TV pitchman Billy Mays found dead at Florida home
TAMPA, Fla. – Billy Mays, the burly, bearded television pitchman known for his boisterous hawking of products such as Orange Glo and OxiClean, has died. He was 50.
Tampa police said Mays was found unresponsive by his wife Sunday morning. A fire rescue crew pronounced him dead at 7:45 a.m.
There were no signs of a break-in, and investigators do not suspect foul play, said Lt. Brian Dugan of the Tampa Police Department, who wouldn’t answer any more questions about how Mays’ body was found because of the ongoing investigation. The coroner’s office expects to have an autopsy done by Monday afternoon.
“Although Billy lived a public life, we don’t anticipate making any public statements over the next couple of days,” said Mays’ wife, Deborah. “Our family asks that you respect our privacy during these difficult times.”
Tampa area media outlets reported that Mays was a passenger on a U.S. Airways flight that made a rough landing on Saturday afternoon at Tampa International Airport, apparently blowing its front tires in an incident that left debris on the runway.
Tampa Bay’s Fox television affiliate interviewed Mays after the incident.
“All of a sudden as we hit you know it was just the hardest hit, all the things from the ceiling started dropping,” MyFox Tampa Bay quoted him as saying. “It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head.”
U.S. Airways officials said Sunday they could not immediately confirm that Mays was a passenger.
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 liked to tell the story of giving bottles of OxiClean to the 300 guests at his wedding, and doing his ad spiel (“powered by the air we breathe!”) on the dance floor at the reception. Visitors to his house typically got bottles of cleaner and housekeeping tips.
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.”
By MITCH STACY, Associated Press Writer
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we will miss u billy, u were the best of the best.
ReplyI am sadden by the news of Mr. Mays’ death. Although I did not personally know him or his family, I feel as though I did because of the great show Pitchmen. I pray that God will be with the Mays family and their friends during this tragic time.
ReplyRIP BILLY
ReplyI was saddened to hear of Billy Mays’ death. I will miss his smile and gentle demeanor off the sales floor. I am sad I will never meet him and I want to express condolences to family, friends and those lucky enough to meet Mr. Mays. RIP BILLY!
ReplyI loved your show. You changed peoples lives. You will be missed. My deepest sympathies to the Mays Family.
ReplyI have been watching Pitchman since it first aired.I saw Sully and Billy on Rachel Ray and knew I had to tune in.Watching the process of how many of the products I have in my home made it has been great.I loved the fun between Sully and Billy. I will miss Billy. My heart goes out to his entire family. I just wish it was not true as he has a young child.Not to mention a grown child that he seemed very close to.
ReplyYou meant more to me than MJ you will be missed. It will be hard to buy another product without you pitching it. R.I.P.
Replywhat a sad day, I am sorry to hear the bad news and America has just lost an Icon
ReplyRIP Billy,
ReplyI give my condolences to his family.
I am so sorry for Billy Mays family. When I use to hear Billy doing his pitches it would irritate me to no end. then I started watching “Pitchmen” and I saw what a neat guy he was and how everybody really liked him. He was very family orriented. I hope they find what happended to him. The good die young. I was wondering if Billy received an injury when the plane he was on Saturday popped it wheel on the landing gear? What if he suffered internal bleeding or a head injury that was not detected. I am very sad about this.
ReplySo sad to hear that he’s actually gone.. D: He was such a nice, warm, easy going fellow. He’ll be missed by millions of people. Television just wont be the same without Billy Mays.
Rest in Peace
ReplyWe will all miss you Billy you where the best and put a smile on everyones face. RIP
Replysince pitchmen came out i have realized what a dynamic person billy mays is. i also learned he was a family man. this is what makes this all the more disheartening. he also seemed to have more friends than they’re are inventors. mycondolences to the mays family.
ReplyI watch Pitchmen with my family and have gotten to know Billy that way. He was a wonderful kind hearted soul who will be missed by so many. God bless his family in this time of grief. God has brought his angel Billy home, we were luck to have him with us. He entertained us and taught us how to be a good, caring and warm person. We will miss you Billy. All my love. Angela
ReplyWe love you Billy Mays, you will be greatly missed. I was a huge fan!!! I am very saddened. I will miss your voice and your smile. Our prayers go out to the family. RIP
ReplyI wish to express my sorrow Billy’s family. He was truely and inspiration and a true American success story. You will be missed Billy……..RIP
ReplyBilly, your way of living your life making people’s lives better was cut too short…I was really looking forward to seeing you selling insurance. Rest in peace big guy…
ReplyI just got into watching ‘The Pitchmen” on the Discovery channel and saw what a talented and good-hearted man Billy Mays was. I was completely shocked to hear the news of his death yesterday morning. He was truely unique and my prayers go out to his friends and family.
Replyi’m really upset about this. while the rest of the world is mourning the loss of michael jackson, i’m more focused on billy. i’m a commercial voice-over artist and billy mays was a god to me. he really was the best pitchman around. i guess it’s good that he went out on top. ironically, i ran into ron popeil the other day and he had some really nice things to say about billy.
ReplyWe’ll miss you Billy. Our hearts and prayers go out to his Family and Friends. He was truly loved by the millions of his fans.
Replyas soon as it was clear to me billy had passed i had a pit in my stomach you will be rememberd with such a polerizing personality RIP
ReplyMy condolences to the family. I have watched pitchmen from the very begginning. It is so terrible that he has died. I absolutely loved the show and I loved him and sullivan. He will be missed terribly by everyone.
ReplyJust wanted to send my heartfelt condolences to the Mays family. When Wednesday came around, I couldn’t wait to watch another episode of “Pitchmen” and see what Billy and Anthony had lined up for the next product. It’s just soooo incredible I just saw Billy on Conan’s show last week and to hear about his passing Sunday morning. Watching commercials will no longer be the same without hearing those famous few lines…”Hi, Billy Mays here….Here’s how to order!” RIP Billy. You’ll be sorely missed.
ReplyI had watched the show, like so many others. My 6 year old son heard about the marathon they are showing today. He insisted on watching. Today was the first time I had seen the episode of the iCan insurance. I watched him hug and kiss his mom, and say he wished to leave a legacy. That episode was a bit heart wrenching. I think he accomplished his wish. My family had moved to Tampa Bay less than a year ago, when I found out he lived here, I always hoped to “bump into him”, to meet him in person. I told my sister about his passing, she wasn’t sure who he was, until I say “Hey, it’s Billy Mays here for OxyClean” She instantly made the connection. I wish his family all the best, RIP Billy….
ReplyRest in peace Billy. you will always be missed. No one will ever replace you. My condolences go out mto the family and friends. RIP BM
ReplyRest in peace if you can Billy—somehow i think you will be pitching even in heaven. Hopefully you have Impact Gel soles in heaven –that or you don’t need any foot sole sin heaven–the two equal the same.
ReplyHe will be missed by the many people that he has touched with his heart and positive energy. While watching the Pitchmen Marathon on the Discovery Channel, I heard Billy say “Life’s A Pitch, Then You Buy.” To hear him say that now, in the replays of the Pitchmen Eposidoes, can give one chills (as it refers to a well-known saying about death). BUT, Billy said it with a smile, as he did everything, because he loved pitching. If you notice at the top of this website, that phrase is stated under BillyMays.TV. Quite frankly, I think this phrase is most fitting to be placed on the headstone of the greatest pitchman who simply loved pitching for the sake of pitching…
Replywe will miss u Billy.
ReplyRIP Billy Mays you will be missed =’(
ReplyBilly, Me and my family would watch Pitchmen every Wednesday on Discovery. You almost always hear a line of yours everyday in my house. Me and my brothers would think of great products that you could pitch. Like one i made up. Called the “Billy Mays relaxation tape”. I thought it would be a great gag gift for any b-days, christmas, or just for the fun of it (I was actually about to send an email out to you). We’ve always wanted to meet you in person. But it looks like i will still have to wait for my time to meet you. Until then R.I.P Billy. You were my true idol in life. My prayers also go out to your family and your great friend Sully. Bye Billy 1958-2009
ReplyBilly Mays was the only pitchman I wouldn’t change the channel. He was the guy next door type you’d count on. Billy you set the standard for what a pitchman is suppose to be. You will be missed. My heart goes out to your family and close friends and all who appreciated you.
ReplyThis man was my hero. I’ve seen all of his commercials and in all of them e was so passionate about the product and about just being there in the first place. I’ve seen PitchMen and it truely shows that Billy was such a caring man and all he wanted was to make people ’s lives better. I would do anything to have him back and alive again, I always wanted to meet him. My condolences go out to his family. Rest in peace Billy Mays: 1958-2009
ReplyThis last week I bought Kaboom and Oxiclean.I always knew Oxiclean was the best.Billy sold me on that years ago.I had just stopped using it.I really like Kaboom also.
This weekend I noticed the Oxiclean commercials with the womans voice over.Made me miss hearing “BILLY MAYS HERE!” I never realized how many times a day that I heard that!
I want to see the commercials he made.I hear they are going to be on but have yet to see any except for the Dual Saw infomercial.
RIP Billy Mays ……. You are missed.
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