TV pitchman Billy Mays found dead in Tampa home


TAMPA — Billy Mays, the TV pitchman whose trademark voice helped sell everything from cleaning supplies to baking soda, was found dead this morning by his wife at his Tampa home. No cause of death has been reported and no foul play is suspected, according to Tampa police.

Mays, 50, was pronounced dead at 7:45 a.m. at 2853 Bowen Daniel Dr., #1201. His wife, Deborah Mays, found him unresponsive this morning. The Medical Examiner's Office will complete Mays' autopsy by tomorrow afternoon.

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

Mays was a passenger Saturday of a 737 airplane that had a front tire blow out, said spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan. Mays and other passengers were interviewed by US Airways staff after the Philadelphia flight's hard landing. Responders reported no injuries.

"Tampa Fire (Rescue) reported no injuries. Nobody asked for treatment," Geoghagan said. "Some of the passengers said they had bruises."

Mays was one of the stars of "Pitchmen," a Discovery Channel documentary series that focused on Mays' claim to fame: inventions and infomercials.

I liked his pitch, wasn't really yelling but it was talking up... now we're left with anthony sullivan who's a little bland for me and vince the slap chop guy who's sort of funny but I don't know if I want cheese on a martini or bikini

I hope he just died in his sleep without knowing it, in a good dream.


I don't think I know who he is. I saw George Forman once on one of thoses advertising his grill, but was this the man that advertised the rotissery oven?
I'll go google him up in a bit.

ever seen an Oxy Clean or WhatOdor or Might Putty commercial?

Yeah! I saw an Oxy Clean one once. Part of it. wow. Thks!

I've got youtube up now and he must have been really famous. There are pages & pages of vids. on him.

God, the poor guy! I heard about it on CNN this morning. He was on a plane that had a really rough landing -- I think it blew a tire on the landing gear or something -- and some overhead luggage fell on his head. But he felt fine at the time! And then died shortly after, at home. Must have been a concussion, I guess.

Seems like the front page of the news has turned into the obituaries these past few weeks. Between these deaths, and recent plane crashes, and the protests in Iran, it's been a sad and depressing few weeks.