The death of a salesman
Farrah Fawcett. Michael Jackson. Now Billy Mays. The chain of death continues; we have lost a television celebrity whose infectious passion for what he did made something as insignificant as an infomercial worth watching. Billy Mays loved what he did, and his presence will be missed. No Billy Mays death jokes, please. The man used his personality to sell product and make money. If you learn to do what this man did, not only will you not need payday loans for fast cash, but perhaps you’ll grow a healthy dose of respect.
Some heard that Billy Mays was dead via Fox News. I first read the news on TMZ.com, a site that is beginning to scoop all the other news outlets out there when it comes to news about celebrities. Sadly, TMZ has confirmed that Billy Mays was found dead in his Tampa, Florida home. His wife Deborah had discovered him morning and could not revive him. Billy Mays was 50 years old.
He sold it
As anyone who watches television for any length of time knows, Mays is a pitchman who has promoted products like Orange Glo and OxiClean. He also co-starred with Anthony Sullivan on the Discovery Channel program “Pitchmen,” where he teaches up-and-coming pitchmen and women how to sell, sell, sell. And Billy Mays did it with brio, enthusiasm, and a demeanor that suggested that he had a heart as big as the outdoors.
Born William Mays in McKees Rocks, Pa., on July 20, 1958, Mays honed his salesman craft on the boardwalks of Atlantic City and countless state fairs and home shows. Whether it was knives, mops or any other product, Billy Mays could sell it.
Once the product manufacturers saw what a diamond Mays was, television commercial work came quickly. Both quick-hitting commercials and long-form infomercials showcased Billy Mays’ high-energy style. He sold with such conviction that you couldn’t help but believe that his products packed that extra punch, whether you had a stain to clean, vegetables to cut or windows to caulk.
Doing business to the very end
The circumstances of Billy Mays’ death have yet to be determined at this writing. According to family, he appeared to be feeling well the night before he was discovered. A source told TMZ that the pitchman was “acting fine and normal … he was talking business with his father-in-law.” According to wife Deborah, however, Billy “wasn’t feeling well” that night.Police have investigated the scene. They discovered no signs of forced entry, and foul play has been all but ruled out. The Medical Examiner’s is expected to complete the autopsy by this afternoon. It is known that Mays was due to go in for his third hip replacement surgery soon.
After shooting an OxiClean commercial recently in Philadelphia, Mays was a passenger aboard a plane that suffered a blown front tire when it touched down on the landing strip. It was frightening, but Mays was not injured. He said on TV, “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.”
Remembering a great salesman
Mays and Anthony Sullivan of "Pitchmen"
Wife Deborah has released the following brief statement to the press: “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.”
Mays’ colleagues at the Discovery Channel have nothing but praise for the gregarious man: “Everyone that knows him was aware of his larger-than-life personality, generosity and warmth. Billy was a pioneer in his field and helped many people fulfill their dreams. He will be greatly missed as a loyal and compassionate friend.”
“I enjoy what I do,” Mays told the Associated Press in 2002. “I think it shows.”
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yeah… death seems to be all over the celebrities.
The circumstances of Billy Mays’ death have yet to be determined at this writing.The chain of death continues