Pitchman Billy Mays Dead One Day After Bizarre Airplane Accident
American pitchman and advertiser Billy Mays has died at the age of 50. Mays was probably most known for his catch phrase ‘Billy Mays here’ and the pitching of the multipurpose cleaning product OxiClean.
According to reports, Mays’ wife Deborah, found him unresponsive Sunday morning their home located in Tampa, Florida. The cause of death is not yet known, but authorities say they do not believe foul play was involved.
“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,” said Deborah Mays in a statement to the press.
Mays recently began co-starring in a television show on the Discovery Channel called Pitchmen. Mays, along with English advertiser Anthony Sullivan starred in the show where they would ‘pitch’ several products. By the end of the show, two inventors would be selected and be given a chance at selling their product in masses.
Mays also pitched sales for several other products including furniture polish Orange Glo, Mighty Putty, the Gopher, Zorbeez, and the cleaning product Kaboom!.
BACKGROUNDER
William “Billy” D. Mays, Jr. (July 20, 1958 – June 28, 2009) was a television direct-response advertisement salesperson most notable for promoting OxiClean, Orange Glo, and other cleaning, home-based, and maintenance products. His distinctive beard and loud sales pitches made him a recognizable television presence.
Biography
Mays was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Sto-Rox High School in 1977, he began his career as a salesman on the Atlantic City boardwalk, selling the Washmatik portable washing device to passersby. Working alongside other pitchmen, he developed his style of salesmanship.
Mays later traveled to home shows, auto shows, and state fairs across the United States for a period of twelve years, selling various maintenance products and tools, including cleaning products and food choppers.
Rise to prominence
At a Pittsburgh home show in 1993, Mays struck up a friendship with rival salesman Max Appel, founder of Orange Glo International, a Denver-based manufacturer of cleaning products. He was then hired by the company to promote their line of cleaners, OxiClean, Orange Clean, Orange Glo, and Kaboom on the Home Shopping Network in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Customer response to Mays’ sales pitches were enthusiastic, with a sharp increase in sales after his first day on the network, although some reviews were poor. He is very well known for shouting in an abrasive manner during infomercials. For example, Washington Post staff writer Frank Ahrens called him “a full-volume pitchman, amped up like a candidate for a tranquilizer-gun takedown.”
Following the success of the Home Shopping Network campaign, a line of successful television commercials and infomercials for the products was produced, featuring Mays demonstrating the effectiveness of the products to viewers hands-on. He typically begins such commercials with: “Hi! Billy Mays here for [advertised product].” Their success led to OrangeGlo International being named among the top ten privately growing companies from 1999 to 2001 by Inc. magazine, and its eventual buyout by Church and Dwight. Appel credited Mays’ brilliant salesmanship for much of the company’s success.
Mays was the CEO and founder of Mays Promotions, Inc., based at his home in Odessa, Florida. His services as a pitchman became highly sought-after, and he appeared in commercials for many diverse “as seen on TV” products. Mays claimed to be an avid user of the products he promotes.
In December 2008, Mays began appearing in ads for ESPN’s online service, ESPN360. These ads were a slight departure for Mays as they were designed to be parodies of his and other infomercial cliches with Mays appearing to be doing a parody of himself. He also made a live appearance during the 2008 Champs Sports Bowl promoting ESPN’s and ABC’s January 1, 2009 bowl games.
Prior to his death, Mays resided in Florida in a $1.8 million home which was built in 2005.
In February 2009, Mays publicly challenged Offer “Vince” Shlomi, also known as “Vince Offer” to a “pitch-off” between their respective products, the Zorbeez and the Shamwow. Popular Mechanics compared the absorbancy of two towel products and declared Shamwow the clear winner.
On April 15, 2009, the Discovery Channel began airing Pitchmen, a documentary series that features Mays and Anthony Sullivan in their jobs in direct response marketing. On the June 10, 2009 episode it was revealed that Mays’ trademark blue shirt was the idea of fellow pitchman Sullivan before the OxiClean commercial shoot in 1999.
Mays and Sullivan appeared together on the June 23, 2009 episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.
More recently, the commercials for his products have become a popular internet meme, and have spawned countless video remixes.
Death
Mays was found dead by his wife in his Tampa, Florida home on June 28, 2009. The Associated Press reported that there were no indications that the house had been broken into, and that police did not suspect foul play.
According to Fox News, Mays had been aboard a US Airways flight that blew out its front tires as it landed at Tampa International Airport on June 27, the day before his death. None of the 138 passengers and five crew members were reported to be seriously injured immediately following the incident, but several passengers reported having bumps and bruises from falling objects. Mays told the local Tampa TV station that some of the objects “hit me on the head, but I got a hard head.” It is unclear whether Mays’ death was related to the incident.
YouTube: Billy Mays Mighty Putty Commercial
- “Report: ‘Infomercial King’ Billy Mays Found Dead in Home“. Fox News Channel, June 28, 2009
- Associated Press “TV pitchman Billy Mays found dead at home“. Los Angeles Times, June 28, 2008
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I loved his show and may his soul rest in perfect peace.
Born in 1977 and died at age of 50? Get your facts straight.
He was born in 1958. He graduated high school in 1977. Trying reading before you criticize.
he was in high school in 1977 get yore facts strait
Learn to read dipshit, "graduating from Sto-Rox High School in 1977".
Born July 20, 1958.
Ummm, it says he graduated high school in '77… get YOUR facts straight!!
Other Eric he was born july 20 1958 so why dont you read the article before you complain.
You know it's pretty sad. I feel for his son. He wrote that his dad didn't wake up this morning on twitter. Keep his father alive billy jr. Rest in peace billy mays. You will not be forgotten.
Whenever Im watching tv and I see a commercial with him in it, I would always be annoyed. But I love the tv show Pitchmen, and I guess they won't do the show right? R.I.P
Big surprise to me…Love him or hate him, he DID make you remember him; which is the ultimate aim of ANY form of advertising… I guess his headstone should say " Billy Mays, here"
May you be safely home with your creator, Billy. We all pray that your family will make it through these difficult times. God bless all those who loved you. Jason and family.
MAYBE NOW HE WILL STOP SCREAMING AT ME!
How annoying are you that you are on his SONS twitter. Gawqd damn star phucker.
He was a friend, and really an insperation to people is sales everywhere.
You shut your whore mouth whe Billy Mays is talking!
head stone should read more like " billy Mays and that's not all !! you can always remember him like that… R.I.P
R.I.P. Billy Mays your work here on earth is done.
But as we most understand you can also pitch out to GOD and he will listen as we all did when one your advertisements were aired. with your one of a kind voice No doubt you will get the Lords attention too… My prayers go out the the Mays Family.
The GOAT in his field. R.I.P.
Ive never met Billy, but know he was a special person, someone i would have wanted to meet. I have some peace knowing he had the chance to share his sucess with his family. Most of us will probably die before we reach the kind of success Billy achieved while living. God bless Billy and his entire family.
10 to 1 bet he died from a subdural hemotoma,The plane he was on blew a tire and when the reporter asked about it he said he got hit on the head with flying stuff,That night he told his wife he didn't feel and went to bed and died
Billy Mays was the face of the infomercial and in these dark ages of the ShamWow and Slap Chop, he will be truly missed, check out an additional tribute to Mays here: http://www.precioustimeny.com/blog/?p=1721
This has to be one of the most annoying people I've ever seen on TV. Sells products by yelling? What the hell is that about? Hated to hear this guy and now I won't have to anymore! I feel sorry for the family but my eardrums that had to tolerate this blow-hard when one of his blaringly lound commercials came on ain't missing him.
I cant believe it. Another head injury. When I was about 19 I got slammed in the head from this pole. I never got it looked at, turns out Im lucky. Get your head checked, like the Beastie Boys say.
If Billy doesn't sell it then I won't buy it. Another great in the industry passes on. RIP.
cannot understand why anyone wasnt annoyed by his high pitched voice. It drove me crazy whenever I would here.. hey billy mays here.
Sorry for his family but I for one will welcome the silence.
sorry carly I dont see the similarity. Jackson had real talent, Mays was just a loud mouthed irritant. He was not a king nor a giant in the industry. ask anyone who switched channels as soon as they heard "hey billy mays here"
I think it’s sad to see how some people respond to tragic news. Dosent matter if he yelled or not ge was just doing his job. A life was lost a family has to live on with out their father, son, brother, and husband. Jokes are to be made in life not death, how would your families feel if those comments were made about you? Think before you speak someone lost a beloved member of thier fily today. God have mercy on you and give the Mays family peace in thier time of need. Jealousy is a ugly badge to wear but it seems some of you wear it well, just because your life being lost would be lucky to make it past the local news dosent mean you should be envyest of his!
wtf is going on this week, first ed mcmahon, farah fawcett and michael jackson died and now BILLY MAYS has died!!!!!!!!!!
I can't believe someone did this already. Same day.
http://deadbillymaysjokes.com
I can see people being upset about the death of Farrah Fawcett, a lady who lived a good life. But to morn a child molester and a fraud is beyond my understanding.
Have we as a people become so polluted that we think just because someone is on TV or can sing a song or dance they deserve our praise and reverence?
Michael Jackson was one messed up human being, there was a time the people of this country would have shunned if not killed him because of his lifestyle. Billy Mayes was nothing more then an annoying medicine man who would have been tarred and feathered and rode out of town on a rail.
You people who praise these guys should be ashamed of yourselves.
Y'know, I REALLY didn't like his on-screen style…but YHWH bless him for it…Thank You, Billy, for a helluva' lot of work! Peace be with You and Yours…
TT
People! The comments here should be respectful – the man is dead. He was great at what he did, in fact one of the best – and that was pitching products.
If you don't have something nice to say about Mr. Mays, please don't post here – afterall, this is an article about Mr. Mays death, may he rest in peace.
God's blessings to his surviving wife, and children.
Billy – you will be missed.
He was a great guy and I don't see how anyone can hate him. Everyone who does needs to sit and think.
Perhaps it could have been subdural hemotopia. It seems logical. for those who don't know, subdural hemotopia is a swelling of the brain. Since Billy was hit in the head the day before, it makes sence.
first david carradine……
heart felt sympathies for his family
Some of you need to show some Respect.Billy was and amazing pitch man.My prayers and thought are with the Mays family.R.I.P Billy.
You are an a hole, the man died today ,show some kind of respect.
My heart goes out to the family…..You will be remembered …R.I.P.
I simply can't believe the death's of the past week or so. David Carradine, Ed McMahon, Farrah Faucett, Michael and now Billy Mays. St.Peter at the Pearly Gates really is getting the best! R.I.P to all and may GOD give peace to those left behind.
Will miss him like a loud but personable uncle. RIP
One minute your alive, then KABOOM your dead.
um, I wouldn't exactly call Jacko the "best".
Shoulda put some Mighty Putty on that subdural hematoma, or as others have called it "hemotopia"
10 bucks says you were spelling bee champ in 5th grade. That makes sense, not sence. also, "hemotopia"? lol. you probably mean cornucopia, right?
you are an idiot and obviously do not know anything about sales. He learned his craft at state fairs and home shows where tou have to speak above the din of the crowd. I met Billy at several home shows 20 years ago when i was shlepping products, and he was by far the coolest dude of them all, and he loved his job.
Of all the recent celeb deaths I am taking Billy's the toughest. Billy was a great guy, living the American dream. He could have sold ice cubes to Eskimos, but didn't have to because he could make people believe they needed mighty putty.
I beg to differ. billy was probably the most succesfull "pitchmen" ever and worth at least 100 million dollars. And I do not believe he was ever accused of child molestation, where he had to use his hard earned money to pay off the boy to go away, like your idol MJ.
Luis, that is very observant. I guess nothing gets by you!!!