visit the doctor.

R.I.P. Billy Mays

[lou2099]

And he was also just 50.

[terry78]

50 is the new 80? :csad:

[Kane52630]

the dr is doing a press conference right now, he said that there is no head trauma

[LiveWire777]

I actually checked the news today to see if any new well known people died.... sad last few days we've been having :(

[Sentinel X]

I never said he was a legend. But he's someone you see everyday on TV, multiple times. We made fun of him more than we ever praised him. MJ dying is tragic, but frankly after the initial shock wears off it's not all that surprising.

It's just real low class to come into a thread about someone's death and try to knock the dude for being a "low class entertainer". That's more than any of us or you will ever accomplish. Frankly, it's ****ed up. I think people made a big deal about Heath Ledger's death, I didn't go into their thread and say he was "An average actor." because I can show some restraint and class. Coming in here and being an ******* makes you lower than whatever you thought Billy Mays is. At least Billy Mays didn't molest little kids.


*Note: The post was mostly directed at Ghostvirus, Sawyer, you're still ok.
Yeah you sure do have restraint and class :up: :whatever:



Does anyone know if the shamwow guy had any comments on May's untimely passing? im convinced this is like a Natasha Richardson scenario :csad:
Im going to miss him...he was freakin hilarious!

[Marx]

Let's stick to the topic guys. There's no need for the personal stuff.

[Spade]

Does anyone know if the shamwow guy had any comments on May's untimely passing?

Nope, but Billy had a few words to say to Vince:

GPLrm3Omkjg

[Go Web Go!]

Looks like Billy may have had a heart attack

TAMPA, Fla. - A Florida medical examiner says television pitchman Billy Mays likely died of a heart attack but further tests are needed.

Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Vernard Adams said Monday the boisterous, bearded 50-year-old known for hawking Oxiclean suffered from hypertensive heart disease. His wife, Deborah, found him dead Sunday in his Tampa home.

He says Mays was taking the prescription painkillers Tramadol and hydrocodone for hip pain. But Adams says there was no indication of drug abuse, and pill counts showed Mays had been taking the correct amount of the drugs.

[Gamma Ray]

This sucks!!! Bye, Billy. :(

[DeGenerate10]

http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comics/20090629.jpg

[RKO]

Haha, that's great. Going to miss Billy.

[Matt Murdock]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtYdDK1uTDI

:csad:

Seemed like a fun dude.

[Dew k. Mosi]

Three celebrities died last week, but it took Billy Mays to throw that fourth one in for FREE*

RIP Billy

*s/h separate
** taxes apply in VA, NC & MD

[Matt Murdock]

Too soon! :waa:

[Kelly]

This is crazy.....

And his poor wife, my god to wake up, roll over and find your husband dead is just horrifying.....

[voyzovrezon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtYdDK1uTDI

:csad:

Seemed like a fun dude.

That was hilarious! :hehe:

[Matt Murdock]

Sure was. He seemed like he had a great sense of humor.

[enterthemadness]

http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comics/20090629.jpg

That is great, but...man. Heart attack? Too young to go.:csad:

[Raiden]

http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comics/20090629.jpg

This is a great tribute! :up:

[Darthphere]

I just saw an Awesome Auger commercial. :csad:

[Kane52630]

me too :(

[Lightning Strykez!]

It's like something's in the water these last few days. Why are so many celebrities dying...and at age 50 at that?!

[ARROGANCE]

Wow I just found out today that he died. He was a bit annoying in his commercials, but may he rest in peace

[SpeterMan3]

It's like something's in the water these last few days. Why are so many celebrities dying...and at age 50 at that?!
And of heart problems.

[Kelly]

Yep, people are not taking care of their bodies, and there bodies are shutting down on them....

[Yurka]

This was much more shocking than MJ's death to me, he will be missed. RIP.

[Marx]

This is crazy.....

And his poor wife, my god to wake up, roll over and find your husband dead is just horrifying.....

*shudders*

[Alex The Great]

R.i.p :(

[Metamorpho1977]

I always wondered if he talked to everyone like he did on the infomercials.

[Kelly]

I saw the interview right after he got off the plane, and no he didn't sound like his commercials...he was also interviewed on Fox Business News Channel, and the only time he sounded like his commecials was when they asked him to do a commercial about FBN for them...so in answer to you question, no.

[CELTICPRED]

He doesn't project all the time.

[unstoppable]

Rest In Peace Billy Mays:csad:

[Spidey-Bat]

I feel like buying all the products he advertised.

[Wiseman]

When I found out about this on Sunday morning I was shocked. I've been watching Pitchmen and Billy Mays was an awesome guy and I am saddened by his passing.

[SpideyRacoon44]

R.I.P Mr.Mays

[NewYorkSpider]

The Discovery Channel had a little special about the commercials that Billy made. I caught a little bit of tonight.

[SuperAl]

ive been watchin pitchmen all day. He seems like a cool guy. RIP billy mays!

[Gamma Ray]

Pitchmen is actually a good show, and Billy was a really great guy.

[Bunker]

Hopefully Anthony Sullivan keeps the show going. It really is an awesome show. The chemistry between Anthony and Billy was the best part, though. :csad:

[Spade]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31724651/ns/us_news-life/

Regardless of how you felt about him, you have to admit that's one of the most epic ways to go out. :up:

[M.O.Steel]

it's amazing how much he owned that look. it's pretty simple, but he owned it.

no informercial will be the same without him. RIP.

[General Fury]

Woah. I always found his infomercials annoying like hell but this is completely unexpected & came outta nowhere.
same here, i feel really awful about this, partially considering he had a nice TV gig going

[Spider-Man Luvr28]

Media Enterprises announced on Tuesday that the last commercials Mays shot for the Mighty brand product line will be aired.

In the ads, Mays, clad in his familiar blue and khaki uniform, introduces two new additions to the Mighty line, Mighty Putty Superpack and Mighty Tape.

The company also confirmed that Mays’ commercials for Mighty Putty and Mighty Mendit will resume airing after a one-week hiatus.

“We want to honor our friend by airing the infomercials he loved and continuing to introduce consumers to the do-it-yourself products that Billy pitched so well,” said Bill McAlister, president of Media Enterprises.

“Will the consumer keep buying products? No one really knows, because this is brand-new territory for everyone. I believe that Billy was so big and so loved that his brand will go on.”

The last commercial Mays recorded was for the Mighty Tape, which shows him patching up a punctured hose with the product.

The popular pitchman died on June 28 of a heart attack.

[Go Web Go!]

Pitchmen was renewed for a 2nd season and Billy's son (Billy Mays III) is rumored to join the show in some shape.

[KALEL114]

Autopsy: Cocaine contributed to Billy Mays' death

TAMPA, Fla. – An autopsy report shows that cocaine use contributed to the heart disease that suddenly killed TV pitchman Billy Mays in June, officials announced Friday.

The Hillsborough County medical examiner's office previously determined that the bearded, boisterous TV spokesman had a heart attack in his sleep. His wife found him unresponsive in bed in their Tampa condo June 28.

Mays was a pop-culture fixture with his energetic commercials pitching gadgets and cleaning products like Orange Glo and OxiClean.

While heart disease was the primary cause of death, a report released Friday by the medical examiner listed cocaine as a "contributory cause of death."

The medical examiner "concluded that cocaine use caused or contributed to the development of his heart disease, and thereby contributed to his death," the office said in a press release.

The office said Mays last used cocaine in the few days before his death but was not under the influence of the drug when he died. Hillsborough County spokeswoman Lori Hudson said nothing in the toxicology report indicated the frequency of Mays' cocaine use.

Cocaine can raise the arterial blood pressure, directly cause thickening of the left wall of the ventricle and accelerate the formation of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries, the release said.

The toxicology tests also showed therapeutic amounts of painkillers hydrocodone, oxycodone and tramadol, as well as anti-anxiety drugs alprazolam and diazepam. Mays had suffered hip problems and was scheduled for hip-replacement surgery the day after he was found dead.

The McKees Rocks, Pa., native 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.

He got his start on TV on the Home Shopping Network and then branched out into commercials and infomercials. He developed such a strong following that he became the subject of a reality TV series, Discovery Channel's "Pitchmen."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090807/ap_en_ot/us_billy_mays

[Prison Mike]

didn't know he did coke...

[craigdbfan]

Well that kind of explains a lot.

[Kane52630]

^^^ im this close to laughing but i cant! :(

[CELTICPRED]

Wow.

Considering his energy level.....

[Lunar_Wolf]

oh man...

[Marx]

Wow...

[Jager X]

mmhmm....These bastards need to learn to stop taking their blessings for granted. He was rich, sucessful, and seemingly happy; but he has secretly been a drug addict. Add him to the list with Michael Jackson.

[Nivek]

My eyes are blind but I can see
The snowflakes glisten on the tree
The sun no longer sets me free
I feel theres no place freezing me

Let the winter sun shine on
Let me feel the frost of dawn
Fill my dreams with flakes of snow
Soon Ill feel the chilling glow

[Marlboro Man]

Hmm. I'm not really surprised by this for some reason.

[Sawyer]

Billy did coke, Vince gets beat up by a prostitute... what the **** is wrong with these pitchmen?!

[TheDreamMaster]

Wow. I lost a lot of respect for him after this. Man, I hated to see him go and defended him to everyone when I told them I cared more about his death than Michael Jackson's. RIP Billy, you could have done so much more.

[StorminNorman]

Billy did coke, Vince gets beat up by a prostitute... what the **** is wrong with these pitchmen?!

They are human beings?

[Sawyer]

They are human beings?

Not all human beings do coke and allow themselves to get their asses kicked by whores... what, are pitchmen, like, the seedy underbelly of society?

[Marlboro Man]

Wow. I lost a lot of respect for him after this. Man, I hated to see him go and defended him to everyone when I told them I cared more about his death than Michael Jackson's. RIP Billy, you could have done so much more.

Why does it matter if he did coke? It didn't have any obvious effects on his personal life. It contributed to his death, yes, but he wasn't some strung-out junkie living off the streets.

[I SEE SPIDEY]

He had to be doing coke to get that excited about OxyClean.

[Anita18]

Why does it matter if he did coke? It didn't have any obvious effects on his personal life. It contributed to his death, yes, but he wasn't some strung-out junkie living off the streets.
I agree. This just shows that not every cocaine user is a stereotypical junkie. And even if you don't overdose, there are other side effects of the drug that can kill you.

[StorminNorman]

Not all human beings do coke and allow themselves to get their asses kicked by whores... what, are pitchmen, like, the seedy underbelly of society?

No, but all humans are guilty of stupidity.

[lou2099]

He was coked out of his mind in every single one of those commercials. This definitely is not surprising.

[Go Web Go!]

*Sniiiiff*
OH **** YEAH!
*Pitches item*

:(