Billy Mays, known for his enthusiastic pitches for products like OxiClean and Orange Glo, passed away at the age of 50.
He was found unresponsive at his Tampa home and was pronounced dead by the Tampa Fire Rescue Department. An autopsy was expected to be completed by the following afternoon.
On Saturday, Billy Mays was on a US Airways flight that experienced a ruptured front nose tire upon landing at Tampa International Airport.
He reported being struck on the head by a falling object during the landing. Despite this, no injuries were reported by passengers.
That evening, Mays, who was set to undergo hip-replacement surgery on Monday, felt unwell, went to bed after dinner, and was later found unresponsive. Initial investigations did not link the airplane incident to his death.
Billy Mays, known for his energetic and enthusiastic pitch style, became an infomercial icon with his booming voice and distinctive bushy beard.
He began his career on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, eventually gaining prominence through his work with Orange Glo International in the mid-1990s.
He was known for his genuine belief in the products he promoted, even giving away OxiClean at his wedding.
Recently, he appeared on the Discovery Channel’s reality show “Pitchmen,” where he collaborated with Anthony Sullivan to discover and promote new products.
“I’ll always remember his booming voice him saying ‘Hi, Billy Mays here,’ ” Mr. Sullivan said in an e-mailed statement. “He was the best friend a man could wish for he was much more than people knew.”
Billy Mays’s dynamic sales pitches also made him a popular figure for online parodies. Embracing his distinctive style, he even appeared in ads for ESPN’s online service.
He is survived by his wife, Deborah; their young daughter, Elizabeth; and his son, Billy Mays III, from a previous marriage.
