Billy Mays Dead at 50

For the sake of continuity, I copied and pasted some posts about Billy Mays' death from another blog entry:

they say it happens in threes, but I think now, it's fours. tv pitchman billy mays died today. i used to see his infomercials and think "what a clown." but after watching his Discovery Channel show Pitchmen, i realize he is a down-to-earth family man and seemed like and all round good guy. RIP, Billy. can't you hear it now? "hi, BILLY MAYS HERE WITH THE ALL NEW STREETS OF GOLD POLISH! IT SHINES, IT CLEANS, AND IT'S ONLY $19.95!"

posted by 2599 on 06/28/09 at 04:05 PM

2599, I just did a blog entry on Billy Mays. He was annoying to some people, but to me, I liked the fact that he enjoyed his work. He also owned every product he pitched, so he stood behind whatever he sold.
OR
2599, I just did a blog entry on Billy Mays. He was annoying to some people, but to me, I liked the fact that he enjoyed his work. He also owned every product he pitched, so he stood behind whatever he sold.

posted by L.W. on 06/28/09 at 05:55 PM

I also think the happens-in-threes rule had been broken. Remember David Carradine, Dom DeLuise, Bea Arthur...
OR
I also think the happens-in-threes rule had been broken. Remember David Carradine, Dom DeLuise, Bea Arthur...

posted by L.W. on 06/28/09 at 05:57 PM

LW,

He didn't own each product he pitched. Unless you mean "own" as in took full liability for their performance because his name was on the line. If you watch his show Pitchmen on Discovery, the products are owned by the inventors. If you get Billy and Sully (Anthony Sullivan) behind you, though, they take care of everything. Obviously, then, Billy would have gotten a cut. I did hear him say many times on this show that he would not put something out there that he didn't personally agree with or know that it worked.

posted by 2599 on 06/28/09 at 07:49 PM

Oops, wrong choice of words, 2599. I should have said he "used" the products. He actually used OxiClean, etc. in his own home. That shows that he had faith in what he was selling.
OR
Oops, wrong choice of words, 2599. I should have said he "used" the products. He actually used OxiClean, etc. in his own home. That shows that he had faith in what he was selling.

posted by L.W. on 06/28/09 at 09:08 PM

yes, when you put it that way, absolutely. i read somewhere yesterday that he actually gave guests to his home bottles of the different cleaners before they would leave!

posted by 2599 on 06/29/09 at 01:15 AM

Here is Billy Mays' last interview after he got off the plane Saturday, in which he was explaining what happened during the rough landing.

An autopsy of him os supposed to be done today, but I think head trauma is the cause of death. One thing I have learned from this and Natasha Richardson's demise is that if I get socked in the head, I should see a doctor even if I feel okay.

The preliminary autopsy results show that Mays died of heart disease, not head trauma. More here:

Preliminary autopsy results show that Mays suffered from hypertensive heart disease, Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Vernard Adams said during a televised news conference this morning. Toxicology and tissue tests will take several weeks before a final cause of death is issued, he said.

Mays, 50, was found dead in his Tampa home on Sunday after returning to Florida on a commercial flight that sustained a rough landing on Saturday. Mays had said that he had bumped his head during the touchdown.

But Adams said the autopsy showed no evidence of trauma to the head, either external or internal.

The autopsy showed that Mays' heart was heavier than normal because the left ventricle had enlarged, a symptom of heart disease, Adams said.

There is currently a "Pitchmen" marathon on the Discovery Channel, and there was a scene where Mays filmed a commercial with his wife and kids. They were a beautiful family, and my heart goes out to his wife and children.

http://www.icanbenefit.com/aboutUs/media.cfm

Ugh.

His voice on those commercials left me craving a nerve pill and a whiskey chaser. But when i heard his "real voice" for the first time and started watching him on Pitchmen, I realized he wasn't Beelzebub and I actually really liked the guy. Such a sad, early ending of a dynamic man and a unique life.

Ironically, the guy I constantly "muted" on television reminded me upon his death of just how incredibly short and precious life is... as I approach 44 this month.

So Billy, I hear ya. loud and clear. Thanks.