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.


http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1181783&srvc=business&position=recent

This is 4 celebrities in a matter of like 4 days

I realize that death happens but this is just ridiculous. It's beginning to make me wonder who's next. May he R.I.P.

I will always miss his annoying commercials especially the OXI CLEAN, well at least we still have Vince Offer for right now!

I just saw this on the OTHER site I go to. SERIOUSLY this is pretty insane. I'm going to further what my friends said--He seemed A LOT more healthy than MJ. I never expected it. Also 50. Who else is going to die in the spotlight? :P

Stars die in threes, that's four in one week so I guess we're expecting two more?

I'm scared actual OLDER celebs are going to drop next.

For the love of God if Morgan Freeman goes I will CRY

For the love of God if Morgan Freeman goes I will CRY


Do NOT tempt fate. -_-

With how people are dropping these days... D: I'm trying not to tempt. I'm sure my emo-tears are none too exciting. Let's knock on wood though.

Now this makes me sad. He was frickin awesome.

I'm beginning to think there's something in the water.

Passing along:

FAA -- Billy Wasn't Wearing a Seat Belt on Plane

Posted Jun 28th 2009 12:58PM by TMZ Staff

The FAA is already deflecting blame for the death of Billy Mays -- claiming the legendary TV pitchman wasn't wearing a seat belt when he took a shot to the head during a rough landing on a flight he was on yesterday.

Here's what we know -- Billy Mays was aboard US Airways Flight 1241 flying from Philadelphia, which landed roughly when the front tire blew out as it touched down. After the flight, Billy told FOX 13 in Tampa that something struck him in the head -- here's Billy's actual quote:

"All of a sudden as we hit you know it was just the hardest hit, all the things from the ceiling started dropping. It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head."

We called the FAA for comment, and a spokesperson told us, "The passenger needs to wear a seat belt during landing and he didn't."

A spokesperson for US Airways did not want to comment until more information comes to light.

Billy posted about it last on his Twitter last night, saying, "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."

Sorry, but how does him not wearing a seatbelt have any bearing on the things falling from above and hitting him on the head?

I think they were trying to say the overall situation possibly causing his death was unfortunate because of several things. Rough landing is problematic, especially without wearing a seatbelt. It's ALSO problematic when overhead things land on your head.

i completely agree with you lavender breeze. even if he had is seatbelt on that's not going to keep something from falling out of the overhead compartment

Exactly what Lavendar Breeze said!

Holy crap, I mentioned him in my RC entry, and now he's dead. Not only that, I was looking at pictures of Farrah from days of yore, remembering Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes, and listening to Billie Jean.


You know what this means? I can kill people with my mind.

A day or two before Paul Newman died I was leveling the "Newmans Own" products with this girl I work with and she comes up to me and says "Amanda YOU killed Paul Newman" I was lost and she explained how I asked her "Is he dead yet." [because the guy in Newmans Own looks ancient" and than he DIED!"

how sad

RIP billy mays

I saw a blinkie thing on myspace yesterday that said "you betta stfu when billy mays is talkin" too funny.
RIP billy

I follow him and his son on Twitter and his son said the autopsy showed he had heart disease. Its really sad. I always muted his commercials... but he always looked like a happy guy. His voice was great for commercials lol. RIP Mr. Oxiclean.