Pitchman Billy Mays Found Dead

[Boxkicker]

According to the Tampa PD, the 50-year-old TV pitchman was found unresponsive by his wife Deborah at 7:45 AM.

Mays had just returned from Philadelphia, where he shot a new OxiClean commercial. He was a passenger aboard a plane that suffered a blown front tire upon landing. He told a local TV station, "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're told Mays was at his home around 6:00 PM last night, and according to a source Mays was "acting fine and normal ... he was talking business with his father-in-law."

According to cops, there are no signs of forced entry to the residence and no foul play is suspected.

The Medical Examiner's office is expected to complete the autopsy by tomorrow afternoon.

Billy's wife Deborah just released the following statement:

Although Billy lived a public life, we don't anticipate making any public statements over the next couple of days. Our family asks that you respect our privacy during these difficult times.

[REWahoo]

Makes me glad I'm not a celebrity - they're dropping like flies.

[Midpack]

First Ed McMahon was eclipsed by Farrah, then Farrah by Michael Jackson, and now this! The news will be non-stop Billy Mays now, so much for MJ...next!

[soupcxan]

This is a shame, I was really hoping the "Shamwow" guy would go next.

[ziggy29]

It's been a terrible week to be famous. Wow. And other than McMahon, all quite young. Mays, like MJ, was only 50. When I was a kid, 50 seemed ancient. It doesn't feel so ancient any more.

Certainly we've been reminded of our mortality of late.

[Notmuchlonger]

I was just watching that Pitchmen show too.

[ls99]

Shees, another high profile gone.

Lemme see here, I'm not a celebrity, well past 50, guess I'm safe for a while. When the mid sixties celebrities start exiting, maybe then time for concern.

Meantime must make every day count..... in the leisure and life enjoyment departments. Glad to be retired.

[bbbamI]

I don't know if I should get in a fetal position, or hop on my motorcycle.

[Orchidflower]

Well, I've learned from Natasha Richardson and now Billy Mays to not take getting klunked in the head by something so lightly anymore...wow...sad.

[mickeyd]

I hope that he leaves his beard to a medical museum. It was damn-near perfect.

[Cattusbabe]

OK , anti embolism stockings and a bike helmet for every flight.

Oh, for those following Walter Cronkite is near death. He is 92.

[Cattusbabe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soupcxan This is a shame, I was really hoping the "Shamwow" guy would go next.

That was a cold shot. Here is your boy hip hopped.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWRyj...eature=channel

[Notmuchlonger]

Yeah the slap chop guy makes me not want to buy the product

[bbbamI]

This website will be getting full.......

Dead or Alive? - Search Page

[ziggy29]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orchidflower Well, I've learned from Natasha Richardson and now Billy Mays to not take getting in the head by something so lightly anymore...wow...sad.

Yep. Don't assume it's just a "bump on the head." I don't know if any head injury has been confirmed as a contributory factor in Mays' death but the timing is very suspicious.

[samclem]

There's a lot that doesn't make sense here. Almost all civilian jets have dual nosewheel tires. As a passenger, you'd hardly notice if one blew. And, if one/both DID blow, it would be more likely to have been the result of, rather than the cause of, an abrupt dropping of the nose. As far as "stuff falling down," that would take one heck of a vertical acceleration to cause the latches and suspension parts on the overhead compartments to fail.

Anyway, there might be a silver lining to all this. US Air (the carrier he was on) is one of the airlines that charge ($15) for the first checked bag. As a result, more people are carrying more and heavier bags into the passenger compartment to avoid the fee. This slows the loading/unloading process and also isn't very safe. I fly US Air often and have noticed the problem getting worse. Maybe Mr Mays's death had nothing at all to do with faling objects, but regardless maybe the issue will bubble to the top and US Air will change this dumb policy.

[Arif]

Geez, so who is next to bite the bullett?

[bbbamI]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arif Geez, so who is next to bite the bullett?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cattusbabe Oh, for those following Walter Cronkite is near death. He is 92.

Could it be Walter?

[Payin-the-Toll]

I originally thought that Farrah and Michael Jackson were have a secret love affair--and when she died he was overcome with grief and killed himself with drugs. Now I'm wondering if Billy and Michael had a secret gay love affair, and when Michael died, Billy was overcome with grief and did himself in by some mysterious way. Should I start my own tabloid?

[samclem]

Here's a link to the Tampa news story that was done immediately after the landing incident. This was apparently quite a big deal, a lot more than just a blown tire. The plane ended up resting on a stub of the nose gear, people were jarred forward into the back of the seat in front of them, etc. Other reports indicate a few of the overhead compartments did open up, and I suppose Mr Mays might have been hit by some stuff falling out of them.