Billy Mays, 1958-2009
When my partner told me that Billy Mays had died, it took me a minute to process who he was. Then she started talking about OxiClean and I knew. It was the legendary and larger-than-life salesman, star of memorable commercials (and video remixes) and recent guest on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Mays was found dead in his bed, in his home and no foul play was suspected. Some are wondering if the fact that he bumped his head during a rough airplane landing the day before might have played a part in the tragedy. Mays was only 50.
Billy Mays wasn't just a salesman, he was a showman -- and a star (with "Sully" Sullivan) of the new Discovery Channel show, Pitchmen. He was also a significant presence on Twitter, and Twitter is where is son (also named Billy Mays) confirmed the elder Mays' death, shared his feelings this morning: "My dad didn't wake up this morning.. I'm sure you'll all hear about it. It hasn't yet hit me but it's about to." It wasn't long before he was thanking people for their support, and RIP Billy Mays became the No. 1 trending Twitter topic (Farrah, Michael and even Ed McMahon were on the list too). Celebrity deaths, and the way we process them, will never be the same. -- Stephanie Reid-Simons, Amazon Video On Demand (Twitter: amazonvideo and Facebook: Amazon Video On Demand)
schizuki on June 28, 2009 at 02:12 PM
I hope Shamwow Vince has an alibi.
Paul A'Barge on June 28, 2009 at 03:09 PM
Partner?
What are you in business with someone?
Ahab on June 28, 2009 at 06:12 PM
Do not speak of "we" about issues when you are a shallow, one tune moron. What do you know about how "we" will react to another minor passing? Moron! Best Ahab
inspectorudy on June 28, 2009 at 07:04 PM
Didn't you hear about Ed McMahon's death? He was head and shoulders above these other three. He was a WW II marine fighter pilot and and all around good guy who was seen nightly by millons of people to whom he brought humor and class which the other three didn't have a clue about.
j-lil on June 28, 2009 at 07:23 PM
Ed McMahon was also a contemporary of Jack Kerouac at Lowell (MA) High School, by the way. Which has always struck me as odd.
willis on June 29, 2009 at 09:09 AM
"He was head and shoulders above these other three."
In fact I think I saw him in a commercial for "Head and Shoulders."
ish on June 29, 2009 at 12:00 PM
call me ishmael, ahab.
dvd on September 24, 2009 at 03:26 AM
It is indeed a sad day for our industry. If you go on some of the websites reporting this news, you’ll see the outpouring of sympathy and love for this man, especially from the younger generation that grew up with him. For all of the conventions of direct response, even what some would characterize as the contrivances, Billy’s authenticity, humanity and wonderful sense of humor shone through. He will be missed.
怀淰＠＾过厾 on August 11, 2010 at 12:12 AM
Didn't you hear about Ed McMahon's death? He was head and shoulders above these other three. He was a WW II marine fighter pilot and and all around good guy who was seen nightly by millons of people to whom he brought humor and class which the other three didn't have a clue about.